Global Islamic Calendar

Sources

• ✓ 9:36 · At-Tawba

  9:36 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًۭا فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةًۭ كَمَا يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةًۭ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

  Lo! the number of the months with Allah is twelve months by Allah's ordinance in the day that He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them are sacred: that is the right religion. So wrong not yourselves in them. And wage war on all of the idolaters as they are waging war on all of you. And know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him).

• ✓ 9:37 · At-Tawba

  9:37 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  إِنَّمَا ٱلنَّسِىٓءُ زِيَادَةٌۭ فِى ٱلْكُفْرِ ۖ يُضَلُّ بِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُحِلُّونَهُۥ عَامًۭا وَيُحَرِّمُونَهُۥ عَامًۭا لِّيُوَاطِـُٔوا۟ عِدَّةَ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ فَيُحِلُّوا۟ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ زُيِّنَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ أَعْمَٰلِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

  Postponement (of a sacred month) is only an excess of disbelief whereby those who disbelieve are misled; they allow it one year and forbid it (another) year, that they may make up the number of the months which Allah hath hallowed, so that they allow that which Allah hath forbidden. The evil of their deeds is made fairseeming unto them. Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk.

• ✓ Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 9:36

  Sunni

  Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 9:36

  Ibn Kathir reports from Imam Ahmad, who narrated from Isma'il, from Ayyub, from Muhammad ibn Sirin, from Abu Bakrah that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in his Farewell Pilgrimage sermon said: "Know that time has returned to its original state as on the day Allah created the heavens and the earth. The year comprises twelve months, among which four are sacred months: three consecutive months — Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram — and Rajab of the tribe of Mudar, which falls between Jumada and Sha'ban." Then the Prophet questioned his companions about the day, the month, and the city in a manner that made them think he would name them by other than their established names, until he clarified: "Is it not the Day of Sacrifice (Yawm an-Nahr)?" They replied affirmatively. About the month, he said, "Is it not Dhu al-Hijjah?" Again, they affirmed. Regarding the city, he asked, "Is it not Al-Balad (Mecca)?" and they also affirmed. Then he declared, "Your blood, your wealth, and as I believe, your honor, are as sacred to you as this day in your sacred month and sacred city. You will meet your Lord and He will ask about your deeds. Do not return to misguidance after me, striking each other's necks. Have I conveyed this message?"—to ensure those present communicate it to those absent, so the latter may be more mindful. This hadith is transmitted by both Bukhari and Muslim from Ayyub via Muhammad ibn Sirin, from Abd al-Rahman ibn Abu Bakrah. Ibn Jarir also narrates it with a chain from Abu Hurayrah, with similar wording. Variants exist, all consolidating the understanding of the sacred months and timing. Ibn Kathir comments that the phrase "time has returned as it was on the day Allah created the heavens and the earth" confirms a divine ordinance that the order of months is as it initially was—without addition, subtraction, or alteration—emphasizing the permanence and sanctity of these months and times, just as Allah declared the city of Mecca sacred from the moment of creation until the Day of Judgment. Some scholars interpret the Prophet’s words as indicating that his Hajj happened in these months according to the former calendar, back when Arabs practiced Nasi', postponing months and sometimes performing Hajj in months other than Dhu al-Hijjah. Others noted that the sacred months were honored even before Islam, but a faction called the "Basl" exaggerated by declaring eight months forbidden. Regarding the four sacred months — three consecutive (Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram) plus Rajab of Mudar — Ibn Kathir clarifies that Rajab is the one situated between Jumada and Sha'ban, not the one following Sha'ban (which is nowadays Ramadan). This supports the established calendar and the designated months for the performance of Hajj and Umrah. In explaining the names of months and days, Ibn Kathir conveys traditional etymologies, noting how names relate to customary practices or natural features—e.g., Safar is named due to the emptiness of houses during campaigns; Rajab relates to respect or honor. Allah’s command "Do not wrong yourselves in these months" is understood to mean that committing sins during the sacred months carries graver consequences. Many scholars emphasize the sacredness of these months by stipulating increased penalties for crimes committed therein. Scholars differ on whether the prohibition against initiating warfare during sacred months was abrogated; the more common view holds that it was abrogated because the Quran commands fighting the polytheists as they fight you, and the Prophet himself besieged the people of Ta’if during a sacred month. However, some maintain the prohibition is still active, supported by verses forbidding violation of sacred months. The verse's instruction to fight the polytheists entirely, as they fight you, is interpreted as either a general rule superseding previous rulings or as permission for believers to retaliate proportionally, especially if the enemy initiates aggression during sacred months. Ibn Kathir concludes that these rulings are supported by the Prophet’s own actions and Quranic text. The command to uphold the sacred months’ sanctity demonstrates Allah’s designation of specific times and places and the gravity of transgressions therein. Thus, respecting these times is part of the religion’s uprightness and stability.