And the nsi' (postponement) is the delaying of the sanctity of a month to another month. This is because they were people of wars and raids. When the sacred month came and they were at war, it was difficult for them to stop fighting. So they made it lawful and prohibited another month in its place. They even abandoned the specification of the sacred months by prohibiting four months of the year. This is the meaning of Allah's saying: 'So that they may correspond to the number of what Allah has made unlawful,' meaning they may match the count which is four and not oppose it. They violated the specification, which is one of the obligations. They might even increase the number of months, making it thirteen or fourteen to allow themselves more time. Therefore, Allah, the Exalted, said: 'Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months,' meaning without any increase they added. The pronoun in: 'they make it lawful' and 'they make it unlawful' refers to the nsi'. That is, if they made one of the sacred months lawful in one year, they would return and prohibit it in the following year. It has been narrated that this happened in Kinana because they were poor and in need of raiding. Junadah ibn Awf al-Kinani was respected in the pre-Islamic era. He would stand on a camel during the season and say in a loud voice: 'Indeed, your gods have made the month of Muharram lawful for you, so make it lawful.' Then he would stand the following year and say: 'Indeed, your gods have made the month of Muharram unlawful for you, so prohibit it.' The nsi' has been made an increase in disbelief because the disbeliever, whenever he commits a sin, increases in disbelief. This increased them in filth upon their filth, just as the believer, when he commits an act of obedience, increases in faith: 'So He increased them in faith, and they rejoice.' And it has been read as 'yudallu' in the passive form, and 'yudall' with the opening of the ya and the dad, and 'yudallu' indicating that the action is for Allah, the Exalted. Al-Zuhri read: 'liyuwaṭi' with emphasis. The nsi' is a noun derived from 'nasa' meaning to delay. It is said: 'nasa' and 'nasa' and 'nasi'an,' like saying: 'mashahu' and 'mashan' and 'mashisan.' All these forms have been read. It has also been read as 'nasi,' with the weight of 'nadi.' And 'nasa' with the weight of 'naha,' both are forms of the nsi' and the nsi' in its lightened form. If you say: What is the meaning of His saying: 'So they make lawful what Allah has made unlawful?' I say: Its meaning is that they make lawful by corresponding to the count alone without specifying what Allah has made unlawful from fighting, or from abandoning the specification of the months themselves. Their evil deeds have been adorned for them. Allah has forsaken them, so they considered their vile deeds to be good. And Allah does not guide, meaning He does not show them kindness but forsakes them. It has been read: 'Their evil deeds have been adorned for them,' in the active form, which is Allah, the Exalted.