Is the month of SAFAR unlucky?

Safar is the second month in the Islamic Hijri calendar. There have been a lot of misunderstandings, misinterpretations and misquotations regarding this month in our Muslim society. Many people consider this month to be unlucky, wretched and full of misfortune. In spite of knowing very well that it is Allah (SWT) only, who has the authority to create and control everything in the entire universe.

Countless number of misunderstandings obscure minds of the Ummah these days. Safar is one of the 12 months that have been created by Allah (SWT). There is no significance nor any disadvantages mentioned in the Quran or Hadith regarding this month. There is no reason to curb ourselves of doing activities that are Halal in other months. Allah mentions in the Holy Qur’an…

Quran | Surat-ul-Nisa 04:79

“وَمَآ أَصَـبَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ مَّآ أَصَـبَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ وَأَرْسَلْنَـكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولاً وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدا“

Translation

“Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allah, But whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself. And We have sent you as a Messenger to mankind, and Allah is sufficient as a Witness” — (Surah Nisa, 79)

In the above verse from the Holy Qur’an, we come to know that Allah is responsible for everything Good that happens in our lives. And it is only we, who are responsible for any bad or evil that happens to us and cannot attribute this to Allah or Rasool or any other source, including any month in the Islamic calendar. In spite of there being no evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah, there are still many of us who believe that there are some months in which we should not perform any activities related to Marriage, starting of Business, starting a journey, etc. The astonishing fact about these things is not where these thoughts have come from, but how easily the people believe in them, in spite of there being absolutely no proof anywhere whatsoever. But we try to struggle with proof and basis for the facts that have already been proved correct and beneficial for us in Islam through Qur’an and Sunnah. And then try to evade these facts as far as possible.

We need to keep in our minds that Allah (SWT) has not made anything unlucky. It is Allah’s will that he makes some things beneficial for some people and not for the others. Let us take an example of 2 people who are suffering from the same disease and both of them have been given the same medicine. There are possibilities that one person may get well very soon, but the other may not befit from the same medicine. In fact, there are instances that his health may get deteriorated by the same medicine which was beneficial for the first one.

Many people start their businesses in the same spot, with the same product but there are chances that some may get more profit, others may get medium success, and some may fall with losses. And please remember that there is a difference between ‘Barakah’ (blessings) and Increment (addition or increase). If we see a person who has more than what we have, it does not mean that he has Barakah. Normally we see that people who are unethical, non-Muslims and sinners have lots of wealth, income, children and power. It does not mean that they have Baraka in their income. It means that Allah (SWT) has provided them everything in this world because there is nothing for them in the hereafter. Similarly, a good person may have very small income and wealth, but he will be able to leave a peaceful life with his family and will feel that his money is sufficient. This is called Barakah.

Before the commencement of Islam, people in the Arab lands were very ignorant and superstitious. They used to think of Safar as wretched and full of calamities. They used to say that Safar is an insect or a snake which resides in the stomach and the death occurs because of that snake. Then after the death of the person, the snake will transfer to another person and cause the death of that one as well.

Our beloved Prophet Mohammed (SAWS) has mentioned,

Hadith | Sahih al-Bukhari # 5757

“‏ لاَ عَدْوَى، وَلاَ طِيَرَةَ، وَلاَ هَامَةَ، وَلاَ صَفَرَ ‏”

Translation

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah, “There is no Adwa, no Tiyarah, no haamah, and no Safar.”

We will discuss the above Hadith in brief. Firstly, we must understand the meanings of the Arabic words (ADWA, TIYARAH, HAAMAH & SAFAR). The meaning is as follows:

• ADWA – This word means transfer of disease from one person to another without ALLAH’s will.
• TIYARAH – This Arabic word means believing in superstitions.
• HAAMAH – Belief is ignorant traditions.
• SAFAR – Month of safar

During the earlier days people rejected to live with diseased people. For which the hadith says “NO ADWA” i.e., no disease can be transferred without ALLAH’s will. The same way lots of people blindly believe the superstitions (e.g. seeing black is bad omen etc.), such things are not in Islam. Hence, the hadith says “NO TIYARAH”. Then came the people of Jaahilliyah, who thought that, once a person is buried, an OWL would come out of his burial. So, this hadith clearly states that, there is “NO HAAMAH”. And lastly, the Arabic month safar was considered as an unlucky month. Hence, the hadith advices that there is “NO SAFAR”, which means there no unlucky or lucky in Islam. Whatever happens, would only occur with the will of Allah (SWT).

May Allah give us guidance to understand and make others understand what is Good and what is Bad. AAMEEN!!!