“Hajj is in well-known months. Whoever undertakes the obligation of Hajj in them must refrain from sexual relations, wrongdoing, and disputing during Hajj. Whatever good you do, Allah knows it. Take provisions, for the best provision is mindfulness of Allah; and be mindful of Me, O people of understanding. (197) There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord. Then, when you depart from ‘Arafah, remember Allah at the Sacred Monument, and remember Him as He has guided you, though before that you were surely among those astray. (198)”

His saying, exalted is He, “Hajj is in well-known months,” means that the time for Hajj is certain known months: Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa‘dah, and nine days of Dhu al-Hijjah, up until dawn on the Day of Sacrifice. It is also related from Ibn ‘Umar that they are Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa‘dah, and ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah. Both formulations are sound and entail no disagreement: whoever says “ten” is referring to the nights, while whoever says “nine” is referring to the days, for the last of those days is the Day of ‘Arafah, the ninth day.

He used the plural term “months,” although they are two months and part of a third, because they constitute a period of time; and the Arabs call a period complete, whether it is short or long. Thus, an Arab may say, “I came to you on Thursday,” although he came only during one hour of that day; or he may say, “I visited you during the year,” although he visited during only part of it.

It has also been said that two and anything beyond them constitute a plurality, since the meaning of plurality is joining one thing to another. Thus, if two may be called a plurality, then two and part of a third may likewise be called a plurality. Allah, exalted is He, has referred to two by using a plural expression, saying, “Your hearts have inclined” (al-Tahrim 66:4), meaning, your two hearts.

‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr and others said: By the months He meant Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa‘dah, and the entirety of Dhu al-Hijjah, because there remain for the pilgrim matters after ‘Arafah which he is required to perform, such as stoning, slaughtering, shaving the head, the circumambulation of visitation, and spending the night at Mina. Thus, they fall under the designation of the plural.

“Whoever undertakes the obligation of Hajj in them,” that is, whoever has bound himself to perform