And the Hajj is months of science, performed by an extensive [knower].

The months of science consist of the recognition of the personages of the months with certainty, because they are months in which the striving for Hajj, the departure (al-nafar), and the prohibition of what they forbade among the Sacred Months are obligatory. These are the names of the personages of the months of the year: the month of Ramadan is Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Muttalib as we mentioned; Shawwal is al-Harith; Dhu al-Qi'da is al-Zubayr; Dhu al-Hijja is Hamza; al-Muharram is Abu Talib; Safar is al-Muqawwam; Rabi‘ al-Awwal and Rabi‘ al-Akhir are Hajal and al-Ghaydaq; Jumada al-Ula is Abd al-Ka‘ba, and all are the sons of Abd al-Muttalib; Jumada al-Akhira is Ibrahim; Rajab is al-Tahir; and Shaban is al-Qasim, the sons of the Messenger of God — exalted be his glory. These are the personages of the months. This appeared also in the word of God the Almighty: {Indeed, the number of months with God is twelve months in the register of God [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the polytheists collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that God is with the righteous}¹. The twelve months are the nine sons of Abd al-Muttalib as we mentioned them, and three are the sons of the Lord Messenger as we mentioned them.

It was said: rather, they are the names of the Houses which are the Stations. The people of the outward (ahl al-zahir) related regarding them that the Sacred Months are the four Ali, while in the narration of the people of the inward (ahl al-batin) they are the four Muhammad. {So do not wrong yourselves during them} by saying they are separate essences, each essence being distinct in its quality. It was also related in the compilations of the predecessors that His saying "twelve months" is an indication toward the Gates; this was related by Abu al-Khalid ibn Diqqa in his compilation. As for what preceded first, it is the narration of Lord al-Khasibi — may God ennoble his station. Other versions have appeared, but we have not interpreted the word of the Almighty except according to what was related by al-Khasibi — may God sanctify his soul.