What does Islam say about taking something
as unlucky or inauspicious? What do the Holy
Quran and Hadith say about them month of
Safar, which many people believe is unlucky
Islam is a religion of truth and veracity. It has illuminated
the whole world with the radiance of monotheism and
Prophethood and has ended all kinds of fallacious and
polytheistic customs and rituals.
One among the fallacious beliefs of the days of ignorance
(the pre-Islamic) days was that people believed that the
month of Safar (the 2nd month in the Islamic calendar)
was unlucky. They actually believed that because of the
coming of this month, they would be entangled in
difficulties and their finances and livelihoods would be
affected as well. They held the belief that because of this
month, they would get diseases and that nothing new
should be started in this month.
With the coming of Islam, all these fallacious beliefs were
uprooted. Through the eternal bounty of faith, it gave the
message that difficulties and trials are not related to any
month or year, but that they are tests by Allah Most High
for His pious servants and for the erring ones, they are the
result of their own deeds. Allah Most High says in the
Holy Quran:
And whatever misfortune befalls you (comes upon you) as
a result of that (evil work) which your own hands have
done whilst He forgives most of your (misdoings). Surah
Shoora (42:30)
In the days of ignorance, people would take omens from
the flight of birds. If the bird flew to the right, then it was
taken as a good omen. If the bird flew straight up or
straight down, it was taken as a sign that that particular
task would be accomplished but would be delayed. If the
bird flew to the left, they would take it as an ill omen that
that task could never be accomplished. If they saw an
“‘Uqaab,” they would take it as an ill omen as the name
of this particular bird means punishment. If they saw a
crow they would take it as an omen for difficulties in
journey. If they saw a hoopoe, they would take it as an
omen of guidance.
The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said in
negation of this fallacious beliefs:
Translation: No disease comes on its own, taking an ill
omen is impermissible and there is no inauspiciousness
in the month of Safar. (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 5380;
Zujajatul Masabeeh, Vol. 3, Pg. No. 446)
Good and evil, and the will of Allah
In reality, Almighty Allah is the One who grants all good.
He is the One who endows comfort and solace. He is the
One who grants success to one and all. He grants
comfort and He showers mercy. Along with all this, the
Lord Almighty also tests His slaves. Sometimes He tests
them with His bounties and sometimes He tests them
through trials and difficulties to see which slave of His
turns to Him in times of plenty and quietude and who
distances oneself from Him. Almighty Allah makes it
clear whether the slave turns to Him with thankfulness or
turns away from His door, whether the slave is patient on
the trials and tribulations or despairs and swerves from
His path, whether the slave stays on the illumined paths
of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah or loses
himself/herself in the darkness of disobedience and
noncompliance. Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:
And when We bestow upon man (some) blessing, he turns
away (from gratitude) and escapes, but when some
distress comes upon him, he despairs (i.e., he is neither
grateful nor patient). Say: ?Everyone acts according to his
own (respective) style and nature, and your Lord knows
full well who is best guided to the straight path. Surah
Bani Israil (17:83, 84)
It is the belief of every Muslim that good and evil are both
from Allah and that bounties are granted from His door.
Trials and tribulations are also by His design. Spring and
bloom are also from Him and storms and droughts are
also from Him, protection of life and wealth is also from
Him and danger to them is also from Him. Thus, He tests
His slaves in every manner. When we believe in Almighty
Allah and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam),
we will surely be tested, as Almighty Allah says in the Holy
Quran:
Alif, Lam, Mim. (Only Allah and the Messenger [blessings
and peace be upon him] know the real meaning.) Do
people think that they will be released (just) on saying:
?We have believed,? and they will not be tried? Surah
Ankabut (29:1, 2)
Our blind beliefs impel us to think that the month of Safar
has come, God knows how these days will be spent, in
what difficulties will we be embroiled, what disease will
we be afflicted with?
It should be remembered that months and days don’t
bring difficulties; hardships don’t come because of a
particular month. If we reflect on this, we will understand
that these difficulties are a direct result of our bad deeds.
