The Sacred months

Allaah Almighty Says (what means): "Indeed, the number of months with
Allaah is twelve (lunar) months in the register of Allaah (from) the
day He created the heavens and the earth; ofthese, four are sacred.
That is the correct religion (i.e. way), so do not wrong yourselves
during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they
fight against you collectively. And know that Allaah is with the
righteous (who fear Him)" [Quran 9: 36]
It is with the wisdom of Allaah that He favored some months over
others, like favoring the month of Ramadhaan over all other months,
because it is the month of mercy, the month of Quran, the month of
forgiveness and freeing of people from the Fire. Itis a month which
people glorified during the pre-Islamic period as well, and after
Islam it became even more glorified.
Moreover, the month of Muharram (which means forbidden in Arabic) was
called that because the Arabs used to forbid fighting during it. Safar
(which means zero in Arabic) was given this name because the Arabs
used to loot all the property of the enemy after defeating them in
battle (i.e. they left nothing behind). Rabee' Al-Awwal (which means
graze in Arabic) because they used to graze their cattle during this
month. Jumaadaa (which means solid in Arabic) was giventhis name
because water used to freeze during thismonth. Rajab (which means
remove in Arabic) was given this name because the Arabs used to remove
the heads of their spears and refrain from fighting. Sha'baan (which
is anything positioned between two things in Arabic) was given this
name because it comes between Ramadhaan and Rajab. Ramadhaan (which
means heat in Arabic) was given this name because of the hot
temperature and excessive heat of the sun during this month. Shawwaal
(which means raise in Arabic) was giventhis name because she camels
would raise their tails when they became pregnant. Thul-Qi'dah (which
means sitting in Arabic) was given this name because it was the month
during which theywould sit and stop fighting. Thul-Hijjah (which
refers to Hajj in Arabic) was given this name because it was the month
during which theyperformed Hajj.
In the abovementioned verse, Allaah informs us that since He created
the Heavens and earth, and created days and nights, and made the sun
and the moon, each float in an orbit, as a result of which the
darkness of nights and the light of days occur. It was from that time
that Allaah had set the months to be twelve, and He, Almighty,
informed us that He, Almighty, designated four of them to be sacred.
We must respect the sanctity of these sacred months, by adhering to
the commandments of Allaah, and rejecting that which the people of the
pre-Islamic period were upon, like delaying the restrictions of these
months or changing theirsequence. It is for this reason that the
Prophet said in his farewell pilgrimage: "O People! Time has gone back
to how it was at the time Allaah created the Heavens and the Earth. A
year has twelve months, four of which are sacred, three consecutive,
Thul-Qi'dah, Thul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab, which comes between
Jumaadaa and Sha'baan." [Al-Bukhaari]
The words (which mean) "…when He created the Heavens and earth…"
[Quran 9: 36] are to clarify that the decree of Allaah took place very
early on, and that He set the months, named them and sequenced them
when He created the Heavens and the earth, then He revealed this upon
His Prophets withinthe divined Books.
The verse is informing us that the ruling of these months will remain
(names, sequence and sacredness), and the changes made by the
disbelievers to the sequence would have no effect. Moreover, whatever
the disbelievers had changedcould not change what Allaah had decreed.
This verse also indicates that it is compulsory to base acts of
worship and Islamic rulings on these months, and not the onesthe
Christians use. Therefore, it is not fit for a Muslim to prefer using
these Roman or Christian months over these Arabic(named) months.
They are: Thul-Qi'dah, Thul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab which is
between Jumaadaa Al-Aakhirah and Sah'baan. It was also called Rajab of
Mudhar, because the tribe of Mudhar used to adhere to its sacredness,
while another tribe by the name of Rabee'ah Ibn Nizaar used to change
sacredness of Rajab to Ramadhaan. In order to lift this confusion the
Prophet said: "Rajab, which comes between Jumaadaa and Sah'baan".
Allaah Says in the same verse (which means): "…that is the right
religion" meaning, this Sharee'ah (Islamic law) and obedience therein,
isthe right and straight path. Then Allaah continues Saying that
(which means): "Do not wrong (oppress) yourselves therein" [Quran 9:
36] which is referring to all months ofthe year but the sacred months
hold a special position which makes oppressing oneself greater, just
as Allaah Says (what means): "no sexual relation (with spouse), no
sinning, nor unjust dispute" [Quran 9: 36] and this certainly does not
indicate that one can sin other than the time of Hajj but it is to
reflect the greatness ofsinning during its rituals.
Do not wrong (oppress) yourselves by fighting and committing sins,
because when Allaah honors something for one reason, it becomes that
much honored, but when He honors for two or more reasons, then
sacredness becomes more, and punishment for disobedience is multiplied
accordingly. For example, one who obeys Allaah during the sacred
months in the sacred area will receive more reward than obeying Allaah
during other months, and the one who obeys Allaah during months other
than the sacred months outside the sacred area will receive less
reward than he who obeys Allaahinside the sacred area. Allaah gave an
indicationto this in His Saying (which means): "O wives of the
Prophet, whoever of you should commit a clear immorality – for herthe
punishment will be doubled two fold, and ever is that for Allaah,
easy." [Quran 33:30]