Ukaz, Majannah, and Dhul-Majaz were marketplaces during the pre-Islamic era. When Islam came, the people felt as though they were committing a sin by trading there, so the verse was revealed, "There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord" [Baqarah 2:198], referring to the seasons of Hajj. Thus did Ibn Abbas recite it.
كانت عكاظ، ومجنة، وذو المجاز، أسواقا في الجاهلية، فلما كان الإسلام فكأنهم تأثموا فيه، فنزلت: {ليس عليكم جناح أن تبتغوا فضلا من ربكم} [سورة البقرة: ١٩٨] في مواسم الحج، قرأها ابن عباس.
Bukhari related it in the Book of Business Transactions (2050) from Abdullah bin Muhammad, who said, our teacher Sufyan told us, from Amr (that is, Ibn Dinar), from Ibn Abbas, who said what has already been mentioned.As for his saying "Ukaz," with the first letter having a u-sound and ending with the letter za, it is the name of one of the markets of the Arabs in the pre-Islamic era. The Arab tribes used to gather there every year, boasting to one another, and their poets and men of letters would attend. It comes from their saying, "The man akaza his companion," meaning he competed with him in boasting and overcame him in it.As for his saying "Majannah," with a fatha on the meem, then a jeem, then a doubled nun with a fatha, it too was one of the markets of the Arabs in the pre-Islamic era. Majannah was located at Marr Zahran, near a mountain called Asfar, below Makkah at a distance of about one barid from it, according to Asmai. It is also said that Majannah was near Arafah.As for his saying "Dhul-Majaz," this too was one of the markets of the Arabs, close to Arafat.Ibn Athir said, "Ukaz, Dhul-Majaz, and Majannah were markets where the Arabs would gather every year when the pilgrimage season arrived. They would grant each other safety until those days had passed. Majannah was at Zahran, Ukaz was between Nakhlah and Taif, and Majaz was on the left side as you stood facing the standing place."