There must be two views regarding the word:

And the fair interpreter must look at the explanation of the rare words twice,

and weigh it scientifically twice,

once in the usages of the Arabs so that he may know which of its aspects is strongest and most preponderant,

and a second time regarding the context of the preceding and succeeding passages after mastering the preliminaries of this science

and tracing the sources of usage and examining the traditions, until he knows which of its forms is more worthy and appropriate.

And the humble author has deduced in this chapter subtle and novel deductions,

whose subtlety and precision are not hidden except to one of little fairness and coarse temperament.

For example, His saying - the Most High -:

"Prescribed for you is legal retribution concerning the slain"

I interpreted it to mean the equivalence of the slain and their equality,

and their sharing with one another in a single ruling,

so that one is not forced in interpreting His saying - the Most High -

"The female for the female"

to asserting abrogation,

nor does he need to bring forth justifications

that vanish and fall with the slightest glance and thought.

And similarly I interpreted His saying - the Most High -:

"They ask you about the new moons"

as meaning they ask you about the months,

that is, the months of Hajj.

So He said:

"They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj"

And likewise His saying - Almighty and Majestic -:

"He is the one who expelled those who disbelieved from the people of the Scripture from their homes at the first gathering"

So the intended meaning by it is: for the first gathering of the armies,