Safar - The Second Hijri Month

Information about Safar
(taken from ZamZam Magazine's website - http://www.zamzam-magazine.com/January2010/islamic_calendar.html)

“Safar is the second month of the Islamic calendar.
The month of Safar comes after Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar.

The Literal meaning of Safar is Empty.

The Arabs were warring nations. Small disputes would easily turn into wars that will last for years and years and sometimes were inherited by generations to come. They usually did not fight during the four sacred months even in the days of Jahiliyya (Pre Islamic Ignorance).

The sacred or war free months were Muharram (1st month of the Islamic Calendar), Rajab (7th month of the Islamic Calendar), Dhul Qa'dah (11th month of the Islamic Calendar) and Dhul Hijjah (12th month of the Islamic Calendar).

Right in the beginning of the month of Safar, houses used to become empty because the ban on fighting and traveling during three consecutive months - Dhul Hijjah, Dhul Qa’dah and Muharram came to an end, and everyone proceeded to settle scores with their rivals. Most houses in most villages were emptied.

In this month people of Makkah also traveled after the customary ban during the sacred months of Muharram, and the two sacred months preceding it was over; emptying their villages or habitations. These travels were either related to trading or battles, both of which were banned during the sacred months.

Going out to fight their enemies and leaving them empty handed after taking away their possessions, may have been another reason for the name Safar (Sifran min al-mata’) – i.e., they would leave their enemies’ coiffeurs empty and take all their belongings away. (Lisan al-‘Arab)

Many Muslims, with improper knowledge of Islam, have superstitions about this month being a month of misfortunes.

The Holy Qur-an has provided clear guidelines about such superstitions:
مَا أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

"No calamity befalls, but with the Leave [i.e. decision and Qadar (Divine Preordainments)] of Allah, and whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart [to the true Faith with certainty, i.e. what has befallen him was already written for him by Allah from the Qadar (Divine Preordainments)], and Allah is the All-Knower of everything."
Surah (Chapter) At-Taghabun (Mutual Loss and Gain) 64:11

Islam does not have any room for superstitious beliefs. Muslims should not believe in any inauspicious days, weeks, months or years, there are no people, houses or things that bring bad luck.

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم also condemned these in the following Ahadith (Sayings of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), especially related to the month of Safar.

"There is no bad omen in the month of Safar and no evil spirits." (Muslim)