213 – Abu Bakra Nufayʿ ibn al-Ḥārith — may Allah be pleased with him — related that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Time has come full circle to the state it was in on the day Allah created the heavens and the earth. The year consists of twelve months, four of which are sacred: three that follow one another — Dhu al-Qaʿda, Dhu al-Ḥijja, and Muḥarram — and Rajab of Muḍar, which falls between Jumada and Shaʿban.

Which month is this?”

We replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He remained silent until we thought he would give it another name, then said, “Is it not Dhu al-Ḥijja?” We answered, “Indeed.”

He asked, “And which town is this?”

We said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He stayed silent until we imagined he would call it by another name, then said, “Is it not the Sacred City?” We replied, “Indeed.”

He asked, “And which day is this?”

We said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He paused until we thought he would rename it, then said, “Is it not the Day of Sacrifice?” We answered, “Indeed.”

He then declared, “Your blood, your property, and your honor are inviolable to one another, as sacred as this day of yours, in this city of yours, in this month of yours. Soon you will meet your Lord and He will question you about your deeds. So do not turn back after I am gone as unbelievers, striking one another’s necks. Let those who are present convey this to those who are absent, for it may be that someone to whom it is conveyed will grasp it more fully than one who has heard it directly.”

Then he said, “Have I conveyed the message? Have I conveyed the message?” We replied, “Yes.” He said, “O Allah, bear witness.”

Agreed upon.

[Explanation]
The author — may Allah have mercy on him — reports from Abu Bakra Nufayʿ ibn al-Ḥārith (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ addressed the people on the Day of Sacrifice during the Farewell Pilgrimage, informing them that time had returned to the very order in which it stood on the day