IS SAFAR AN UNLUCKY MONTH? 
The month of Safar is one of the 12- months of the Hijri calendar; it is the month that comes after Muharram. Some say it was so called because Makkah was emptied of its inhabitants [Safar, TRAVEL], they travelled during this month. Some say it was because they used to fight other tribes during this month, and they would leave whoever they met with zero (sifr) goods. See: Lisaan al-‘Arab by Ibn Manzoor (vol. 4, p. 462-463)
We will discuss this month under the following points:
- Comparing the narrations from the Arabs of Jaahiliyyah & Islamic teachings on safar.
- Innovations & false beliefs concerning this month found among those who claim Islam.
III. False hadiths narrated about it.
- I. COMPARING THE NARRATIONS FROM THE ARABS OF JAAHILIYYAH & ISLAMIC TEACHINGS ON SAFAR.
The Arabs had two grave objectionable practices with regard to the month of Safar:
- They used to tamper with it, bringing it forward & putting it back from its place in the calendar for their selfish interests. Ibn ‘Abbaas said that Junaadah ibn ‘Awf ibn Umayyah al-Kinaani used to attend the Hajj season every year and call out: Verily Abu Thumaamah is never rejected or refuted. Verily, Safar last year was not sacred; we make it sacred one year and not sacred the next year. And they were with Hawaazin, Ghatafaan and Banu Sulaym (regarding this matter). According to another version, he used to say: We will bring Muharram forward and delay Safar. Then the next year he would say: We will regard Safar as sacred and delay Muharram.
- They regarded it as unlucky
It is well-known that Allah, may He be exalted, created the year and the number of its months as twelve months, four of which Allah, may He be exalted, made sacred, during which it was prohibited to fight, out of respect for the sanctity of the month. These months are: Dhu’l-Qa‘dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah, Muharram & Rajab.
“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. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein” [9:36].
Regarding the month of Safar as unlucky was well known among the people of the Jaahiliyyah and continued among some ignorant Muslims.
Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allah (sallAllaahu‘alayhiwasallam) said: “No ‘adwaa [transmission of infectious disease without the permission of Allah], no tiyarah [superstitious belief in bad omens], no haamah [refers to a Jaahili Arab tradition described variously as: a worm that infests the grave of a murder victim until he is avenged; an owl; or the bones of a dead person turned into a bird that could fly], and no Safar [the month of Safar was regarded as unlucky in the Jaahiliyyah]. But flee from the leper as you would flee from a lion.” Bukhaari & Muslim. They also believed that ‘umrah during the months of Hajj was one of the worst of evils. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: They used to think that ‘umrah during the months of Hajj was one of the worst evils on earth. They would make Muharram Safar and say: They would say: when the backs of the camels have healed and the tracks of the pilgrims have become erased and Safar is over, ‘Umrah becomes permissible for those who want to do ‘Umrah. (Bukhaari & Muslim). Abu Hurayrah in as-Saheehayn, says that the belief of the people of the Jaahiliyyah concerning Safar was blameworthy, because it is one of the months of Allah and has no will of its own: rather it is subject to the will of Allah. It is obligatory to put one’s trust in Allah alone and to be steadfast, and not to feel weak when faced with these things.
- INNOVATIONS & FALSE BELIEFS CONCERNING THIS MONTH FOUND AMONG THOSE WHO CLAIM ISLAM.
The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked:
Some of the scholars in our country claim that in the religion of Islam there is a naafil (supererogatory) prayer to be offered on the last Wednesday of the month of Safar, at the time of Duha prayer; it is four rak‘ahs with one tasleem, and in each rak‘ah one should recite the Opening of the Book (i.e., Soorat al-Faatihah), Soorat al-Kawthar seventeen times, Soorat al-Ikhlaas fifty times, and al-Mi‘wadhatayn [the last two soorahs of the Qur’an] one time each, and that is to be done in each rak‘ah, then the tasleem is to be said [at the end]. After saying the tasleem, one should start to recite “And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not” [Yoosuf 12:21] three hundred and sixty times, and Jawhar al-Kamaal three times, and conclude by saying “Glorified be your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! (He is free) from what they attribute unto Him! And peace be on the Messengers! And all the praise and thanks be to Allah, Lord of the Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists)” [as-Saaffaat 37:180-182].
The person is also expected to give some bread in charity to the poor. This verse is chosen to ward off calamities that may occur on the last Wednesday of the month of Safar.
They say that every year, three hundred and twenty thousand calamities befall people, and all of that happens on the last Wednesday of the month of Safar. So that day is the most difficult of all the days of the year, but whoever offers this prayer in the manner described, Allah will protect him by His kindness from all calamities that come down on that day. Is this the case?
The scholars of the Committee replied: With regard to this supererogatory prayer mentioned in the question, we do not know of any basis for it in the Qur’an or Sunnah. In our view it is not proven that any one of the early generations of this ummah or the righteous among its later generations did this supererogatory prayer. Rather it is a reprehensible innovation (bid‘ah).
“Whoever does a deed that is not part of this matter of ours, it will be rejected.” And he said: “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it, it will be rejected.”
- Shaykh Muhammad ‘Abd as-Salaam ash-Shuqayri said:
The ignorant have the custom of writing the verses of salaam, such as “Salamun (peace) be upon Nooh (Noah) (from Us) among the Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists)” [as-Saaffaat 37:79] and so on, on the last Wednesday of the month of Safar, then they put them in vessels and drink (water that has been poured on them), and seek barakah (blessing) thereby, and exchange them as gifts, because they believe that this will remove evil. This is a corrupt belief and is blameworthy superstition and an abhorrent innovation; everyone who sees it must denounce the one who does it. As-Sunan wa’l-Mubtada‘aat (p. 111, 112)
III. FALSE HADITHS NARRATED ABOUT SAFAR.
Ibn al-Qayyim said: Where the hadith mentions certain dates, such as saying “In such and such a year, such and such will happen; or, in such and such a month, such and such will happen.”
Or as when the arch liar said: “If the moon is eclipsed in Muharram, prices will rise, there will be fighting and people in authority will be distracted, and if it is eclipsed in Safar, such and such will happen.” And the liar went on to say something about all the months.
All such hadiths are false and fabricated. Al-Manaar al-Muneef (p. 64). Prophet (sallAllaahu‘alayhiwasallam) said: “Do not tell lies about me, for whoever tells lies about me will enter Hell.” Bukhaari. And he also said: “Whoever narrates a hadeeth from me that he thinks is false is one of the liars.” Muslim. Tap link for details on lieing about the prophet https://islamqa.info/en/34725
Request “Da’wah” or ask Questions(s) via whatsapp:+27623805003. DON’T FORGET TO SHARE. www.imadawah.com. (Dawah Without Borders).
imadawah 