إِنَّمَا ٱلنَّسِىٓءُ زِيَادَةٌ فِى ٱلْكُفْرِ ۖ يُضَلُّ بِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُحِلُّونَهُۥ عَامًا وَيُحَرِّمُونَهُۥ عَامًا لِّيُوَاطِـُٔوا۟ عِدَّةَ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ فَيُحِلُّوا۟ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ زُيِّنَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ أَعْمَـٰلِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 37
Translations
Indeed, the postponing [of restriction within sacred months] is an increase in disbelief by which those who have disbelieved are led [further] astray. They make it lawful one year and unlawful another year to correspond to the number made unlawful by Allāh and [thus] make lawful what Allāh has made unlawful. Made pleasing to them is the evil of their deeds; and Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people.
Transliteration
Innama an-nasee'u ziyadatun fi al-kufr. Yudhallu bihi allatheena kafaroo. Yuhilloonahu aaman wa yuharrimuunahu aaman liyuwatee'oo iddatal ma harrama Allah. Fayuhilloon ma harrama Allah. Zuyyina lahum soo'u a'malihim. Wa-Allahu la yahdee al-qawma al-kafirin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the practice of Nasi' (postponement of sacred months), a pre-Islamic Arabian practice where the Quraysh would shift the sanctity of forbidden months to suit their commercial and military interests. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that the Quraysh would declare certain months as sacred to match the number of months Allah had forbidden, but they would manipulate which months were actually sacred, thereby making permissible what Allah had forbidden. This ayah reveals that such deceptive practices constitute an increase in disbelief and are a form of misguidance that adorns evil deeds in the hearts of the disbelievers.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the Medinan period as part of Surah At-Tawbah's discussion of the covenant with the polytheists and their violations. It specifically addresses the corrupt practices of the pre-Islamic Arabs regarding the lunar calendar and the sanctity of months (Months of Haram). The context is the hajj season and the Quraysh's manipulation of Islamic law to serve their interests.
Related Hadiths
Ibn Abbas reported: 'The Nasi' was an increase in the number of forbidden months. The Quraysh used to add a month to the lunar year so they could make lawful what Allah had made forbidden.' (Related in Tafsir works). Also relevant: The Prophet's Farewell Sermon addressed the restoration of the true lunar calendar, confirming that the year consists of twelve months as ordained by Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that attempting to circumvent or reinterpret Allah's clear prohibitions—whether through intellectual dishonesty, cultural manipulation, or self-deception—is a form of disbelief that leads to spiritual misguidance. Muslims must maintain integrity in following divine commands and resist the temptation to rationalize departures from revealed truth for worldly gain.
Related Ayahs
يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَرْضَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
They swear to you so that you might be satisfied with them. But if you should be satisfied with them - indeed, Allāh is not satisfied with a defiantly disobedient people.
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ إِنَّ صَلَوٰتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
Take, [O Muḥammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [Allāh's blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
إِنَّمَا يَسْتَـْٔذِنُكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَٱرْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِى رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ
Only those would ask permission of you who do not believe in Allāh and the Last Day and whose hearts have doubted, and they, in their doubt, are hesitating.
وَلَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا مَآ أَتَوْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ قُلْتَ لَآ أَجِدُ مَآ أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ تَوَلَّوا۟ وَّأَعْيُنُهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ ٱلدَّمْعِ حَزَنًا أَلَّا يَجِدُوا۟ مَا يُنفِقُونَ
Nor [is there blame] upon those who, when they came to you for you to take them along, you said, "I can find nothing upon which to carry you." They turned back while their eyes overflowed with tears out of grief that they could not find something to spend [for the cause of Allāh].