Alhamdulillah, we are in the second month of 1442 Hijri, Safar. There are a lot of misconceptions and baseless theories associated with this month in various Muslim countries.
In this article of “Islamic Months Series,” we will do our best to clear up these misconceptions and to share the meaning, history, and importance of Safar in the Islamic Calendar.
The Month of Safar – Meaning and History
As you might already know, Arabs knew the sacredness of the Dhū al-Qa’dah, Dhu al-Ḥijjah, and Muḥarram and thus refrained from war & battle throughout this period. But as soon as the month of Safar started, they used to leave their houses empty and do their best to go to war & do raids to collect as much war booty as possible.
The month of Safar got its name from this ‘emptying of the houses’ because one of the meanings of Safar is literally ‘Empty’.
Major Misconceptions About Safar
1) Bad/Difficult/Evil Month:
One of the widely spread misconceptions about the month of Safar is that it is a difficult month for people, both alive and dead. This misconception founds no basis in the Quran or Authentic Hadith collections and it is totally baseless.
As we have shared the history of this month in Arabs above, you know that they used to wage wars and execute raids after the month of Muharram, thus it created a lot of difficulties for people and society because of the loss of money & social order.
Thus, they associated the image of difficulty and hardships with this month, and the theory carried on to future generations who were unaware of its origin.
Thus the ‘difficulty’ associated with this month was never because of an evil spirit but because of people’s own bad actions and injustices.
“And whatever strikes you of disaster – it is for what your hands have earned, but He pardons much.”
Al Quran (42:30)
2) Nikah/Business/Opening:
Another misconception associated with Safar is that we should not begin or start any good thing in our life during this month. If we do, the evil spirit will not let us flourish and we will suffer a terrible loss.
Therefore, many people make it a point not to conduct Nikah or marriages during Safar, to not start or inaugurate a business during Safar, and to delay their major steps in life until the month of Safar ends. Instead, nikah and marriages as per Islamic guidance should be held like any other month.
This misconception is also totally baseless and does not find any source in the Quran and the collection of Ahadith.
It is influenced by the previous misconception that this month is difficult and full of evil spirits so one should not conduct any occasion of happiness or any business or major step in the month of Safar.
Our Prophet, Muhammad (P.B.U.H), cleared this misconception by teaching:
There is no superstitious owl, or bird, no star-promising rain, and no bad omen in the month of Safar.
[Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 5707]
3) First Thirteen Days (Taira Taizi)
Another misconception about the month of Safar is that its first 13 days are particularly difficult and that evil spirits, Jinn, and human sickness descend during these days on kids, young girls & brides and that no major/good step should be taken during these 13 days.
Many people break their earthen utensils with the belief that these are the targets of evil spirits in the first thirteen days of the Safar.
This misconception, like others, is also based on the first misconception that the month of Safar is basically unlucky.
But Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) taught otherwise:
There is no bad omen in the month of Safar and no Ghouls (evil spirits).
[Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2222]
4) Celebration at the End of the Month
Based on the main misconception of Safar being the unlucky month, it is observed that many Muslims distribute various food items (depending on the Muslim country & its culture) with the belief that this will help keep the evil spirits away from them during the last days of Safar.
There is another misbelief held by many people that the last Wednesday of the month of Safar was the day when the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) took the ‘bath of health’ after regaining health from sickness. So they celebrate this day and observe it as a holiday in the hope of earning a reward from Allah S.W.T.
Both of these beliefs are totally baseless and there are no proofs of them in any verse of the Quran or any Authentic Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H).
What to Do In the Month of Safar?
There are no specific deeds recommended during the month of Safar in Islam and there is no special merit or virtue attached to this month. We should worship Allah S.W.T and do our best to follow the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) throughout the year so we should strive our best this month also.
As there are a lot of misconceptions related to the month of Safar among Muslims, we should make it a point to shun these misbeliefs and Acts of Shirk and spread awareness among people.
We should make it a point:
- To shun all types of misconceptions & incorrect beliefs regarding the month of Safar with our words & deeds. We should also make people aware of the severity of such beliefs as some of them lead one to commit shirk with Allah S.W.T.
- To understand & comprehend the reality that the most unfortunate person is the one who disobeys his Lord, Allah S.W.T and that one of the biggest forms of disobeying Allah S.W.T is to be careless about the obligatory prayers.
Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H Said: “Pray, 0 Allah! Cause not anyone of us to be a wretched destitute.” He then asked: “Do you know who is a wretched destitute?” Upon the request of the Sahabah (R.A), he replied, “A wretched destitute is he who neglects his Salaat.” - To know & revise that there is no misfortune, evil spirit, or any hardship caused by evil spirits this month and that Allah is the only creator, sustainer & maintainer of this world and that nothing happens except by His will.
May Allah S.W.T enable us to live according to His will and follow the best example of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) in every aspect of our lives. Ameen.
