What are the sacred months?
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Question: What are the sacred months? Why are they called by this name? Is the sanctity for a specific country, or a specific thing?
Answer: The sacred months are four: Rajab, Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram. One is a single month, which is Rajab, and the rest are consecutive, namely: Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram. It appears they were called "Haram" (sacred) because Allah forbade fighting among people in them; therefore, they are called "Haram," the plural of "Haram" (forbidden).
As Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said: [At-Tawbah: 36], and He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Baqarah: 217]. This indicates that fighting is forbidden in them, and this is from the mercy of Allah for His servants; so that they may travel in them, and so that they may perform Hajj and 'Umrah.
The scholars differed: Is the prohibition of fighting in them still in effect, or was it abrogated? There are two opinions. The majority: It was abrogated, and the prohibition of fighting in them was abrogated. Another opinion: It remains in effect and was not abrogated, and the prohibition in them continues and remains. This opinion is more apparent from the perspective of evidence.
Answer: The sacred months are four: Rajab, Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram. One is a single month, which is Rajab, and the rest are consecutive, namely: Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram. It appears they were called "Haram" (sacred) because Allah forbade fighting among people in them; therefore, they are called "Haram," the plural of "Haram" (forbidden).
As Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said:
Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred.
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَات وَالأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌThey ask you about the sacred month - about fighting therein. Say, "Fighting therein is great
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌThe scholars differed: Is the prohibition of fighting in them still in effect, or was it abrogated? There are two opinions. The majority: It was abrogated, and the prohibition of fighting in them was abrogated. Another opinion: It remains in effect and was not abrogated, and the prohibition in them continues and remains. This opinion is more apparent from the perspective of evidence.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.