إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ 36
Translations
Indeed, the number of months with Allāh is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allāh [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, 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 Allāh is with the righteous [who fear Him].
Transliteration
Inna iddatal-shuhuuri inda-llahi ithna ashar shahran fee kitabi-llahi yawma khalaqa-samawati wal-arda minhal arbaatu hurum. Dhalika-d-deenu-l-qayyim. Fala tadlimu fihinna anfusakum. Wa qatilu-l-mushrikina kaffatan kama yuqatilunakum kaffatan. Wa'lamu anna-llaha ma'a-l-muttaqin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that the Islamic calendar consists of twelve lunar months as ordained by Allah from the time of creation, with four of these months being sacred (Muharram, Rajab, Dhul-Qi'dah, and Dhul-Hijjah) in which fighting is prohibited except in self-defense. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that the sacred months represent a divinely established straight path (ad-din al-qayyim), requiring believers to abstain from oppression and wrongdoing, particularly during these months. The ayah concludes by commanding comprehensive struggle against polytheists and affirming that Allah is with the God-conscious.
Revelation Context
Revealed during the 9th year of Hijrah in Medina, this surah addresses the regulations for the sacred months following the Prophet's farewell pilgrimage. The context relates to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and the abolition of pre-Islamic intercalation (nasi') where Arabs would alter the sacred months according to their interests, and establishes the inviolability of these divinely ordained months within the Islamic legal framework.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The year consists of twelve months, of which four are sacred: three are consecutive—Dhul-Qi'dah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram—and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumada and Sha'ban' (Sahih Bukhari 3197). Additionally, 'Do not wrong yourselves in these four sacred months' is reported in various collections emphasizing the prohibition of fighting during these times.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that respecting divinely established times and boundaries reflects submission to Allah's wisdom, and that while self-defense is permissible, believers must maintain consciousness of God and avoid injustice in all circumstances, knowing that divine support comes to those who maintain piety and God-consciousness.
Related Ayahs
وَءَاخَرُونَ ٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ خَلَطُوا۟ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَءَاخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And [there are] others who have acknowledged their sins. They had mixed [i.e., polluted] a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps Allāh will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
يَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ لِيُرْضُوكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ أَحَقُّ أَن يُرْضُوهُ إِن كَانُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ
They swear by Allāh to you [Muslims] to satisfy you. But Allāh and His Messenger are more worthy for them to satisfy, if they were to be believers.
ٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
They have exchanged the signs of Allāh for a small price and averted [people] from His way. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.
وَجَآءَ ٱلْمُعَذِّرُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ لِيُؤْذَنَ لَهُمْ وَقَعَدَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ ۚ سَيُصِيبُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And those with excuses among the bedouins came to be permitted [to remain], and they who had lied to Allāh and His Messenger sat [at home]. There will strike those who disbelieved among them a painful punishment.