The Month of Safar: Myths, History & Islamic Teachings

The Month of Safar is the second of the Islamic calendar months, following Muharram. Deeply rooted in both Islamic beliefs and pre-Islamic Arab customs, Safar has been surrounded by superstitions, historical significance, and religious misconceptions. This article offers a comprehensive exploration of Safar month, shedding light on its Islamic history, dismantling cultural myths, and examining significant Prophet Muhammad campaigns and events tied to this time.

What Is the Month of Safar?

Safar is one of the twelve Hijri months, situated right after Muharram, one of the four sacred months in Islam. The word "Safar" is believed to stem from the Arabic root isfaar, meaning “to be empty,” likely referring to the desertion of Makkah during this period as tribes traveled for trade or war. Another view relates to tribes leaving others "sifran min al-mataa"—deprived of possessions—due to frequent raids.

These early interpretations reflect how pre-Islamic Arabia viewed the month: a time marked by unrest and movement, which shaped many of the Jaahiliyyah practices later rejected by Islam.

Pre-Islamic Beliefs & Practices During Safar

Before Islam, Arabs committed two key errors related to Safar:

1. Altering the Calendar (Al-Nasī')

The mushrikeen (idolaters) manipulated the calendar to suit their desires. They would interchange sacred months, declaring Safar as sacred instead of Muharram, thereby permitting war or restricting ‘Umrah during Hajj months, violating the sacred laws.

“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve… of them four are sacred…”
— Quran 9:36

This verse emphasizes that Allah ordained twelve fixed months, and tampering with them is considered misguidance. Scholars like Ibn Abbas narrated how these distortions became normalized.

2. Superstitions and Omens

Safar was deemed unlucky by Arabs. They believed calamities, disease, or hardship increased during this time. These beliefs extended into early Muslim communities despite Islamic teachings directly refuting them.

Prophetic Guidance Against Safar Superstitions

The Hadith of Abu Hurayrah reports:

“There is no ‘Adwa (contagion without Allah’s will), no bad omen, no Hāmah, and no Safar…”
— Bukhari 5387, Muslim 2220

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explicitly rejected Safar month superstitions, clarifying that time itself holds no inherent harm or blessing—only Allah decrees outcomes.

Ibn Uthaymeen, a renowned Islamic scholar, emphasized that actions or events tied to specific months without Quranic or Prophetic backing are baseless innovations (bid’ah), warning believers not to assign spiritual value to time arbitrarily.

Safar Innovations: False Practices Among Muslims

Despite Islamic clarity, certain innovations during Safar month persist today. Among these are:

1. Invented Supererogatory Prayers

Some falsely claim that a special Duha prayer on the last Wednesday of Safar wards off 320,000 calamities. It includes specific surahs repeated dozens of times, followed by dhikr and charity.

However, Islamic jurisprudence strictly rejects this practice. The Standing Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta declared this prayer a fabricated act, unsupported by any Quranic verse or authentic hadith.

“Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected.”
— Sahih Muslim

2. Drinking Inked Verses

In some regions, people write Quranic verses, dissolve them in water, and drink it on Safar’s final Wednesday, believing it brings protection. Scholars like Shaykh al-Shuqayri deemed this an act of Islamic superstition, having no roots in authentic Islamic teachings.

Major Events in Safar During the Prophet’s Life

Contrary to being an ominous month, Safar saw key military campaigns and Islamic historical events, especially during the early Islamic history of the Prophet’s mission.

1. Campaign of Al-Abwaa (Waddan) – 2 AH

The Prophet Muhammad led his first expedition in Safar, intercepting Quraysh caravans but without conflict. He established a peace treaty with Bani Dumrah, marking an early step toward consolidating peace.

2. Al-Rajee Incident – 3 AH

Muslims sent by the Prophet to teach Islam were betrayed and ambushed. Khubayb ibn Adiy was captured and later executed in Makkah. The betrayal reflected the dangers Muslims faced when spreading the message.

3. Battle of Bi’r Ma’oonah – 4 AH

A delegation of 70 pious Muslims was massacred after being misled under a false promise of safety. Haram ibn Milhan, upon being martyred, famously said:

“I have succeeded, by the Lord of the Ka'bah!”

This event left a deep mark on Islamic history and was mourned deeply by the Prophet.

4. Conquest of Khaybar – 7 AH

The strategic Conquest of Khaybar began at the end of Muharram and continued into Safar. This decisive campaign broke the resistance of Jewish tribes in the region and provided significant economic and political leverage to the Muslims.

5. Campaign of Qutbah ibn Aamir – 9 AH

Sent to Khath’am, Qutbah’s forces launched a successful raid and brought back spoils after a miraculous escape, as floodwaters blocked enemy pursuit.

Debunking False Hadith About Safar

Ibn al-Qayyim, a leading scholar, documented numerous false hadith that falsely predicted events in specific months, including Safar. For instance:

“If the moon is eclipsed in Safar, famine will spread...” — Fabricated

Such narrations are fabrications and contradict the Quranic principle that knowledge of the unseen belongs to Allah alone.

“No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow…”
— Quran 31:34

The Month of Safar in Light of Authentic Islamic Teachings

Safar holds no intrinsic evil or divine curse. It is a month like any other. Assigning spiritual significance—good or bad—without divine instruction is a form of religious distortion and part of man-made religion.

Instead, the Islamic calendar serves to structure our lives around obligations, sacred months, and spiritual reflection, without encouraging superstition or Islamic innovations.

Final Thoughts: What Should Muslims Do in Safar?

• Understand that Safar month is part of the Hijri months, neither cursed nor blessed inherently.

• Avoid Islamic superstitions or rituals not sanctioned by the Quran or authentic Sunnah.

• Reflect on Islamic historical events from the Prophet’s time, such as the battle of Bi’r Ma’oonah and the Conquest of Khaybar.

• Uphold trust in Allah’s decree, and reject cultural myths rooted in Jaahiliyyah practices.

Conclusion

The Month of Safar is a period rich in Islamic history, but also a time plagued by pre-Islamic superstitions and false religious practices. As Muslims, we are called to follow Quranic law, honor Prophet Muhammad’s teachings, and avoid any form of religious innovation or fabricating prohibitions.

Understanding Islamic months through the lens of authentic Islamic jurisprudence helps cleanse our faith from inherited distortions and guides us back to pure submission to Allah’s commands.

Let us respect time as a creation of Allah, neither fearing nor elevating one month over another—unless Allah Himself has done so.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Month of Safar in Islam?

The Month of Safar is the second month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar. It follows Muharram and is one of the 12 recognized Islamic months.

2. Are there any superstitions associated with the Safar month?

Yes, some pre-Islamic Arab traditions falsely claimed Safar was unlucky. Islam, however, rejects these beliefs as baseless superstitions.

3. Did Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) mention anything specific about Safar?

Yes, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) clarified that no month holds inherent misfortune. He rejected the belief in bad omens related to the Safar month.

4. What major events happened in Safar during Islamic history?

Important events include the Campaign of al-Abwaa, the Al-Rajee incident, the Battle of Bi’r Ma’oonah, and the Conquest of Khaybar.

5. Is there a special prayer or ritual for the Month of Safar?

No, there is no authentic hadith or Quranic verse prescribing special rituals or prayers for Safar. Claims to the contrary are innovations.