The Four Sacred Months and Oppression

The sacred months are four:

1. Rajab,
2. Dhul Qa’idah,
3. Dhul Hijjah,
4. Muharram.

One of them is on its own, and it is Rajab. The rest come one after the other, and they are Dhul Qa’idah, Dhul Hijjah and Muharram.

It appears that they were called sacred because Allah prohibited battles during them. This is why they were called ‘Hurum’ which is the plural for ‘Haram’ [sacred].

Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:

Verily, the number of months with Allah are twelve, so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are SacredAt-Tawbah: 36

He also said:

They ask you concerning fighting in the Sacred Months. Say; "Fighting therein is a great (transgression)Al-Baqarah: 217

This proves that battling is prohibited in them, and this is from Allah's mercy over His servants, so that they may travel in these months, and that they may perform Hajj and ‘Umrah.

The scholars have differed regarding the ruling of battles during these months, is the prohibition ongoing or has it been abrogated? There are two opinions:

1. The majority hold the opinion that the prohibition has been abrogated.
2. The second opinion states that the prohibition has not been abrogated, it is ongoing and continues to date. This opinion is stronger from the standpoint of the evidence.

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And Allah has prohibited oppression to oneself in these months;

So do not oppress yourselves in them

This is an opinion by a number of scholars.

Others from the scholars of Tafseer said that this refers to all the twelve months. Allah is warning His servants from oppressing themselves in all months, not only the sacred months. In all 12 months the believers must avoid oppressing themselves with sin, disobedience and disbelief. They must preserve all these months from sin and be keen on goodness and righteous actions, the greatest of which is Tawheed and being sincere to Allah.

There is no doubt that what is intended is all months, but in the sacred months it is amplified as they have an extra standing for their status.

The scholars also differed as to whether battles during these months are still prohibited.

The majority of scholars are of the opinion that this has been abrogated. Others hold the opinion that the prohibition still stands, and this was the opinion that Al-'Allamah ibnul Qayyim leaned towards along with a number of scholars.

In any case, this shows they have an ongoing standing, and this has not been abrogated. Disobedience during these months is a great affair, and it carries a greater sin than in other months.

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