Surah Tawbah ayat 36 Tafsir Quran 9:36

﴿إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَافَّةً كَمَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ كَافَّةً ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ﴾
[ التوبة: 36]

9:36 Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [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 disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him].

Verily the number of months used to reckon the year with God is twelve months in the Book of God the Preserved Tablet al-lawh al-mahfūz from the day that He created the heavens and the earth; four of them that is the months are sacred inviolable Dhū’l-Qa‘da Dhū’l-Hijja Muharram and Rajab. That making of them sacred is the right the upright religion. So do not wrong yourselves during them during these sacred months with acts of disobedience for their burden of sin is greater therein; but it is also said to mean do not wrong yourselves at any time during all the months of the year. And fight the idolaters altogether all of them throughout the months even as they fight you altogether; and know that God is with those who fear Him supporting and assisting them.

The calendar introduced by Allah when He created the universe -the heavens and the earth- determines the month as the space of time from one new moon to the next, corresponding to the period of one complete revolution of the moon in reference to a point, faxed or movable, and divides the year accordingly into twelve revolutions or months, four of which are sacred and exclusively appropriated to some special purpose emblematic of this right and commendable religion. Therefore, do not wrong yourselves during this period of time nor discredit yourselves by word or thought. And fight the idolaters in the whole as they fight you in the whole and do realize that Allah upholds those who entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Him

