"Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the Book of Allah."
Al-Hasan said: It means in the Book of Allah from which the books of the prophets are transcribed, and in all the books of Allah. "Among them are four sacred [months]": al-Muharram, Rajab, Dhu al-Qi'dah, and Dhu al-Hijjah.
"That is the upright religion," meaning: He prohibited these four months through the tongues of His prophets. "So do not wrong yourselves during them." Qatadah's interpretation says: Know that injustice during them is a greater sin [and burden] than in other [months].
"And fight the polytheists collectively," meaning: all of them; and this was when He commanded fighting them all.
﴿إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ الله﴾.
قَالَ الْحَسَنُ: يَعْنِي: فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي تُنْسَخُ مِنْهُ كُتُبُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَفِي جَمِيعِ كُتُبِ اللَّهِ ﴿مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَة حرم﴾ الْمُحَرَّمُ وَرَجَبُ وَذُو الْقِعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحجَّة.
﴿ذَلِك الدّين الْقيم﴾ يَعْنِي: أَنَّهُ حَرَّمَ عَلَى أَلْسِنَةِ أَنْبِيَائِهِ هَذِهِ الأَرْبَعَةَ الأَشْهُرَ ﴿فَلا تظلموا فِيهِنَّ أَنفسكُم﴾ تَفْسِيرُ قَتَادَةَ: يَقُولُ: اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الظُّلْمَ فِيهِنَّ أَعْظَمُ خَطِيئَةٍ [وَوِزْرًا] فِيمَا سِوَاهُنَّ.
﴿وَقَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَافَّةً﴾ أَيْ: جَمِيعًا، وَهَذَا حِينَ أَمَرَ بقتالهم جَمِيعًا.
