سورة التوبة

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): The reason for the revelation of this verse was that a man from Kinanah used to stand up during the Hajj season and say: "Indeed I have made lawful the blood of the lawful-makers of Tayy and Khath'am in the sacred month of Muharram, and I have postponed it and made Safar sacred in its place." Then when the following year came, he would say: "I have made Safar lawful and postponed it, and in its place I have taken Muharram as the sacred month." So Allah the Blessed and Exalted revealed this verse: إِنَّمَا النَّسِیءُ زِیَادَةٌ فِی الْکُفْرِ ... زُیِّنَ لَهُمْ سُوءُ أَعْمَالِهِمْ [Postponing (of the sacred month) is only an addition in unbelief ... the evil of their doings is made fairseeming to them].

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): In one year they would consider Muharram sacred and Safar lawful, and in another year they would consider Safar sacred and Muharram lawful. O people! Indeed Satan has despaired of ever being worshipped in your land until the end of time, and he has become content with your being satisfied with those deeds which debase your actions.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): O people! Satan has despaired of being worshipped in this land of yours, but he is content that he be obeyed in matters other than that — in those deeds of yours which you consider insignificant. O people! إِنَّمَا النَّسِیءُ زِیادَةٌ فِی الْکُفْرِ یُضَلُّ بِهِ الَّذِینَ کَفَرُوا یُحِلُّونَهُ عاماً وَ یُحَرِّمُونَهُ عاماً لِیُواطِؤُا عِدَّةَ ما حَرَّمَ اللهُ [Postponing (of the sacred month) is only an addition in unbelief, wherewith those who disbelieve are led astray, violating it one year and keeping it sacred another, that they may agree in the number (of months) that Allah has made sacred]. And indeed time has come round to the state it was on the day Allah created the heavens and the earth, and the number of months with Allah in the Book [of creation] of Allah, from the day He created the heavens and the earth, is twelve months, of which four are sacred [and fighting in them is forbidden].

Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him): Those who deny that there is increase in disbelief should realise that Allah has rejected their words and said: إِنَّمَا النَّسِیءُ زِیادَةٌ فِی الْکُفْرِ [Postponing (of the sacred month) is only an addition in unbelief].

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): The meaning of زِیادَةٌ فِی الْکُفْرِ [an addition in unbelief] is that the Arabs used to reckon as lawful what Allah had made unlawful, and as unlawful what He had made lawful.