The Year consists of Twelve Months Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Bakrah said that the Prophet said in a speech during his Hajj,
«أَلَا إِنَّ الزَّمَانَ قَدِ اسْتَدَارَ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ اللهُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ، السَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا مِنْهَا أَرْبَعُةٌ حُرُمٌ، ثَلَاثَةٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ: ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَان»
ثم قال:
«أَيُّ يَوْمٍ هَذَا»
قلنا: الله ورسوله أعلم، فسكت حتى ظننا أنه سيسميه بغير اسمه قال:
«أَلَيْسَ يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ»
قلنا: بلى ثم قال:
«أَيُّ شَهْرٍ هَذَا؟»
قلنا: الله ورسوله أعلم، فسكت حتى ظننا أنه سيسميه بغير اسمه قال:
«أَلَيْسَ ذَا الحِجَّةِ؟»
قلنا: بلى، ثم قال:
«أَيُّ بَلَدٍ هَذَا؟»
قلنا: الله ورسوله أعلم فسكت حتى ظننا أنه سيسميه بغير اسمه قال:
«أَلَيْسَتِ الْبَلْدَةَ؟»
قلنا: بلى» ( The division of time has turned to its original form which was current when Allah created the heavens and the earth.
The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qa`dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and (the fourth is ) Rajab of ( the tribe of ) Mudar which comes between Jumada ( Ath-Thaniyah ) and Sha`ban." The Prophet then asked, ( What is the day today' ) We said, "Allah and His Messenger know better.
He kept quiet until we thought that he might give that day another name.
He said ( Isn't it the day of Nahr ) We replied, "Yes." He further asked, ( Which month is this ) We again said, "Allah and His Messenger know better," and he kept quiet and made us think that he might give it another name.
Then he said,( Isn't it the month of Dhul-Hijjah ) We replied, "Yes." He asked, ( What town is this ) We said, "Allah and His Messenger know better," and he kept quiet until we thought that he might change its name.
He asked, ( Isn't this the (Sacred ) Town) We said, "Yes." He said,
«فَإِنَّ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَأَمْوَالَكُمْ وَأَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ وَأَعْرَاضَكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ حَرَامٌ كَحُرْمَةِ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا فِي شَهْرِكُمْ هَذَا، فِي بَلَدِكُمْ هَذَا.
وَسَتَلْقَوْنَ رَبَّكُمْ فَيَسْأَلُكُمْ عَنْ أَعْمَالِكُمْ، أَلَا لَا تَرْجِعُوا بَعْدِي ضُلَّالًا يَضْرِبُ بَعْضُكُمْ رِقَابَ بَعْضٍ أَلَا هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ؟ أَلَا لِيُبَلِّغِ الشَّاهِدُ مِنْكُمُ الْغَائِبَ فَلَعَلَّ مَنْ يُبَلِّغُهُ يَكُونُ أَوْعَى لَهُ مِنْ بَعْضِ مَنْ سَمِعَه»
( Verily! Your blood, property and honor are sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours and in this city of yours.
Verily, you will meet your Lord and He will question you about your actions.
Behold! Do not revert to misguidance after me by striking the necks of one another.
Have I conveyed It is incumbent upon those who are present to inform those who are absent, because those who are absent might comprehend (what I have said ) better than some who are present.) Al-Bukhari and Muslim collected this Hadith.
In a small book collected by Shaykh `Alam ad-Din As-Sakhawi, entitled, Al-Mashhur fi Asma' Al-Ayam wash-Shuhur, he mentioned that Muharram is so named because it is a sacred month.
To me, it was so named to emphasize its sacredness.
This is because the Arabs would switch it around.
One year they would say it was a sacred month, the following year they would say that it was not.
The author said, "...and Safar is so named because they used to leave their homes during that month for fighting and traveling.
When saying `Safir' a place, it means to leave it...
Rabi` Al-Awwal is called that because they used to do Irtiba` in it, that is to maintain one's property...
and Rabi` Al-Akhir, was so named for the same reasons.
Jumada is called that because the water would dry up ( Jamud ) then....They say Jumada Al-Uwla and Al-Awwal, or Jumada Al-Akhar or Al-Akhirah.
Rajab comes from Tarjib, meaning to honor.
Sha`ban because the tribes would separate and return to their homes.
Ramadan was so named because of the severity of the Ramda' - that is - the heat, and they say that the branch Ramadat when it is thirsty...And the saying that it is a Name of Allah is a mistake, for there is no proof or support for that..." The Sacred Months Allah said, مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ( of them four are sacred ).
The Arabs used to consider these months sacred during the time of Jahiliyyah, except for a group of them called Al-Basl, who held eight months of the year to be sacred as way of exaggeration in religion.
The Prophet said,
«ثَلَاثَةٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ: ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَان»
( Three are in succession; Dhul-Qa`dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and (the fourth is ) Rajab of ( the tribe of ) Mudar which comes between Jumada ( Ath-Thani ) and Sha`ban).
The Prophet said "Rajab of Mudar" to attest to the custom of Mudar, in saying that Rajab is the month that is between Jumada and Sha`ban, not as the tribe of Rabi`ah thought, that it is between Sha`ban and Shawwal, which is Ramadan in the present calendar.
The four Sacred Months were made four, three in succession and one alone, so that the Hajj and `Umrah are performed with ease.
Dhul-Qa`dah, the month before the Hajj month, was made sacred because they refrained from fighting during that month.
