Tafsir of At-Tawbah 9:37

The Nasi': It is the delaying of the sanctity of a month to another month. This is because they were people of war and raids. When a sacred month arrived while they were at war, it was difficult for them to cease fighting. Thus, they would declare it lawful and declare another month in its place sacred, until they abandoned the specific designation of the sacred months for sanctity. They would declare four months of the year sacred, which is the meaning of His saying: "To agree with the number that Allah has made sacred"—meaning, to match the count, which is four, without violating it, even though they violated the specific designation, which is one of the two obligations. Sometimes they would increase the number of months, making them thirteen or fourteen to allow themselves more time. That is why the Almighty said: "Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months" (At-Tawbah: 36), meaning without the increase they added.

The pronoun in "they declare it lawful" (yuhillunahu) and "they declare it sacred" (yuharrimunahu) refers to the Nasi'. That is, if they declared one of the sacred months lawful in one year, they would return and declare it sacred in the following year. It is narrated that this originated with the Kinana tribe because they were poor and in need of raiding. Junada bin 'Awf al-Kinani was obeyed in the Pre-Islamic era; he would stand on a camel during the pilgrimage season and say at the top of his voice: "Your gods have made al-Muharram lawful for you, so declare it lawful." Then, the following year, he would stand and say: "Your gods have made al-Muharram sacred for you, so declare it sacred."

He made the Nasi' an increase in disbelief because whenever a disbeliever commits a sin, his disbelief increases—"And it increased them in filth upon their filth" (At-Tawbah: 125)—just as when a believer performs an act of obedience, his faith increases—"And it increased them in faith, and they were rejoicing" (At-Tawbah: 124).

It is recited as yudallu (passive), yadillu (active, with fatha on the ya and dad), and yudillu (active, with the action attributed to Allah). Al-Zuhri recited it as li-yuwatti'u (with shadda).

Al-Nasi' is the verbal noun of nasa'ahu when one delays it. It is said: nasa'ahu, nasa'a, nasa'an, and nasi'an, just as you say: massahu, massan, masasan, and masisan. All these forms are recited. It is also recited as al-nasa (like al-nada) and al-nasi (like al-nahy), both being simplifications of al-nasi' and al-nas'.

If you ask: What is the meaning of His saying: "To declare lawful what Allah has made sacred"? I say: It means they declare it lawful by merely matching the count without observing the specific sanctity of what Allah has made sacred regarding fighting, or by abandoning the specific designation of the months themselves.

"Their evil deeds were made fair-seeming to them"—Allah abandoned them, so they considered their ugly deeds to be good. "And Allah does not guide"—meaning He does not show them kindness, but rather abandons them. It is also recited as zayyana (active voice), referring to Allah the Almighty.

"If you do not go forth, He will punish you with a painful punishment and will replace you with another people, and you will not harm Him at all. And Allah is over all things competent."

"If you do not aid him [the Prophet] - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, 'Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.' And Allah sent down His tranquility upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah - that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise."

"Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. That is better for you, if you only knew."