"They ask you about the sacred month, fighting in it." Mujahid's interpretation: He said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sent a man in a military expedition, and he passed by Ibn al-Hadrami who was carrying wine from Ta'if to Mecca. He shot him with an arrow and killed him. There was a covenant between the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Quraysh, and he killed him on the last night of Jumada al-Akhira and the first night of Rajab. So, Quraysh said: "Is there fighting in the sacred month, even though we have a covenant?" Thus, Allah revealed: "They ask you about the sacred month, fighting in it. Say: Fighting in it is a grave matter, but hindering from the way of Allah, and disbelief in Him"—meaning: in Allah— "and [hindering from] the Sacred Mosque"—meaning: and hindering from the Sacred Mosque— "and expelling its people from it"—meaning: the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions; for they expelled them.
﴿يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ﴾ تَفْسِير مُجَاهِد: قَالَ: ((أرسل رَسُول اللَّهِ ﷺ رجلا فِي سَرِيَّة فَمر بِابْن الحَضْرَميِّ يحمل خمرًا من الطَّائِف إِلَى مَكَّة، فَرَمَاهُ بِسَهْم فَقتله وَكَانَ بَين النَّبِي عليه السلام وَبَين قُرَيْش عهد فَقتله آخر لَيْلَة من جُمَادَى الْآخِرَة وَأول لَيْلَة من رَجَب، فَقَالَت قُرَيْش: أَفِي الشَّهْر الْحَرَام ولَنَا عهد؟! فَأنْزل اللَّه: ﴿يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ وَصَدٌّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ الله وَكفر بِهِ﴾ أَي: بِاللَّه ﴿وَالْمَسْجِد الْحَرَام﴾ أَي: وَصد عَنِ الْمَسْجِد الْحَرَام ﴿وَإِخْرَاج أَهله مِنْهُ﴾ يَعْنِي: النَّبِي عليه السلام وَأَصْحَابه؛ أخرجهم
