Al-Qalam 
By Imam Dr. A. Rashied Omar
We are currently in the lunar month of Safar, 1477 AH, the second month of the Hijri calendar. For many, Safar passes with little notice. But in pre-Islamic Arabia, this month carried ominous weight, laden with superstition and irrational fear. It was widely believed that Safar brought misfortune. Marriages were avoided, travel was postponed, and new ventures were delayed out of dread that calamity might strike.
These fears were rooted not in fact, but in what Islamic scholars call jahlun muraqqabun, a compounded form of ignorance. In this worldview, human beings were seen as helpless before arbitrary forces and cursed times. But one of the central missions of the Prophet Muḥammad (PBUH) was to liberate hearts and minds from such illusions.
In a deliberate and symbolic act, the Prophet (PBUH) chose to marry Sayyidah ʿAʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) during the very month of Ṣafar. This was not merely a personal decision; it was a public rejection of superstition and a declaration that every moment in the Islamic calendar is infused with divine potential and blessing (barakah). In doing so, the Prophet (pbuh) illuminated a path away from fatalism and toward empowered moral agency.
In a profound ḥadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah and collected in the authentic books of Imam Bukhārī and Imam Muslim, the Prophet (pbuh) dismantled these ancient myths in a few powerful words when he proclaimed:
“There is no contagion (ʿadwā), no evil omen (ṭiyarah), no haunting spirit (hāmah), and no bad luck in the month of Ṣafar.”
This ḥadīth is more than a theological correction; it is a spiritual emancipation. It calls us to live by the central tenet of tawḥid (Divine Oneness): that nothing, not a number, a star, or a calendar date, has intrinsic power. Only Allah possesses ultimate authority. Harm and benefit lie not in omens, but in our moral conduct, in our trust in God’s wisdom, and in our ethical choices. The Qur’an reinforces this message unequivocally. In verse 30 of Surat ash-Shūrā (Chapter 42), Allah proclaims:
“Whatever misfortune befalls you is because of what your own hands have done, yet Allah forgives much.” (Q 42:30)
This verse does not diminish Divine Mercy; it amplifies it. While it affirms that human actions have consequences, it simultaneously reminds us of Allah’s forbearance, compassion, and readiness to forgive. Thus, instead of blaming cursed times or malevolent forces, the Qur’an calls us to take responsibility, to act with integrity, and to return to the Lord of Compassion and Mercy with renewed hearts.
Safar: A Month for Reflection and Renewal
Rather than fearing the month of Ṣafar, we are invited to reclaim it as a season for quiet renewal, spiritual reflection, and positive action. Let us seize this time to:
- Reject superstitions and fatalism in all their forms.
- Strengthen our relationship with Allah through regular ṣalāh, supplication (duʿāʾ), and acts of kindness, even if small.
- Show solidarity with those facing immense suffering, especially the starving people of Gaza and other oppressed communities, through our prayers, advocacy, and ethical witness.
- Place our full trust in Allah, the Lord of Compassion, the One who governs the cosmos with mercy and justice.
As we move through Ṣafar and beyond, may we do so not with fear, but with tawakkul (trust), taqwā (God-consciousness), and ʿamal ṣāliḥ (righteous action). Let us embody the spirit of a faith that liberates us not just from worldly despair, but from the illusions that limit our moral and spiritual horizons. Indeed, every month, Ṣafar included, is a sacred opportunity to realign our lives with Divine Wisdom and to walk forward in the light of Prophetic Guidance.
