Safar, the second month in the Islamic calendar, has been burdened with misconceptions and cultural superstitions. Some view it as a month of bad luck or illness and avoid weddings and travel during this time. However, Islamic teachings refute all such beliefs with clarity and wisdom.

Religious Standing of Safar

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“There is no contagious disease (without Allah’s will), no bad omens, no evil in owls, and no evil in the month of Safar.”
(Sahih Bukhari: 5705)

Islam does not allow belief in ill fortune or superstitions about any time or event.

What to Do in Safar

No specific act of worship has been prescribed for Safar.

Continue regular worship: prayers, fasting, Qur’an recitation, charity, and good deeds.

Baseless Practices to Avoid

– Labeling the first 13 days as “unlucky”
– Avoiding weddings
– Breaking dishes
– Celebrating the “last Wednesday” of Safar
– Wearing charms or amulets for protection
– Distributing sweets or performing “Puri” rituals

All these have no basis in Islam and are discouraged.

Major Historical Events in Safar

✅ 1 Safar
1 Safar 99 AH / 13 September 717 CE — Death of Caliph Sulayman ibn ‘Abd al‑Malik; ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al‑‘Aziz (RA) becomes caliph.

1 Safar 589 AH / 6 February 1193 CE — Death of Sultan Salahuddin al‑Ayyubi (Saladin).

1 Safar 1419 AH / 28 May 1998 CE — Pakistan conducts five nuclear tests, becoming the first Islamic nuclear power.

✅ 2 Safar
2 Safar 2 AH / August 623 CE — Battle of Abwa (Waddan).

2 Safar 366 AH / 6 September 976 CE — Death of al‑Hakam II (Umayyad Caliph of Córdoba).

✅ 4 Safar
4 Safar 4 AH / July 625 CE — Tragic incidents of Bi’r Ma‘unah and Raji‘.

✅ 7 Safar
7 Safar 918 AH / 24 April 1512 CE — Sultan Selim I ascends the Ottoman throne.

7 Safar 1400 AH / 27 December 1979 CE — Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

✅ 9 Safar
9 Safar 656 AH / 7 February 1258 CE — Hulagu Khan sacks Baghdad, ending the Abbasid Caliphate; over one million Muslims killed.

✅ 12 Safar
12 Safar 2 AH / 4 August 623 CE — Divine permission for fighting back against the disbelievers is revealed.

12 Safar 12 AH / 17 April 633 CE — Battle of Namaraq; Khalid ibn al‑Walid (RA) defeats the Persian commander Qarin.

✅ 13 Safar
13 Safar 1359 AH / 23 March 1940 CE — Lahore Resolution passed, laying the foundation for Pakistan.

✅ 15 Safar
15 Safar (Gregorian: 15 February 1989 CE) — Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in defeat.

✅ 16 Safar
16 Safar 15 AH / 30 March 636 CE — Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas (RA) arrives at Qadisiyyah with the Muslim army.

✅ 17–19 Safar
17–19 Safar 886 AH / 17–19 April 1481 CE — Death of Sultan Mehmed II (Muhammad al‑Fatih), conqueror of Constantinople.

✅ 25 Safar
25 Safar 20 AH / 11 February 641 CE — Conquest of Hamadan (Iran).

25 Safar 20 AH / 11 February 641 CE — ‘Amr ibn al‑‘As (RA) captures the fortress in Egypt.

✅ 26 Safar
26 Safar 16 AH / 29 March 637 CE — Conquest of al‑Madā’in (Ctesiphon); first Jumu‘ah prayed in the White Palace (Qasr al‑Abyad).

✅ 27 Safar
27 Safar 1037 AH / 28 October 1627 CE — Death of Mughal Emperor Jahangir (buried at Shahdara, Lahore).

27 Safar 1387 AH / 6 June 1967 CE — Start of the Six‑Day Arab–Israeli War.

🔎 Safar (Date Within the Month Not Specified)

Safar 180 AH / 1 April 796 CE — Death of Hisham ibn ‘Abd al‑Rahman, Emir of al‑Andalus.

273 AH / July 886 CE — Death of Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al‑Rahman, Emir of al‑Andalus.

310 AH / 31 May 922 CE — Earthquake at Wasit (Iraq); 1,300 villages buried.

Safar 1034 AH / November 1624 CE — Death of Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi (Mujaddid Alf Thani).

Safar 1274 AH / 21 September 1857 CE — British seize Delhi; Bahadur Shah Zafar arrested and exiled to Rangoon.

Safar 1324 AH / April 1906 CE — Birth of King Faisal bin ‘Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

Safar 1333 AH / December 1914 CE — Death of Maulana Altaf Husain Hali.

Safar is neither cursed nor a month of disaster, it is a chapter of immense historical triumphs, sacrifices, and leadership. Muslims must treat this month with the same dignity and devotion as others and reject all baseless cultural beliefs.