The Qur’an explicitly mentions their sanctity thus...

The Qur’an explicitly mentions their sanctity thus: “ Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months in Allah’s Book, the day when He created the heavens and the earth. Of these, four are sacred. That is the upright religion. So do not wrong yourselves during them.

Fight all the polytheists, just as they fight you all, and know that Allah is with the Godwary [2] .” This verse not only acknowledges the existing tradition but also redefines it within a framework of Islamic theology, emphasizing the prohibition of wrongdoing during these months and the importance of observing their sanctity.

In the explanation of the verse, Allamah Ṭabāṭabāī in Al-Mizan writes: “The sanctity of these four months originates in the religion of Abraham, and the Arabs continued to respect this sanctity even in the days of pre-Islamic Ignorance when they would worship idols.

However, they might sometimes delay the sanctity of one month to another month for one or more years as part of the practice they called nas (postponement), which is condemned [3] .” Islam designates four months of the lunar calendar as sacred, which were specifically identified by the (peace be upon him and his household) as Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab.

He said: “…The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qa’ da, Dhul-Hijja, and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumadi-ath-Thaniyah and Shaban [4] .” These months hold special significance in Islam, emphasizing peace, worship, and heightened spiritual awareness.

Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram are consecutive months, associated primarily with the Hajj pilgrimage and its surrounding rites, while Rajab, occurring later in the year, stands out as a time for voluntary worship and reflection. The sacred months also carried an ethical dimension. By suspending violence and encouraging acts of worship, they reinforced the Islamic principles of justice, mercy, and accountability.

In the early Islamic period, these months served as moments of spiritual renewal and societal cohesion, helping to unify a fragmented Arabian society under the banner of monotheism. In essence, the sacred months are a divine institution, rooted in history and imbued with spiritual and ethical significance.