‘The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year)- so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred’
[Surah Tauba, ayah 36]

Does The Quran Tell Us The Names of The Sacred Months?

Does The Quran Tell Us The Sequence Of The Twelve Months?

Or do we make our own sequence for our benefit like the polytheists.

Postponing (of the sacred month) is only an addition in unbelief, where with those who disbelieve are led astray, violating it one year and keeping it sacred another, that they may agree in the number (of months) that Allah has made sacred, and thus violate what Allah has made sacred; the evil of their doings is made fair seeming to them; and Allah does not guide the unbelieving people.
[Surah Tauba, ayah 37]

When we are to fast in Ramadan, how would we know which month is of Ramadan?

We are not to initiate in fighting during the sacred months, but how would we know when they start and when they end?

From the above ayah it is evident that the Mushrikeen used to change the months for their benefit, so how do we know that the present sequence being followed isn’t fabricated?

Well, those who believe in hadiths can know the answer from hadiths, but what will be of those who refuse to accept anything beside Quran as authentic and protected?

‘They ask thee concerning the New Moons. Say: They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time for (the affairs of) men, and for Pilgrimage.’
[Surah Baqarah, ayah 189]

On the eve of 29th of any month we try to locate the moon in order to establish whether the month is finished or not. If we don’t sight the moon we observe the month as of 30 days, Why? Because hadith tells us that there are only 29 days minimum or 30 days maximum in a month.
[Sahih Bukhari]

But the Quran doesn’t tell us how many days are there in a month, if the skies are cloudy and we aren’t able to locate the moon what are we to do?

Are we to observe a month of more than 30 days?

There is no mention of these details in the Quran.

Even if we are to believe in ‘Quran only’, then whose interpretation will be held as valid? As the ‘Quran only’ people themselves are divided into many sects and have different interpretations.

Even simple terms like ‘Salat’ are cause of dispute:

1] According to one prominent group this term just means ‘A system in which the rich and poor are treated equally’.

2] Some say this means prostration, bowing and Qiyam etc. Meaning salat is an act of worship but don’t exceed the Quran to learn how it is offered.

3] Some try to prove that salat will be offered the way it is being offered by Imam Kaba, even though they don’t consider him a Muslim.

All the above and many more prove their beliefs from the Quran.

If we are to accept that we have to obey Markaz-e-Millat (Authority/Center/Capital of the nation)’ for interpretation of the Quran, then following questions arise:

Who can be classified as Markaz-e-Millat? Meaning if there is a split in the Markaz-e-Millat and two factions are created.

Will the interpretations of the Quran keep changing with the change in Markaz-e-Millat?

Explaining the Quran is Allah ‘s duty:

Allah says : “it ‘s (Quran) explanation is also upon Us”.
[Surah Qiyama (75), ayah 19]

Can the explanation of ‘Markaz-e-Millat’ be classified as the explanation of Allah?

Allah entrusted the Prophet (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) with this duty:

Allah says : “(Oh prophet) we have revealed this advise on you so you could explain it for the people”
[Surah Al Nahl (16), ayah 44]

Was the Quran revealed on the ‘Markaz-e-Millat’?

On whom the Quran was revealed would know the true meaning of it, the explanation he would give wouldn’t be his own invention but actually be the wahi (revelation) from Allah.