Dear Readers,
The Days of Ignorance prior to Islam were filled with various false practices and beliefs. They were filled with practices of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and innovation as well as superstition. People used to rely on birds to decide whether they should travel or not. If the bird flew to the right, the decision taken was in favor of the trip and with positive outcome. In case it flew to the left, people would avoid taking that trip or decision.
Similarly, many days or months were considered as ones bringing bad omen. Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) with His ultimate mercy, sent the Prophet ﷺ to the Arab land to eradicate all such beliefs and superstition. He ﷺ was to bring the correct view and reform the society with the right belief system. Through him ﷺ, Deen was completed and all misguidance was removed and it was openly stated that Islam was the only acceptable religion.
Having said this, there is no month or day that is considered to bring misfortune and this belief is until the end of time. The Prophet ﷺ clearly said: “I have left with you two things which, if you follow them, you will never go astray: the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Prophet ﷺ.” In another hadith it has been said that:
Abu Darda (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out to us when we were speaking of poverty and how we feared it. He said: “Is it poverty that you fear? By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, (the delights and luxuries of) this world will come to you in plenty, and nothing will cause the heart of anyone of you to deviate except that. By Allah, I am leaving you upon the white path, the night and day of which are the same.” Abu Darda said: “He spoke the truth, by Allah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did indeed leave us upon the light path the days and nights of which were the same.””
(Sunan ibn Majah)
People remained on the right path for many centuries after the death of the Prophet ﷺ, so much so that the time of the “best of people,” (khayr al-qurun) passed by. Afterwards many different sects began rising bringing their false beliefs. The enemies of Islam, especially the Jews and the Christians accelerated their fight against Islam. The following of the beloved Prophet ﷺ started to recede. Negligence towards Deen creeped in and the way of shirk and innovation took course. False practices, customs and superstitions that are against the preaching of Islam found their way in the name of Deen. The real religion began getting adulterated.
One of these false beliefs is the idea that the month of Safar brings bad tidings and misfortune. This is not an Islamic teaching at all as no month in Islam is considered a bad omen in any way or form. Hence, we understand that there is no misfortune in time or months. They do not interfere in the fate (taqdeer) as Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) planned it for a person. In a hadith we learn:
Abu Huraira (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
لا عدوی ولا طیرة ولا ھامة ولاصفر
There is no infection, no safar, no hama.
(Sahih Muslim 2220a)
The majority of scholars interpret this to mean that these things in and of themselves do not transmit or cause harm through supernatural or hidden means but that Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) is ultimately in control and any fearful superstition around these is false (Sunnah.com). Through this it is clarified that things do not carry misfortune within themselves that is transmitted over. The only harm that can come is by the permission of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ).
Safar as the Cause of Misfortune and Bad Omen
In the Days of Ignorance, the Arabs considered the month of Safar ominous. Dhul Hijjah and Muharram were the sacred months where they were to abstain from all kinds of warfare but as soon as Safar set in, killing and vandalism began. The Prophet ﷺ negated the concept and stated: Safar in itself is not ominous. Whatever hardship the people face in this month is due to the result of their own actions of lotting, killing and vandalism.
(Fath Al-Majeed- 308).
Additionally, we are strictly advised not to curse days or months as is mentioned in this hadith qudsi:
Abu Huraira (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that “Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) Almighty said:
“The son of Adam abuses me. He curses time and I am time, for in my hand are the night and day.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4549, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2246)
This explains that Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) states that all matters are with Him and He decides them. Shaykh Muhammad bin Saleh Uthaymeen (Rahimullah) explains that: Time and happenings do not have power upon fate (taqdeer) as Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) willed it. Goodness and harm afflicted to a person have been defined in them with His permission. This does not deny the existence of the month of Safar, rather what is denied is that any ill will lies in this month or that this month brings misfortune. All results lie with Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ). Anything that is based on superstition or assumption is false. Hence, all effects are denied of it being a particular month.[1]
False Traditions and Innovations in Safar
In light of Qur’an and Sunnah, few months and nights have been preferred over others and have been specifically clarified. For example: The Day of Arafah, Laylatul Qadar and Day of Ashura etc. It has not been specified in any sahih hadith that one particular month is a bringer of bad tidings or misfortune. Hence, it is not permitted to do so on our own.
Sadly, many Muslims have created many myths regarding the month of Safar. They are a prey to many misconceptions and false beliefs. These include:
- This month brings in calamities and misfortune. Countless calamities are sent down in this month so much so that if the rest of the year has a count of ten lacs of harm, nine lacs are within the month of Safar.
- Many call this month “tera teri.” The women boil chick peas and give it out as sadqa to prevent harm coming their way.
- Many people say this month is void of any goodness or the mercy of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ). Hence, this is why it is considered a bad omen.
- If people complete their work on the 25th of Safar, they would write out the following: This work was finished in the month of goodness on the 25th of this month. (This is a way to respond to innovation with innovation). The month of Safar is neither filled with goodness nor with evil.
- Newly married couples are separated for the first thirteen days of this month. They are not even allowed to see each other. All couples are separated from each other for the first three days of this month so they are prevented from any bad luck or bad omen.
- Many Muslims do not hold weddings during the month of Muharram or Safar because Muharram was the month of martyrdom for Hussayn (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) while Hassan bin Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was martyred in Safar. Hence, the two months are combined as months of grieving.
Although, the deaths and births are unrelated to any months that they occur in. If this were the case then Rabi-ul-Awwal would have also been considered inauspicious as the death of the Prophet ﷺ took place then. Jamdi ul Awwal would have also been considered ill as Abu Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) died in this month. Same would have been the case with Dhul Hijjah as the second caliph Umar Farooq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and third caliph, Uthman (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) were martyred then. Ramadhan would also have been considered inauspicious as the fourth caliph, Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) passed away then. Similarly, all those months when the prophets, companions or the leaders of Islam died would have been considered bad. In fact, there would never have been a single day that would not have been thought to be good.
Hence, considering Muharram or Safar as months that bring bad tidings and not to hold weddings due to this belief is utterly wrong. To reiterate once again: no month or day is bad. Rather, what is wrong is a person’s unacceptable action and belief.
- Another one of the innovations practiced in the month of Safar is that many people towards the end of this month, people gather at the masjid between Maghrib and Isha. They sit with one person who writes out all the verses of peace (salam). These verses include:
سَلَامٌ قَوْلًا مِّن رَّبٍّ رَّحِيمٍ
[And] “Peace,” a word from a Merciful Lord.
[Yaseen: 58]
سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ نُوحٍ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ
“Peace upon Noah among the worlds.”
[As-Safaat: 79]
سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
“Peace upon Abraham.”
[As-Safaat: 109]
سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ
“Peace upon Musa and Haroon.”
[As-Safaat: 120]
سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوهَا خَالِدِينَ
“Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein,” [they will enter].
[Az-Zumar: 73]
سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ
Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.
[Al-Qadr: 5]
These verses are then dipped in a container filled with water. This water is then distributed for drinking with the intention that all the problems in their lives will be removed from them.
To conclude all such practices are baseless and not a part of our religion in any form or manner. To believe into them is to practice innovation and to fall prey to misguidance. May Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) protect us all from all wrong practices and beliefs and guide us to the Straight Path. (Aameen).
[1]Compilation of Fatawah, Shaykh Ibn Uthaimeen (Rahimullah) 113-115)