Dhul-Hijjah, the next month, was made sacred because it is the month of Hajj, during which they performed Hajj rituals.
Muharram, which comes next, was made sacred so that they are able to go back to their areas in safety after performing Hajj.
Rajab, in the middle of the lunar year, was made sacred so that those coming from the farthest areas of Arabia are able to perform `Umrah and visit the House and then go back to their areas safely.
Allah said next, ذلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ ( That is the right religion ), that is the Straight Law, requiring implementing Allah's order concerning the months that He made sacred and their true count as it was originally written by Allah.
Allah said, فَلاَ تَظْلِمُواْ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ( so wrong not yourselves therein ) during these Sacred Months, for sin in them is worse than sin in other months.
Likewise, sins in the Sacred City are written multiplied, وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ نُّذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ( ...and whoever inclines to evil actions therein (in Makkah ) or to do wrong, him We shall cause to taste from a painful torment) 22:25.
Similarly, sin in general is worse during the Sacred Months `Ali bin Abi Talhah narrated that Ibn `Abbas said, Allah's statement, إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّهِ ( Verily, the number of months with Allah... ), is connected to فَلاَ تَظْلِمُواْ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ( so wrong not yourselves therein ), "In all ( twelve ) months.
Allah then chose four out of these months and made them sacred, emphasizing their sanctity, making sinning in them greater, in addition to, multiplying rewards of righteous deeds during them." Qatadah said about Allah's statement, فَلاَ تَظْلِمُواْ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ( so wrong not yourselves therein ), "Injustice during the Sacred Months is worse and graver than injustice in other months.
Verily, injustice is always wrong, but Allah makes things graver than others as He will." He also said, "Allah has chosen some of His creation above others.
He chose Messengers from angels and from men.
He also chose His Speech above all speech, the Masajid above other areas of the earth, Ramadan and the Sacred Months above all months, Friday above the other days and Laylatul-Qadr ( The Night of Decree ) above all nights.
Therefore, sanctify what Allah has sanctified, for doing so is the practice of people of understanding and comprehension." Fighting in the Sacred Months Allah said, وَقَاتِلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً ( and fight against the idolators collectively ), all of you, كَمَا يُقَـتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً ( as they fight against you collectively. ), all of them, وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ ( But know that Allah is with those who have Taqwa ), and know that initiating battle during the Sacred Months is forbidden.
Allah said in other Ayat, يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تُحِلُّواْ شَعَآئِرَ اللَّهِ وَلاَ الشَّهْرَ الْحَرَامَ ( O you who believe! Violate not the sanctity of the symbols of Allah, nor of the sacred month. ) 5:2, الشَّهْرُ الْحَرَامُ بِالشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ وَالْحُرُمَـتُ قِصَاصٌ فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُواْ عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ ( The Sacred Month is for the Sacred Month, and for the prohibited things, there is the law of equality (Qisas ).
Then whoever transgresses the prohibition against you, you transgress likewise against him) 2:194, and, فَإِذَا انسَلَخَ الأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ( Then when the Sacred Months have passed, kill the idolators... ) 9:5.
As for Allah's statement, وَقَاتِلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَـتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً ( And fight against the idolators collectively as they fight against you collectively ), it includes permission for the believers to fight the idolators in the Sacred Month, if the idolators initiate hostilities therein.
Allah said in other Ayat, الشَّهْرُ الْحَرَامُ بِالشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ وَالْحُرُمَـتُ قِصَاصٌ ( The Sacred Month is for the Sacred Month, and for the prohibited things, there is the law of equality (Qisas )) 2:194, and, وَلاَ تُقَـتِلُوهُمْ عِندَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ حَتَّى يُقَـتِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ فَإِن قَـتَلُوكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوهُمْ ( And fight not with them at Al-Masjid Al-Haram, unless they (first ) fight you there.
But if they attack you, then kill them.) 2:191.
As for the Messenger of Allah laying siege to At-Ta'if until the Sacred Month started, it was a continuation of the battle against Hawazin and their allies from Thaqif.
They started the fighting and gathered their men for the purpose of conducting war.
The Messenger of Allah marched to meet them and when they took refuge in At-Ta'if, the Prophet laid siege to them so that they descend from their forts, but they inflicted casualties on Muslims.
The siege continued for about forty days, during which a Sacred Month began, and the siege continued for several days in that month.
The Messenger broke the siege and went back ( to Makkah ).
So fighting that carries over into it the Sacred Month is not the same as initiating warfare during it, Allah knows best.

