& The Four Canceled Peaceful Months in
Islam
Historically,
Ramadan was the ninth month of the Arabs' pre-Islamic calendar. It was adopted,
practiced, and tweaked by the Islamic prophet Mohammed and his followers from
622 AD onwards.
Some unrealistic and ignorant Western powers (politicians, media outlets, and NGOs) are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza under the pretext of respecting the month of Ramadan because, according to those parties, it is the month of fasting for Muslims and it is forbidden to fight during the month of Ramadan.
This is questionable and far from the historical truth. This would mean abandoning the release of the kidnapped civilian Israeli captives held by the terrorist fanatic group Hamas and other inhumane Islamist terrorists. However, is the above-mentioned statement religiously accurate and is it really not permissible to fight during the month of Ramadan according to Islam?
It is well known that the peaceful months for Arabs and Muslims before the rise of Islam were four mentioned in Surat Al-Tawbah: 36. These four months are divided into three primary months: Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram, as well as one secondary peaceful month, which is the month of Rajab.
These were the only four sacred peaceful months according to the Qur’an and the consensus of Muslim religious jurists. This fact also confirms that the month of Ramadan is not one of the old four peaceful sacred months.
Moreover, the four peaceful sacred months for Arabs pre-Islam were abolished by the Qur’an in Surat Al-Tawbah after the raid by proxy on Ibn Al-Hadrami, which occurred in the month of the supposedly peaceful month of Rajab in the year 624 AD.
However, Surat Al-Tawbah came to abolish the pre-Islam peaceful sacred months in which fighting was prohibited. Surat Al-Tawbah confirms that Muslims are allowed to raid and fight during all the pre-Islam peaceful sacred months.
The above concrete fact is supported by the following Islamic events:
Mohammed, the Islamic prophet, besieged the civilian people of Taif during the peaceful sacred month of Dhul-Qidah, as proven in the two Sahihs of Muslim and Al-Bukhari.
Umar ibn al-Khattab was the second Rashidun caliph, and the Commander of the Faithful as well as the son-in-law of the Islamic prophet. He was killed on the 26th of Dhul-Hijjah, which is supposedly one of the peaceful sacred months.
Uthman ibn Affan ibn Abi al-As was the third Rashidun caliph, Commander of the Faithful, and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet. He was killed on Friday, the 18th of the supposedly peaceful holy month of Dhul-Hijjah.
Also, Al-Hussein bin Ali, the grandson of Muhammed, the Islamic prophet, was killed on the tenth of Muharram, which is supposedly one of the peaceful sacred Islamic months before Surat Al-Tawbah, 624 AD.
It is also worth noting that the month of Ramadan is not actually one of the peaceful sacred months in the first place, which is confirmed by the following Islamic events:
The Battle of Badr took place on the 17th of Ramadan 2 AH / May 13th, 624 AD.
Also, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, the fourth Rashidun caliph was assassinated during the morning prayer on January 28th, 661 (19 Ramadan 40 AH).
If the Qur’an abolished the peaceful sacred months in the year 624 AD and permitted fighting during these months and the month of Ramadan, then why should Israel honor what Muslims themselves and their Prophet do not honor?
For those who are pushing to seize fire in Gaza, I want to say: “That is fine”, however, there is only one option on the table of the so-called civilized world: Tell Hamas To Free All the Hostages and Unconditionally Surrender. Furthermore, every single drop of Gazan blood spilled is on HAMAS' hands and the anti-Semitic ignorants.
Amer H. Fatuhi, Ph.D.
References: The Qur’an (Surat Al-Tawbah) | Sahih Muslim and Al-Bukhari | Islamic Wars - Muslims Vs. Muslims / Surah Al-Hujurat | The Untold Story of Native Iraqis, PP. 483-485| Living by the Point of my Spear (The Life of Islamic prophet Muhammed), By Zaki Ameen | Is the Qur'an Infallible? by ‘Abdallah ‘Abdal-Fadi, PP 100/394
PS. Surah is an Islamic term that means Chapter.
