The Shaykh’s explanation of the months of Hajj.

The Shaykh : The months of Hajj that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) mentioned, or to put it more precisely, to which He alluded, are three. This is indicated by His saying: Then the Sunnah, as is its constant custom with the Qur'an, clarified these months to which the noble verse alluded. They are: the month of Shawwal, the month of Dhul-Qa'dah, and the month of Dhul-Hijjah. If a person intends to enter the state of ihram for Hajj in any of the three types of Hajj, it is permissible for him to enter ihram at the beginning of Shawwal. If he enters ihram before Shawwal, his case is like that of a person who enters the state of ihram for prayer before its time has begun. Just as that prayer, entered into before its time, is not accepted because it was performed outside the time prescribed by the Shari'ah, so too, one who enters ihram for Hajj outside these three months has not performed Hajj. Hence, the Syrian proverb says: "So-and-so performed Hajj while the people were returning," meaning that he has no Hajj, because the time for Hajj had ended. Therefore, one who intends to perform Hajj at the House of Allah the Exalted may begin his ihram at the beginning of the month of Shawwal. Now, look at what follows for the one who begins his ihram at the beginning of the month of Shawwal.