(9:36) The fact is that the number of months ordained by Allah has been twelve since the time He created the heavens and the earth, *34 and out of these four are forbidden months: this is the right code of reckoning: therefore do not wrong yourselves by violating these months. *35 And fight against the mushriks all together even as they fight against you all together: *36 and note it well that Allah is with the Godfearing people.

Indeed, the number of months with Allah meaning

*34) This means that ever since Allah created the sun, the moon and the earth, the new moon takes place only once in a month; thus the year has always been of twelve months.

This has been mentioned to refute the practice of nasi ( v.
37 ) whereby the pagan Arabs increased the number of the months of a year to 13 or 14 to enable them to interpose in the calendar the forbidden month which had been made lawful by them.
( For fuller explanation see E.N.
37 ).

*35) " ....do not wrong yourselves .... ": " Do not let go waste the good things for which fighting has been made unlawful during these months by creating disorder in them that will ultimately be harmful to you also " .
The four forbidden months are .
.
Zil-Q`adah, Zil-Hajjah and Muharram for Haj and Rajab for ' Umrah.

*36) That is, 'If the mushriks do not desist from fighting during these months, you should also fight them and present a united front against them, just as they put up a united front against you".
This verse has been explained by v.
194 of Al-Baqarah.

 

The Year consists of Twelve Months Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Bakrah said that the Prophet said in a speech during his Hajj, «أَلَا إِنَّ الزَّمَانَ قَدِ اسْتَدَارَ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ اللهُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ، السَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا مِنْهَا أَرْبَعُةٌ حُرُمٌ، ثَلَاثَةٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ: ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَان» ثم قال: «أَيُّ يَوْمٍ هَذَا» قلنا: الله ورسوله أعلم، فسكت حتى ظننا أنه سيسميه بغير اسمه قال: «أَلَيْسَ يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ» قلنا: بلى ثم قال: «أَيُّ شَهْرٍ هَذَا؟» قلنا: الله ورسوله أعلم، فسكت حتى ظننا أنه سيسميه بغير اسمه قال: «أَلَيْسَ ذَا الحِجَّةِ؟» قلنا: بلى، ثم قال: «أَيُّ بَلَدٍ هَذَا؟» قلنا: الله ورسوله أعلم فسكت حتى ظننا أنه سيسميه بغير اسمه قال: «أَلَيْسَتِ الْبَلْدَةَ؟» قلنا: بلى» ( The division of time has turned to its original form which was current when Allah created the heavens and the earth.
The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qa`dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and (the fourth is ) Rajab of ( the tribe of ) Mudar which comes between Jumada ( Ath-Thaniyah ) and Sha`ban." The Prophet then asked, ( What is the day today' ) We said, "Allah and His Messenger know better.
He kept quiet until we thought that he might give that day another name.
He said ( Isn't it the day of Nahr ) We replied, "Yes." He further asked, ( Which month is this ) We again said, "Allah and His Messenger know better," and he kept quiet and made us think that he might give it another name.
Then he said,( Isn't it the month of Dhul-Hijjah ) We replied, "Yes." He asked, ( What town is this ) We said, "Allah and His Messenger know better," and he kept quiet until we thought that he might change its name.
He asked, ( Isn't this the (Sacred ) Town) We said, "Yes." He said, «فَإِنَّ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَأَمْوَالَكُمْ وَأَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ وَأَعْرَاضَكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ حَرَامٌ كَحُرْمَةِ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا فِي شَهْرِكُمْ هَذَا، فِي بَلَدِكُمْ هَذَا.
وَسَتَلْقَوْنَ رَبَّكُمْ فَيَسْأَلُكُمْ عَنْ أَعْمَالِكُمْ، أَلَا لَا تَرْجِعُوا بَعْدِي ضُلَّالًا يَضْرِبُ بَعْضُكُمْ رِقَابَ بَعْضٍ أَلَا هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ؟ أَلَا لِيُبَلِّغِ الشَّاهِدُ مِنْكُمُ الْغَائِبَ فَلَعَلَّ مَنْ يُبَلِّغُهُ يَكُونُ أَوْعَى لَهُ مِنْ بَعْضِ مَنْ سَمِعَه» ( Verily! Your blood, property and honor are sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours and in this city of yours.
Verily, you will meet your Lord and He will question you about your actions.
Behold! Do not revert to misguidance after me by striking the necks of one another.
Have I conveyed It is incumbent upon those who are present to inform those who are absent, because those who are absent might comprehend (what I have said ) better than some who are present.) Al-Bukhari and Muslim collected this Hadith.
