Is the month of Safar unlucky?

Islam is the religion of truth and veracity.  It is the religion which has illuminated the world with belief of Tauheed (the unity of Allah) and Prophethood.  It ended superstitions and blind beliefs of all kinds.

 

Among the superstitions of the pre-Islamic days was that the month of Safar was considered to be inauspicious and people would take it as an ill omen.  In that period, people believed that because of this month, they would face difficulties and their livelihoods would be destroyed.  They believed that because of this month, they would get diseases and would generally consider it unlucky.  They would not start any important work or new project, etc. in this month.

 

Islam ended all these wrong beliefs and through its beliefs and faith, gave the lesson that difficulties are not related to a particular year or month, but are in fact a test for the pious and a direct result of the wrongdoings for the sinful.  Allah Most High says:

 

And whatever misfortune befalls you, (comes upon you) as a result of that (evil work) which your own hands have done while He forgives most of your (misdoings).  Surah Shoora (42:30)

 

In the pre-Islamic days, people would take omens from flying birds.  If the bird flew to the right, they would take it as a good omen.  If the bird flew straight upwards or straight downwards, they would take this as a sign that whatever work they are going to start, it will be completed, albeit with some delay.  If the bird flew to the left, they would take it as an ill omen.  If they saw a falcon, they would become worried as the Arabic word for falcon (Aqaab) means punishment.  If they would a crow (Ghuraab in Arabic), they would take it as a sign of difficulties and travel and poverty and if they saw a hoopoe, they would take it as a sign of guidance, etc.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) refuted all these blind beliefs:

 

Translation: No disease is contagious (by itself), taking ill omens is not permissible and there is no inauspiciousness in owls or in the month of Safar.  (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 5380)

 

Good, bad and the will of Allah Most High:

 

In reality, Almighty Allah is the one who grants all that is good.  He has the power to bestow comfort and solace and He is the one who grants success of every kind.  He grants succor, He causes rains and along with all this, He keeps testing His slaves.  Sometimes, He tests them by granting bounties and sometimes by putting them through difficulties, to see who is the slave who turns to His Lord Almighty on His blessings and grants and who turns away from Him.  He tests whether one is grateful and thankful to Almighty Allah for his blessings or turns away from Him; whether the slave loses hope and gets drawn away from the path of truth or whether the slave is steadfast in difficulties and trials.  Allah Most High says:

 

And when We bestow upon man (some) blessing he turns away (from gratitude) and escapes, but when some distress comes upon him he despairs (i.e. he is neither grateful nor patient).  Say: ‘Everyone acts according to his own (respective) style and nature, and your Lord knows full well who is best guided to the straight path.  Surah Bani Israil (17:83,84)

 

When one believes in Allah Most High and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), there will definitely be tests and trials.  As Allah Most High says:

 

Do people think that they will be released (just) on saying: ‘We have believed,’ and they will not be tried?  And surely We tried (also) those who were before them. Certainly Allah shall make them prominent (through trial) who are truthful (in claiming belief), and shall make known the liars (as well).  Surah Ankabut (29:1,2)

 

As far as taking ill omens is concerned, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has completely negated it.  There is a Hadith:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Taking something as an ill omen is like Shirk, associating partners with Almighty Allah.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said this thrice.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 1712; Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 3912)

 

Hadhrat Mulla Ali Qari (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says: 

 

Translation:  Taking something as an ill omen is akin to associating partners with Allah Most High as in the days of ignorance (the days before Islam), it was the belief of people that if they acted upon the demand of the ill omen, they would profit from it or difficulty and/or harm would be driven away by it.  When they acted on such a demand then it is as if they associated partners with Allah Most High.  If someone has the belief that there is something, apart from Allah Most High, which has its own power to benefit or put through difficulty, then that person has committed the Greater Shirk.  (Mirqaatul Mafateeh, Vol. 4, Pg. No. 522)

 

The month of Safar is not unlucky:

 

There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari:

 

Translation: No disease is contagious (by itself), taking ill omens is not permissible and there is no inauspiciousness in owls or in the month of Safar.  (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 5380)

 

Our master, Abul Hasanaat Hadhrat Syed Abdullah Shah Sahab Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri (May Allah shower His mercy on him) writes about this Hadith in his famous Hadith classic, Zujajatul Masabeeh:

 

Translation:  Imam Abu Dawood (May Allah shower His mercy on him) writes in his Sunan Abu Dawood that Muhaddith Baqiya asked his teacher Muhammad bin Rashid about this Hadith and he said:  In the days of ignorance, people used to consider the month of Safar unlucky, so the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) made it clear that Safar is not unlucky.  Imam Qazi Iyaz (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says:  With this Hadith, this superstition about the month of Safar is negated, that more difficulties descend in Safar.  (Zujajatul Masabeeh, Vol. 3, Pg. No. 447)

 

With these lines, it becomes clear that considering the month of Safar is unislamic.  Not marrying in this month or considering having celebrations as unreasonable is all wrong and is the remnant of the days of ignorance.  They have no place in Islam.

 

Even if we look at the month of Safar historically, there is a Hadith that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) performed the marriage of the Lady of Jannah, Hadhrat Fatima Zahra (May Allah be well pleased with her) with Hadhrat Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) in this month, although the famous narration is about the month of Shawwal.  This narration is in Subul Ul Huda War Rashad, Vol. 12, Pg. No. 469.

 

Some people consider starting a journey in the month of Safar as unlucky, although the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) started for Madina from Makkah in the last days of Safar, as given in Sharh Zurqani Alal Mawahib, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 102.

 

Safar – Month of success and victories:

 

This month of Safar has proven to be a month of extraordinary success and victories for Muslims and Islam.  This was the month, which had the Conquest of Makkah concealed in it.  In a way, the Emigration in Safar became the reason of propagation of Islam.  That is why, normally Safar is referred to as “Safar-e-Muzaffar,” Lit.  Safar, the one of victory.

 

Muslims should strictly refrain from entertaining such superstitions.  In the same way, keeping eggs, oil, etc. in the name of “Tera Tezi” is also a useless act.  Staying away from these things is also necessary.  If someone wants to give charity, Sadqa, etc. to please Allah Most High, then like in other months, it is permissible and is an established Sunnah.

 

Some people believe that on the last Wednesday of Safar, we should go on picnics and walk on green grass, etc.  If this walking is done to remove difficulties (!), then there is no concept of this in the canons of Islam.  If you think that on the last Wednesday, difficulties descend, then in this case, instead of picnics, etc. you should pray and worship Allah Most High and give charity, as it calms the wrath of Almighty Allah and His approval is gained.

 

Dua to recite in the month of Safar:

 

There is a Hadith in Zujajatul Masabeeh on the authority of Sunan Abu Dawood:

 

Translation:  It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat 'Urwa bin A'amir (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said that unluckiness, ill-omen, etc. was mentioned before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Good omen is good, unluckiness, ill omen, etc. do not become an obstacle in the work of any Muslim.  Thus, if any one of you sees anything which he (or she) does not like, recite:

 

Transliteration:  Allahumma La Ya'atee Bil Hasanaati Illa Anta, Wa La Yadfa'auss Sayyiaati Illa Anta, Wa La Haula Wa La Quwwata Illa Billah.

 

Translation: O Allah! You are the one who brings every kind of good; You are the one who removes every kind of evil, there is no strength to stay away from evil and there is no strength to perform anything good except through the help of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala).