By: Muḥammad Arshad Kamāl
Excerpted from the book: "Islāmī Maheenay aur un kā Taʿāruf" (pp. 80–82, 91–95)
The month of Ṣafar has been subject to many baseless superstitions and cultural innovations, which are refuted by clear Islamic teachings:
Some people consider Ṣafar to be a month of misfortune and avoid:
◈ Weddings
◈ Business ventures
◈ Important decisions
However, Rasūlullāh ﷺ explicitly rejected this notion:
"وَلَا صَفَرَ"
“There is no [bad omen or disease associated with] Ṣafar.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5757)
Some believe that “Teeza Tezī”, i.e., a series of calamities and diseases, descends during Ṣafar. This belief is rooted in ignorance and superstition, and has no basis in Islam.
In some cultures, it is customary to clear spider webs during Ṣafar. Islam, however, encourages cleanliness throughout the year, and there is no religious basis to restrict it to this month.
There is a cultural practice of cooking sweet dish (Choorī) on the last Wednesday of Ṣafar and associating various myths and tales with it.
✘ There is no proof in Sharīʿah for this practice.
✘ It is a baseless innovation.
Some people promote virtues or special status for Ṣafar. However:
There is no authentic ḥadīth that declares any special merit or virtue for the month of Ṣafar.
Although not religiously significant, some notable historical occurrences and deaths of prominent scholars happened in Ṣafar:
✔ Conquest of Madāʾin
✔ Battle of Ṣiffīn
✔ Deaths of renowned scholars and leaders:
◈ Imām al-Awzāʿī
◈ Imām Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd al-Qaṭṭān
◈ Imām ʿAlī ibn Mūsā al-Riḍā
◈ Imām al-Ṭabarānī
◈ Imām Ibn Shāhīn
◈ Imām al-Nasāʾī
◈ al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Ḥākim al-Naysābūrī
◈ Sulṭān Ṣalāḥuddīn al-Ayyūbī, and others (رحمهم الله)
(For details, refer to Islāmī Maheenay aur un kā Taʿāruf, pp. 91–95)
➤ The month of Ṣafar is neither cursed nor sacred.
➤ All beliefs related to misfortune or innovations during this month are unfounded in Islam.
➤ A Muslim should avoid all superstitions and innovations (bidʿah) and follow authentic teachings of the Prophet ﷺ.
Excerpted from the book: "Islāmī Maheenay aur un kā Taʿāruf" (pp. 80–82, 91–95)
✦ Misguided Beliefs Regarding the Month of Ṣafar
The month of Ṣafar has been subject to many baseless superstitions and cultural innovations, which are refuted by clear Islamic teachings:
① Belief in Bad Luck Associated with Ṣafar
Some people consider Ṣafar to be a month of misfortune and avoid:
◈ Weddings
◈ Business ventures
◈ Important decisions
However, Rasūlullāh ﷺ explicitly rejected this notion:
"وَلَا صَفَرَ"
“There is no [bad omen or disease associated with] Ṣafar.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5757)
② Notion of “Teeza Tezī” (Disasters in Ṣafar)
Some believe that “Teeza Tezī”, i.e., a series of calamities and diseases, descends during Ṣafar. This belief is rooted in ignorance and superstition, and has no basis in Islam.
③ Clearing Spider Webs Only in Ṣafar
In some cultures, it is customary to clear spider webs during Ṣafar. Islam, however, encourages cleanliness throughout the year, and there is no religious basis to restrict it to this month.
④ Cooking "Choorī" on the Last Wednesday of Ṣafar
There is a cultural practice of cooking sweet dish (Choorī) on the last Wednesday of Ṣafar and associating various myths and tales with it.
✘ There is no proof in Sharīʿah for this practice.
✘ It is a baseless innovation.
⑤ Claimed Virtues of Ṣafar
Some people promote virtues or special status for Ṣafar. However:
There is no authentic ḥadīth that declares any special merit or virtue for the month of Ṣafar.✦ Historical Events in Ṣafar
Although not religiously significant, some notable historical occurrences and deaths of prominent scholars happened in Ṣafar:
✔ Conquest of Madāʾin
✔ Battle of Ṣiffīn
✔ Deaths of renowned scholars and leaders:
◈ Imām al-Awzāʿī
◈ Imām Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd al-Qaṭṭān
◈ Imām ʿAlī ibn Mūsā al-Riḍā
◈ Imām al-Ṭabarānī
◈ Imām Ibn Shāhīn
◈ Imām al-Nasāʾī
◈ al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Ḥākim al-Naysābūrī
◈ Sulṭān Ṣalāḥuddīn al-Ayyūbī, and others (رحمهم الله)
(For details, refer to Islāmī Maheenay aur un kā Taʿāruf, pp. 91–95)
✦ Conclusion
➤ The month of Ṣafar is neither cursed nor sacred.
➤ All beliefs related to misfortune or innovations during this month are unfounded in Islam.
➤ A Muslim should avoid all superstitions and innovations (bidʿah) and follow authentic teachings of the Prophet ﷺ.
