The markets of the Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ كَانَتْ عُكَاظٌ وَمَجَنَّةُ وَذُو الْمَجَازِ أَسْوَاقًا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ الإِسْلاَمُ تَأَثَّمُوا مِنَ التِّجَارَةِ فِيهَا، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ} فِي مَوَاسِمِ الْحَجِّ، قَرَأَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ كَذَا.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: `Ukaz, Majanna and Dhul-Majaz were markets in the Pre-Islamic period. When the people embraced Islam they considered it a sin to trade there. So, the following Holy Verse came:-- 'There is no harm for you if you seek of the bounty of your Lord (Allah) in the Hajj season." (2.198) Ibn `Abbas recited it like this.