In the month of Safar, we should think over carefully
whether our blind beliefs haven’t led us to this end.
If we surrender all our affairs to Almighty Allah and His
glorious Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) then neither
will we fall prey to these suspicions nor will such thoughts
worry us.
The blind beliefs of the nation of Thamud
The Holy Quran mentions the blind beliefs of the nation of
Thamud that out of fear of hunger and thirst they rejected
the bounty of Almighty Allah. That dromedary that had
been sent to them as a sign of Allah’s power, they
slaughtered that dromedary, kept on disobeying Almighty
Allah and because of this, they were punished. They were
not prepared to let Hadhrat Saleh (May peace be upon
him) and his followers to even stay with them. They told
him that we consider you and your followers as
inauspicious that this difficulty has come on us because
of you. It is given in the Holy Quran:
They said: ?You have caused us misfortune, and so have
your companions.? (Salih) said: ?(The cause of) your
misfortune is (written) with Allah; you people have rather
been put to trial.? Surah Naml (27:47)
This verse of the Holy Quran shows us that difficulties are
a result on one’s own deeds. Holding others responsible
for them is not the practice of Muslims. It is in fact the
practice of those who deny Allah, as mentioned in this
verse of the Holy Quran:
And whatever misfortune befalls you (comes upon you) as
a result of that (evil work) which your own hands have
done whilst He forgives most of your (misdoings). Surah
Shoora (42:30)
Prohibition of taking an ill omen from something
As far as taking an ill omen is considered, the Holy
Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has declared this
very belief as wrong and negated it in the following words:
Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat
‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with
him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)
said: Taking an ill omen is similar to polytheism. He
repeated this thrice. (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 1712;
Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 3912)
Hadhrat Mulla ‘Ali Qari (May Allah shower His mercy on
him) writes in the interpretation of this Hadith:
Translation: Taking something as an ill omen is Shirk
(associating things with Allah), as in the pre-Islamic days,
people used to believe that by acceding to the demand of
an ill omen, they will receive some benefit or that it
removes some hardship or difficulty and if they accede to
that demand then it is as if they have ascribed partners to
Allah and this is called Hidden Polytheism (Shirk Khafi)
and if a person holds the belief that there is something
other than Allah which can benefit and harm, which has
its own power, then they have committed Blatant
Polytheism (Shirk Jali). (Mirqaat Ul Mafateeh Sharh
Mishkaat Ul Masabeeh, Vol. 4, Pg. No. 522)
‘Allama Qazi Iyaz (May Allah shower His mercy on him)
says:
Translation: The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa
sallam) declared this as polytheism because those kind of
people believe that that thing from which they take the ill
omen has the power to affect and acceding to these
things is generally Hidden Polytheism, especially when
ignorance and blind beliefs are also present, then it is all
the more obvious why this is Hidden Polytheism. (Mirqaat
Ul Mafateeh, Vol. 4, Pg. No. 522/523)
There is another Hadith in Sunan Abu Dawood:
Translation: Drawing omens using birds, taking
something as ill omen and drawing omens using pebbles
are all satanic activities. (Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No.
3909)
The month of Safar is not unlucky
There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari:
Translation: No disease comes on its own, taking
something as ill omen is prohibited and there is no
inauspiciousness in owl or in the month of Safar. (Sahih
Bukhari, Hadith No. 5380)
Muhaddith-e-Deccan Hadhrat Abul Hasanaat Syed
Abdullah Shah Sahab Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri (May
Allah shower His mercy on him) writes in the explanatory
notes of this Hadith:
Translation: Imam Abu Dawood (May Allah shower His
mercy on him) writes in Sunan Abu Dawood that
Muhaddith Baqiya asked his teacher Muhammad bin
Rashid about this Hadith and he said: In the days of
ignorance, people used to consider the month of Safar
unlucky, so the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)
made it clear that Safar is not unlucky. Imam Qazi Iyaz
(May Allah shower His mercy on him) says: With this
Hadith, this superstition about the month of Safar is
negated, that difficulties descend more in Safar.
