The Month of Safar is a Holy Month
Facts About The Month Of Safar, Safar is the second of the twelve Islamic months. It comes after Muharram. It is one of the four months that Allah has declared as sacred months. As the Holy Quran says: –
“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein…” (9:36)
The Month of Safar is so-called because it was during this month that the Arabs emptied Makkah and traveled. Another school of thought says that the name is derived from the fact that the Arabs used to engage in wars with other tribes during this month.
The hypocrites knew about the sanctity and importance of the month of Safar, so they used to delay it or bring it in advance as per their urge and will. According to a narration from Ibn Abbas, Junaadah Ibn Awf Umayyah al-Kinaani used to say
“We have brought Muharram forward and postponed Safar.”
Then the next year he would say,
“We will make Safar sacred and delay Muharram.”
Misconceptions In This Holy Month
There are many misconceptions about the month of Safar that have been carried through generations. People used to and still believe that this month is inauspicious. For that reason, some people restrain from organizing weddings during the month of Safar. They engage in activities which they believe would do away with bad luck such as boiling chickpeas, making flour balls and throwing them in water and reciting Surah Muzammil 313 times. Such beliefs and superstitions, however, are self-created and cannot be verified from Quran and Sunnah, for Allah has not made any of the twelve months as inauspicious. Holding such beliefs is an act of innovation and is not permissible in Islam.
Events which Took Place in This Month
Some very important events took place in the month of Safar. The battle of Abwaa and the battle of Khyber both took place in Safar. Martyrdom of Khubaib Ibn Adey (RA) and Zaid Ibn Dathina (RA) took place in Safar. It also marks the acceptance of Islam by Khalid and Amr bin al-Aas. Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) beloved daughter Bibi Fatima (RA) married with Hazrat Ali in this month.
These events indicate the auspiciousness of this month and truly condemn any misconception associated with the month of Safar.