In a small book collected by Shaykh `Alam ad-Din As-Sakhawi, entitled, Al-Mashhur fi Asma' Al-Ayam wash-Shuhur, he mentioned that Muharram is so named because it is a sacred month.
To me, it was so named to emphasize its sacredness.
This is because the Arabs would switch it around.
One year they would say it was a sacred month, the following year they would say that it was not.
The author said, "...and Safar is so named because they used to leave their homes during that month for fighting and traveling.
When saying `Safir' a place, it means to leave it...
Rabi` Al-Awwal is called that because they used to do Irtiba` in it, that is to maintain one's property...
and Rabi` Al-Akhir, was so named for the same reasons.
Jumada is called that because the water would dry up ( Jamud ) then....They say Jumada Al-Uwla and Al-Awwal, or Jumada Al-Akhar or Al-Akhirah.
Rajab comes from Tarjib, meaning to honor.
Sha`ban because the tribes would separate and return to their homes.
Ramadan was so named because of the severity of the Ramda' - that is - the heat, and they say that the branch Ramadat when it is thirsty...And the saying that it is a Name of Allah is a mistake, for there is no proof or support for that..." The Sacred Months Allah said, مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ( of them four are sacred ).
The Arabs used to consider these months sacred during the time of Jahiliyyah, except for a group of them called Al-Basl, who held eight months of the year to be sacred as way of exaggeration in religion.
The Prophet said, «ثَلَاثَةٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ: ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَان» ( Three are in succession; Dhul-Qa`dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and (the fourth is ) Rajab of ( the tribe of ) Mudar which comes between Jumada ( Ath-Thani ) and Sha`ban).
The Prophet said "Rajab of Mudar" to attest to the custom of Mudar, in saying that Rajab is the month that is between Jumada and Sha`ban, not as the tribe of Rabi`ah thought, that it is between Sha`ban and Shawwal, which is Ramadan in the present calendar.
The four Sacred Months were made four, three in succession and one alone, so that the Hajj and `Umrah are performed with ease.
Dhul-Qa`dah, the month before the Hajj month, was made sacred because they refrained from fighting during that month.
Dhul-Hijjah, the next month, was made sacred because it is the month of Hajj, during which they performed Hajj rituals.
Muharram, which comes next, was made sacred so that they are able to go back to their areas in safety after performing Hajj.
Rajab, in the middle of the lunar year, was made sacred so that those coming from the farthest areas of Arabia are able to perform `Umrah and visit the House and then go back to their areas safely.
Allah said next, ذلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ ( That is the right religion ), that is the Straight Law, requiring implementing Allah's order concerning the months that He made sacred and their true count as it was originally written by Allah.
Allah said, فَلاَ تَظْلِمُواْ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ( so wrong not yourselves therein ) during these Sacred Months, for sin in them is worse than sin in other months.
Likewise, sins in the Sacred City are written multiplied, وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ نُّذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ( ...and whoever inclines to evil actions therein (in Makkah ) or to do wrong, him We shall cause to taste from a painful torment) 22:25.
Similarly, sin in general is worse during the Sacred Months `Ali bin Abi Talhah narrated that Ibn `Abbas said, Allah's statement, إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّهِ ( Verily, the number of months with Allah... ), is connected to فَلاَ تَظْلِمُواْ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ( so wrong not yourselves therein ), "In all ( twelve ) months.
Allah then chose four out of these months and made them sacred, emphasizing their sanctity, making sinning in them greater, in addition to, multiplying rewards of righteous deeds during them." Qatadah said about Allah's statement, فَلاَ تَظْلِمُواْ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ( so wrong not yourselves therein ), "Injustice during the Sacred Months is worse and graver than injustice in other months.
Verily, injustice is always wrong, but Allah makes things graver than others as He will." He also said, "Allah has chosen some of His creation above others.
He chose Messengers from angels and from men.