(Zujajatul Masabeeh, Vol. 3, Pg. No. 447)
With these lines, it becomes clear that considering the
month of Safar is unislamic. Not marrying in this month
or considering having celebrations as unreasonable is all
wrong and is a remnant of the days of ignorance. They
have no place in Islam.
Even if we look at the month of Safar historically, there is
a Hadith that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa
sallam) performed the marriage of the Lady of Jannah,
Hadhrat Fatima Zahra (May Allah be well pleased with
her) with Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with
him) in this month, although the famous narration is
about the month of Shawwal. This narration is in Subul Ul
Huda War Rashad, Vol. 12, Pg. No. 469:
Translation: Hadhrat Ja’afar bin Muhammad (May Allah
be well pleased with him) says: Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah
be well pleased with him) married Hadhrat Fatima Zahra
(May Allah be well pleased with her) in 2 Hijri in the
month of Safar and she came to live with him 22 months
after the Emigration in the beginning days of Dhul Qa’ada.
(Subul Ul Huda War Rashad, Vol. 12, Pg. No. 469)
Some people consider starting a journey in the month of
Safar as unlucky, although the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu
alaihi wa sallam) started for Madina from Makkah in the
last days of Safar, as given in Sharh Zurqani ‘Alal
Mawahib, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 102.
Safar – Month of success and victories
This month of Safar has proven to be a month of
extraordinary success and victories for Muslims and
Islam. This was the month, which had the Conquest of
Makkah concealed in it. In a way, the Hijrah in Safar
became the reason of propagation of Islam. That is why,
normally Safar is referred to as “Safar-e-Muzaffar,” Lit.
Safar, the one of victory.
Muslims should strictly refrain from entertaining such
superstitions. In the same way, keeping eggs, oil, etc. in
the name of “Tera Tezi” is also a useless act. Staying
away from these things is also necessary. If someone
wants to give charity, Sadqa, etc. to please Almighty Allah
, then like in other months, it is permissible and is an
established Sunnah.
Some people believe that on the last Wednesday of Safar,
we should go on picnics and walk on green grass, etc. If
this walking is done to remove difficulties (!), then there is
no concept of this in the canons of Islam. If you think that
on the last Wednesday, difficulties descend, then in this
case, instead of picnics, etc. you should pray and worship
Almighty Allah and give charity, as it removes the wrath
of Almighty Allah and the approval of Almighty Allah is
gained as mentioned in this Hadith of Jame’ Tirmidhi:
Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat
Anas bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him), he
says: The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
Verily charity and good deeds calms the wrath of Allah
and drive away a bad death. (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No.
666; Shua’bul Iman, Hadith No. 3202)
Dua to recite in the month of Safar
There is a Hadith in Zujajatul Masabeeh on the authority
of Sunan Abu Dawood:
Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the
authority of Hadhrat ‘Urwa Bin A’amir (May Allah be well
pleased with him), he said that unluckiness, ill-omen, etc.
was mentioned before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi
wa sallam). He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Good
omen is good, unluckiness, ill omen, etc. do not become
an obstacle in the work of any Muslim. Thus, if any one of
you sees anything which he (or she) does not like, recite:
Transliteration: Allahumma La Yaatee Bil Hasanaati Illa
Anta, Wa La Yadfa’auss Sayyiaati Illa Anta, Wa La Haula
Wa La Quwwata Illa Billah.
