as related to us by Abd al-Wahid al-Mulayhi, who said: Ahmad ibn Abd Allah al-Nuaymi informed us; Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Farabrī informed us; Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari narrated to us; Muhammad ibn Sallam narrated to us; Abd al-Wahid narrated to us; Abd al-Wahhab narrated to us, from Ayyub, from Muhammad ibn Sirin, from Abu Bakrah, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Time has returned to its original state as it was on the day Allah created the heavens and the earth. The year consists of twelve months, four of which are sacred: three consecutive months—Dhu al-Qadah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram—and Rajab of Mudar, which falls between Jumada and Shaban.”

He said: “What month is this?” We said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He remained silent until we thought that he would call it by another name. Then he said, “Is it not Dhu al-Hijjah?” We said, “Indeed it is.”

He said, “What land is this?” We said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He remained silent until we thought that he would call it by another name. Then he said, “Is it not the Sacred Land?” We said, “Indeed it is.”

He said, “What day is this?” We said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He remained silent until we thought that he would call it by another name. He said, “Is it not the Day of Sacrifice?” We said, “Indeed it is.”

He said, “Your blood and your property”—Muhammad ibn Sirin said, “I believe he also said: ‘and your honour’”—“are inviolable to one another, just as inviolable as this day of yours, in this land of yours, in this month of yours. You shall meet your Lord, and He will question you concerning your deeds. Beware: do not go astray after me, striking one another’s necks. Beware: let those who are present convey this to those who are absent, for perhaps the one to whom it is conveyed may understand it better than some of those who heard it. Beware: have I conveyed the message? Beware: have I conveyed the message?” (1)

They said: The postponement of the sacred months had continued among them, such that in some years they would perform the pilgrimage in one month ⦗157/b⦘ and, in the following year, perform it in another month.

Mujahid said: They would perform the pilgrimage in each month for two years. Thus, they performed the pilgrimage in Dhu al-Hijjah for two years, then in Muharram for two years, then in Safar for two years, and likewise with the other months. Abu Bakr’s pilgrimage, before the Farewell Pilgrimage, therefore coincided with the second year of Dhu al-Qadah. Then, in the following year, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, performed the Farewell Pilgrimage, and his pilgrimage coincided with the legislated month of pilgrimage, namely Dhu al-Hijjah. He stood at Arafah on the ninth day and delivered the sermon at Mina on the tenth day. He informed them that the months affected by postponement had passed in succession as time completed its cycle, and that matters had returned to the arrangement Allah had ordained for the reckoning of the months on the day He created the heavens and the earth. He commanded them to preserve this arrangement so that it would not be altered in the days to come.

They differed concerning the first person to introduce the postponement of the sacred months. Ibn Abbas, al-Dahhak, Qatadah, and Mujahid said: The first to introduce it were the descendants of Malik ibn Kinanah. They were three: Abu Thumamah Junadah ibn Awf ibn Umayyah al-Kinani. Al-Kalbi said: The first