He also chose His Speech above all speech, the Masajid above other areas of the earth, Ramadan and the Sacred Months above all months, Friday above the other days and Laylatul-Qadr ( The Night of Decree ) above all nights.
Therefore, sanctify what Allah has sanctified, for doing so is the practice of people of understanding and comprehension." Fighting in the Sacred Months Allah said, وَقَاتِلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً ( and fight against the idolators collectively ), all of you, كَمَا يُقَـتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً ( as they fight against you collectively. ), all of them, وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ ( But know that Allah is with those who have Taqwa ), and know that initiating battle during the Sacred Months is forbidden.
Allah said in other Ayat, يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تُحِلُّواْ شَعَآئِرَ اللَّهِ وَلاَ الشَّهْرَ الْحَرَامَ ( O you who believe! Violate not the sanctity of the symbols of Allah, nor of the sacred month. ) 5:2, الشَّهْرُ الْحَرَامُ بِالشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ وَالْحُرُمَـتُ قِصَاصٌ فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُواْ عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ ( The Sacred Month is for the Sacred Month, and for the prohibited things, there is the law of equality (Qisas ).
Then whoever transgresses the prohibition against you, you transgress likewise against him) 2:194, and, فَإِذَا انسَلَخَ الأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ( Then when the Sacred Months have passed, kill the idolators... ) 9:5.
As for Allah's statement, وَقَاتِلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَـتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً ( And fight against the idolators collectively as they fight against you collectively ), it includes permission for the believers to fight the idolators in the Sacred Month, if the idolators initiate hostilities therein.
Allah said in other Ayat, الشَّهْرُ الْحَرَامُ بِالشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ وَالْحُرُمَـتُ قِصَاصٌ ( The Sacred Month is for the Sacred Month, and for the prohibited things, there is the law of equality (Qisas )) 2:194, and, وَلاَ تُقَـتِلُوهُمْ عِندَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ حَتَّى يُقَـتِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ فَإِن قَـتَلُوكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوهُمْ ( And fight not with them at Al-Masjid Al-Haram, unless they (first ) fight you there.
But if they attack you, then kill them.) 2:191.
As for the Messenger of Allah laying siege to At-Ta'if until the Sacred Month started, it was a continuation of the battle against Hawazin and their allies from Thaqif.
They started the fighting and gathered their men for the purpose of conducting war.
The Messenger of Allah marched to meet them and when they took refuge in At-Ta'if, the Prophet laid siege to them so that they descend from their forts, but they inflicted casualties on Muslims.
The siege continued for about forty days, during which a Sacred Month began, and the siege continued for several days in that month.
The Messenger broke the siege and went back ( to Makkah ).
So fighting that carries over into it the Sacred Month is not the same as initiating warfare during it, Allah knows best.

( Lo! the number of the months with Allah ) he says: the year is counted by months, i.e. the months of the year in which the poor-due is paid ( is twelve months by Allah’s ordinance ) in the Guarded Tablet ( in the day ) from the day ( that He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them ) four of these months ( are sacred ): Rajab, Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram: ( that is the right religion ) that is the right calculation: it neither increases or decreases. ( So wrong not ) harm not ( yourselves ) through transgression ( in them ) in those months; it is also said: in the sacred months. ( And wage war on all the idolaters ) in the sacred months and in other months ( as they are waging war on all of you ) all together. ( And know ) O believers ( that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him )) with those who ward off disbelief, idolatry, indecencies, the breaking of treaties and fighting during the sacred months.

Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred, (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein, and fight against the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) collectively, as they fight against you collectively. But know that Allah is with those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V. 2:2).

Page 192 English transliteration