Translation: O Allah! You are the one who brings every
kind of good; You are the one who removes every kind of
evil, there is no strength to stay away from evil and there
is no strength to perform anything good except through
the help of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). (Zujajatul
Masabeeh, Vol. 3, Pg. No. 445, Hadith No. 3921)
Wednesday is not unlucky
This is true that one day is better than others and one
period of time is better than others, but considering other
days/months, etc. as without blessings (Barakah) and
unlucky is not correct at all. As far as Wednesday is
concerned, its excellence is mentioned in the rigorouslyauthenticated
Hadith (Sahih Hadith). There is a Hadith in
Sahih Muslim on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah
(May Allah be well pleased with him):
Translation: The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa
sallam) said: ………..and Allah Ta’ala created Noor on
Wednesday. (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 2, Pg No. 371, Hadith
No. 7231; Musnad Imam Ahmed bin Hambal, Hadith No.
8563; Sunan Kubra Lil Baihaqui, Vol. 9, Pg. No. 3; Sunan
Kubra Lin Nasai, Hadith No. 11010; Mojam Al Ausat Lit
Tabarani, Hadith No. 3360)
This Hadith shows that Wednesday is that blessed day in
which Almighty Allah created Noor (radiance). Thus, this
belief that no important work should be done on this day
is wrong. Doing anything important on this day will, by
the will of Almighty Allah, be blessed.
Imam Sakhawi writes in Maqasid Hasanah:
Translation: It is mentioned on the authority of Burhan Ul
Islam from his book “Ta’aleem Al Muta’allim” who
narrates that his famous teacher, the author of Hidayah,
‘Allama Marghinani (May Allah shower His mercy on him),
would start a new lesson on Wednesday and would relate
a Hadith in this respect that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu
alaihi wa sallam) said: Whatever is begun on Wednesday
will come to fruition. (Maqasid Ul Hasanah, Harf Ul
Meem)
For this reason, in the world famous Islamic university
Jamia Nizamia, Hyderabad, lessons are begun on
Wednesday.
Repentance – Cure for all difficulties
If we Muslims establish the fear of Almighty Allah in our
hearts and seek the benevolence of Allah and shed tears
of regret on our present states, then Allah will surely
enrich our lives with blessings and our sorrow and cares
will be removed.
Here we present an anecdote from Tafseer Kabeer, the
exegesis of Imam Raadhi (May Allah shower His mercy on
him), which is very beneficial for us:
Translation: A person came to Hadhrat Imam Hasan Basri
(May Allah be well pleased with him) and complained of
insufficient rains. The Imam asked to repent. Some
other person came and complained of being poor,
somebody else complained of not having children and
somebody else complained about the fruits of his
orchards. Hadhrat Imam Hasan Basri (May Allah be well
pleased with him) instructed all of them to repent i.e. to
ask Allah for forgiveness. People were surprised at this.
They said: People came to you with different complaints
and you asked all of them to repent. In reply, Hadhrat
Hasan Basri (May Allah be well pleased with him) recited
this verse of the Holy Quran: Surah Nooh 10,12
Every moment spent in remembrance of Allah is
auspicious
Hadhrat Imam Hasan Basri (May Allah be well pleased
with him) has declared repentance as the cure for all
troubles and instructed the Ummah to turn to Allah.
Nowadays we have to ensure that our days and nights be
spent in the remembrance of Allah, that we follow the
Shariah and act upon the Holy Quran and the Hadith, that
we think over our actions, that we value our time, that we
don’t spend time in heedlessness as inauspiciousness will
enter our lives only when we become heedless of Allah
and His Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and disobey
them.
It is mentioned in Ruh Al Bayan in the exegesis of a verse
of the Holy Quran:
Translation: For a slave every moment spent in the
obedience of Allah is full of blessings and auspiciousness
and every moment spent in disobeying Allah is devoid of
blessings for him. The inauspiciousness is in fact in
committing sins. (Surah Tauba, 37)
Indeed the moments we spend in the remembrance of
Allah are full of blessings for us, the moments we spend
in acting upon Sunnah are auspicious for us, the
moments we spend in obeying the laws of Islam are full
of mercy for us.
May Allah, for the sake of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu
alaihi wa sallam), fill our hearts with the true beliefs of
Islam, guide us to perform virtuous deeds and make us
steadfast on the teachings of the Holy Quran and the
Hadith.
*******
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 