By Prof. Dr. Faid Mohammed Said
Secretary General of the European Council of Islamic Institutions and Centres
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate
In a world where wars are accelerating and human sensitivity to bloodshed is steadily diminishing, the problem is no longer merely the occurrence of violence, but society’s growing familiarity with it. Killing has become a passing headline, conflict a daily spectacle, and humanity appears to have lost part of its moral conscience.
Amid such turbulence, there is an urgent need to rebuild the human being from within—not through laws alone, but through a value-based framework that restores awareness, awakens conscience, and nurtures moral responsibility. It is here that the profound wisdom of Islamic legislation becomes evident. Islam does not merely regulate behaviour; it reshapes humanity’s relationship with time itself, transforming it into a means of spiritual cultivation and moral reform.
Among the most remarkable manifestations of this vision are the Sacred Months (Al-Ashhur Al-Hurum).
- When Time Is Not Neutral
Allah the Almighty says:
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months in the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred.”(Qur’an 9:36)
This verse does far more than establish the number of months in a year. It presents a profound worldview: time is not morally neutral. Rather, it forms part of a divine order through which values are cultivated and human character is refined.
The verse continues with a decisive command:
“So do not wrong yourselves during them.”(Qur’an 9:36)
The message extends beyond the prohibition of warfare. It seeks to develop a human being who refrains from injustice altogether—in times of conflict and in times of peace, through actions and through words alike.
- The Sacred Months: An Ethical Pause in the Cycle of Violence
The Sacred Months are Dhul-Qa‘dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab, as explained by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
“The year consists of twelve months, of which four are sacred: three consecutive months—Dhul-Qa‘dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram—and Rajab of Mudar, which comes between Jumada and Sha‘ban.”(Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 4662; Sahih Muslim, no. 1679)
These months are not merely chronological divisions within the calendar. They serve as annual stations of reflection and renewal, periods during which the noise of conflict is meant to subside and human beings are encouraged to reassess their conduct and relationships—with themselves and with others.
They represent a moral ceasefire, not imposed by force, but cultivated within the conscience.
- From Natural Instinct to Divine Guidance
Before Islam, the Arabs already held these months in high regard. During them, they generally refrained from fighting and ensured safe passage for travellers and pilgrims. This reflected remnants of the natural human inclination towards peace.
However, they manipulated the sacred calendar whenever it suited their interests. The Qur’an condemned this practice, declaring:
“Indeed, postponing [the sacred months] is an increase in disbelief.”(Qur’an 9:37)
Islam restored the sacred order to its proper place, transforming it from a fluctuating social custom into a permanent divine institution that regulates conduct and establishes justice.
- Peace in Islam: A Way of Life, Not a Slogan
When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he did not begin by displaying power or authority. Rather, he began by building human beings and cultivating a moral society. He proclaimed:
“O people, spread peace, feed others, pray during the night while people are asleep, and you will enter Paradise in peace.”(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, no. 2485; Sunan Ibn Majah, no. 3251)
In another narration, he said:
“A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe.”(Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 10; Sahih Muslim, no. 40)
Thus, peace in Islam is not merely a greeting or a slogan. It is the prevention of harm, the discipline of behaviour, and the establishment of relationships founded upon mercy and justice.
- An Annual School for Human Development
The Sacred Months may be understood as a recurring school of moral formation in which individuals are trained to:
Restrain anger.
Delay retaliation.
Engage in self-reflection.
Choose justice over impulse.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The strong person is not the one who overpowers others in wrestling. Rather, the strong person is the one who controls himself when angry.”(Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6114; Sahih Muslim, no. 2609)
If a person succeeds during these months in exercising greater self-control and moral discipline, then he or she has already embarked upon the path of genuine peace.
- The Contemporary World and a Crisis Deeper Than Politics
Despite the abundance of international laws, treaties, and institutions, wars continue unabated across the globe.
The fundamental problem is not the absence of legislation but the absence of moral conscience.
Islam does not merely command: “Do not kill.” It first teaches:
Examine yourself. Reform your heart. Hold yourself accountable.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Fear Allah wherever you may be.”(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, no. 1987)
This is where peace truly begins—not in external systems, but within the human soul.
- A Message Capable of Transforming the World
Imagine if humanity adopted the concept of:
Annual periods of humanitarian reflection.
Temporary cessation of hostilities.
Collective reassessment of priorities.
Opportunities for repentance, reconciliation, and review.
Is this not the very spirit of the Sacred Months?
These months are not merely a religious observance for Muslims. They embody a universal human principle that could contribute to restoring balance to a world exhausted by conflict and division.
- Conclusion: When Time Becomes a Path to Salvation
The Sacred Months are not simply dates on a calendar. They are a recurring message that teaches:
Human beings are capable of change.
Peace begins within the individual.
The world can become more humane when each person begins with himself or herself.
Islam does not demand that people transform the world overnight. Rather, it calls upon them to reform themselves during periods sanctified by Allah, so that they may learn how to become compassionate, just, and beneficial members of society.
In the Islamic worldview, peace is not merely the absence of war. It is the presence of mercy in the heart, justice in conduct, and moral awareness in one’s relationship with time itself.
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