He would declare Safar lawful one year and prohibit it another, and he would prohibit al-Muharram one year. That is the saying of Allah: "Indeed, the postponement is an increase in disbelief by which those who have disbelieved are led astray; they declare it lawful one year and prohibit it one year" (1).

10016 - My father narrated to us, Yahya ibn al-Mughirah narrated to us, Jarir reported from Mansur, from Abu Wa'il regarding "Indeed, the postponement is an increase in disbelief by which those who have disbelieved are led astray" up to his saying: "what Allah has prohibited," he said:

The one who performed the postponement was a man from Kinanah who possessed sound judgment; they would accept his opinion, as he was a leader among them. He would make al-Muharram Safar for one year, so they would alter it and declare it lawful, and they would attack and take spoils. He said: And for one year, he would prohibit it.

10017 - My father narrated to us, Muqatil ibn Muhammad narrated to us, Waki' narrated to us, from Sufyan, from Abu Wa'il regarding His saying: "Indeed, the postponement is an increase in disbelief." He said: There was a man from the tribe of Kinanah called al-Nasi' [the Postponer]. He would make al-Muharram Safar and declare the spoils of war lawful through it, so this verse was revealed.

His saying, Exalted is He: "An increase in disbelief."

10018 - Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Aslam mentioned it, Ishaq ibn Rahawayh narrated to us, Rawh narrated to us, Shibl narrated to us, from Ibn Abi Najih, from Mujahid regarding "An increase in disbelief," he said: They increased in disbelief alongside their disbelief.

His saying, Exalted is He: "By which those who have disbelieved are led astray; they declare it lawful one year and prohibit it one year."

10019 - Salih ibn Bashir ibn Salamah al-Tabarani narrated to us, Makki ibn Ibrahim narrated to us, Musa ibn 'Ubaydah narrated to us, from 'Abd Allah ibn Dinar, from Ibn 'Umar, that he said: The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) stood at al-'Aqabah, and as many Muslims as Allah willed gathered to him. He praised Allah and extolled Him as He is worthy, then said: "Indeed, the postponement is from the Shaytan, an increase in disbelief by which those who have disbelieved are led astray; they declare it lawful one year and prohibit it one year." They used to prohibit al-Muharram one year and declare Safar lawful, then prohibit Safar and declare al-Muharram lawful, and this is the postponement.

10020 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, Minjab narrated to us, Bishr ibn 'Umarah reported to us, from Abu Rawq, from al-Dahhak, from Ibn 'Abbas regarding His saying: "Indeed, the postponement is an increase in disbelief," he said: They used to call al-Muharram 'Safar', and regarding 'Safar' he says: 'Two Safars: the first and the last.' Sometimes the first is lawful for them, and sometimes the last.