View source for Commutation of a sacred for a secular month

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<font size=-2>'''Table 7. Pre-Islamic Calendar After Commutation of First Sacred Month (Muharam for Safar)'''</font>

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<td bgcolor="#cccccc">1. Muharram al-Haraam محرّم</td>
<td bgcolor="#cccccc">7. Tishrei תשרי</td>
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<td>2. Safar al-Muzaffar صف</td>
<td>8. Cheshvan חשוון</td>
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<td>3. Rabi al-Awal ربيع الأول</td>
<td>9. Kislev כסלו</td>
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<td>4. Rabi al-Thaani ربيع الآخر</td>
<td>10. Tevet טבת</td>
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<td>5. Jumaada al-Awal جمادى الأول</td>
<td>11. Shevat שבט</td>
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<td>6. Jumaada al-Thaani جمادى الثاني</td>
<td>12. Adar I אדר</td>
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<td>7. Rajab al-Murajjab رجب</td>
<td>13. Adar II אדר</td>
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<td bgcolor="#cccccc">8. Shabaan al-Muazzam شعبان</td>
<td bgcolor="#cccccc">1. Nisan ניסן</td>
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<td>9. Ramadhaan al-Mubarak رمضان</td>
<td>2. Iyyar אייר</td>
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<td>10. Shawwaal al-Mukarram شوّال</td>
<td>3. Sivan סיוון</td>
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<td bgcolor="#cccccc">11. Dhu al-Qa'dah ذو القعدة</td>
<td bgcolor="#cccccc">4. Tammuz תמוז</td>
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<td bgcolor="#cccccc">12. Dhu al-Hijjah ذو الحجة</td>
<td bgcolor="#cccccc">5. Av אב - Elul אלול</td>
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Coupled with this, and styled by the same name ''Nasa'', was the privilege of commuting the last of the three continuous sacred months, for the one succeeding it (Safar), in which case Muharram became secular, and Safar sacred. It is probable that this innovation was introduced by Qussai, who wished, by abridging the long three months' cessation of hostilities, to facilitate meaningful warfare, and to obtain for himself the power of holding Muharram either sacred or secular, as might best suit his purpose.  See Table 5 above and Table 7 below. 

The first who, besides the regular intercalation, also commuted a sacred for a secular month, was according to tradition Hodzeifa, the second successor of Sarir (the first who held the office of Intercalator). This serves to bring the origin of the system of commutation within the era of Qussai, as supposed by M.C. de Perceval.

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<font size=-2>'''Table 8. Pre-Islamic Calendar After Commutation of Second Sacred Month (Rajab for Shabaan)'''</font>

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<td bgcolor="#cccccc">1. Muharram al-Haraam محرّم</td>
<td bgcolor="#cccccc">7. Tishrei תשרי</td>
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<td>2. Safar al-Muzaffar صف</td>
<td>8. Cheshvan חשוון</td>
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<td>3. Rabi al-Awal ربيع الأول</td>
<td>9. Kislev כסלו</td>
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<td>4. Rabi al-Thaani ربيع الآخر</td>
<td>10. Tevet טבת</td>
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<td>5. Jumaada al-Awal جمادى الأول</td>
<td>11. Shevat שבט</td>
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<td>6. Jumaada al-Thaani جمادى الثاني</td>
<td>12. Adar I אדר</td>
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<td bgcolor="#cccccc">7. Rajab al-Murajjab رجب</td>
<td bgcolor="#cccccc">13. Adar II אדר</td>
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<td>8. Shabaan al-Muazzam شعبان</td>
<td>1. Nisan ניסן</td>
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<td>9. Ramadhaan al-Mubarak رمضان</td>
<td>2. Iyyar אייר</td>
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<td>10. Shawwaal al-Mukarram شوّال</td>
<td>3. Sivan סיוון</td>
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<td bgcolor="#cccccc">11. Dhu al-Qa'dah ذو القعدة</td>
<td bgcolor="#cccccc">4. Tammuz תמוז</td>
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<td bgcolor="#cccccc">12. Dhu al-Hijjah ذو الحجة</td>
<td bgcolor="#cccccc">5. Av אב - Elul אלול</td>
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Besides exchanging Muharram for Safar (which months are hence sometimes called the "two Safars,") some traditions say that the power also existed of commuting the isolated sacred month (Rajab) for the one succeeding it, i.e. Shaban; whence they were called the "two Shabans." When this was done, it became lawful to war in Muharram or Rajab; and Safar or Shaban acquired the sacredness of the months for which they were substituted.<ref>Sprenger, p. 7; M. C. de Perceval, vol. i. p. 249; Journal Asiatique, Avril 1843, p. 350</ref> Muir is inclined to think that the system of commutation was older than that of intecalation; but it had perhaps fallen out of use, Qussai may have restored it to practice more prominently than before.

==References==
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[[Category:Islam and Judaism]]
[[Category:The Islamic Jewish Calendar]]