What Is Safar?
Safar (Arabic: صَفَر) is the second month of the Islamic Hijri lunar calendar, following Muharram and preceding Rabi al-Awwal. It is one of the twelve months Allah ordained since the day He created the heavens and the earth, and like all of them, it holds no intrinsic evil or bad luck — only the deeds performed within it carry weight.
The name “Safar” carries rich linguistic history, and the month itself witnessed some of the most defining moments in early Islamic history — including the beginning of the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ migration from Makkah to Madinah. Yet it is also one of the most misunderstood months in the Islamic calendar, surrounded by superstitions that the Prophet ﷺ explicitly and firmly rejected.
This guide sets the record straight — historically, spiritually, and practically.
Safar 2026 — When Does It Start?
Based on the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia (1448 AH):
| Event | Expected Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| 1 Safar 1448H begins | Wednesday, 16 July 2026 |
| Arba’een / Chehlum — 20 Safar | Monday, 4 August 2026 |
| Akhiri Chahar Shamba (last Wed) | Wednesday, 12 August 2026 |
| Ayyam al-Beed (13th–15th Safar) | Monday–Wednesday, 28–30 July 2026 |
| Safar 1448H ends | Thursday, 13 August 2026 |
Safar Dates — Multi-Year Reference:
| Hijri Year | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1447H | 26 July 2025 | 23 August 2025 |
| 1448H | 16 July 2026 | 13 August 2026 |
| 1449H | 5 July 2027 | 2 August 2027 |
| 1450H | 24 June 2028 | 22 July 2028 |
⚠️ Dates are subject to actual moon sighting and may vary by one day in your region.
The True Meaning of “Safar” — Etymology and History
What Does Safar Mean?
Scholars of Arabic have offered several explanations for the name “Safar”:
1. “Empty” or “Void” (Safar al-Makaan) The most widely cited explanation comes from Imam al-Sakhawi, the renowned hadith scholar and historian, in his book Al-Mashhur fi Asma’ al-Ayyam wal-Shuhur. He explains that during the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah), the three months of Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, and Muharram were sacred — fighting was forbidden. As soon as Muharram ended and Safar began, Arab tribes would immediately leave their homes to raid, fight, and loot. Houses were left completely empty (safr = void, empty). The sight of deserted houses and emptied settlements gave the month its name.
2. “Yellow” (Sifr) Some scholars link the name to the Arabic word for yellow (اصفر), suggesting the month was originally named during autumn when leaves turned yellow. Since the Islamic calendar is purely lunar and shifts approximately 11 days each solar year, this seasonal connection no longer applies — but the name remains.
3. Travel and Journey (Al-Safar) The Arabic word for travel (السفر — al-safar) shares the same root letters as Safar (ص-ف-ر). Some linguists have noted this connection, particularly because pre-Islamic Arabs would travel extensively during this month after the sacred months ended.
The Lisan al-Arab (the most authoritative classical Arabic dictionary, by Ibn Manzur) records the explanation of empty houses: “Sifrun minal-Mata’a” — “the house was vacated of its furniture and belongings.”
Was Safar “Safer al-Awwal” in Pre-Islamic Times?
Some historians recorded that in the pre-Islamic period, Safar was called “Safer al-Awwal” (the first Safar) while Muharram was called “Safer al-Thani” (the second Safar). This was because the Arabs would sometimes shift the sacred months to accommodate their raiding schedules — a practice the Quran explicitly condemned as “Nasi'” (intercalation), calling it an increase in disbelief (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:37).
Islam corrected this and fixed Muharram firmly as the first month.
The Prophet’s ﷺ Hijrah — Safar’s Most Sacred Historical Connection
Of all the events in Islamic history connected to Safar, none is more profound than the beginning of the Hijrah — the migration of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Makkah to Madinah.
The Night of the Assassination Plot
The Quraysh of Makkah had reached their limit. After years of persecution, torture, and economic boycott of the Muslims, they devised a final plan: assassinate Muhammad ﷺ before he could escape. They selected one young man from each tribe so that the blood guilt would be distributed and the Banu Hashim could not retaliate against any single clan.
They surrounded the Prophet’s ﷺ house on the night of 26–27 Safar, 1 AH (622 CE). They waited outside his door, swords drawn.
Allah informed His Prophet ﷺ of the plot. The Prophet ﷺ recited the opening verses of Surah Ya-Sin:
“And We have put before them a barrier and behind them a barrier and covered them, so they do not see.” (Surah Ya-Sin, 36:9)
He walked past his would-be assassins — unseen. In his place, he had asked Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) to sleep in his bed, covered in his green cloak, to give the impression he was still inside.
The Journey Begins — 27 Safar
On 27 Safar, the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (RA) began their historic journey south toward Madinah. They took a southern route — the opposite of the expected northern path — to avoid detection, and hid for three days in the Cave of Thawr before proceeding to Madinah.
This Hijrah was not simply a change of address. It was the turning point of Islamic civilization — the moment that:
- Established the first Muslim community (Ummah) as a political and social reality
- Gave Islam its calendar (the Hijri calendar begins from this event)
- Enabled the Prophet ﷺ to build the first mosque, legislate, and unite the tribes
The Hijrah is so foundational that Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) chose it as Year 1 of the Islamic calendar. Safar, therefore, holds within it the very birth of Islamic civilization.
The Quran on the Hijrah Night
Allah describes His protection of the Prophet ﷺ on that night:
“If you do not aid him [the Prophet], Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.’ And Allah sent down His tranquillity upon him and supported him with soldiers [angels] you did not see.” (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:40)
Key Historical Events in Safar
Beyond the Hijrah, Safar witnessed several significant events in Islamic history:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 27 Safar, 1 AH | Prophet ﷺ begins the Hijrah with Abu Bakr (RA) |
| Safar, 2 AH | Battle of Abwa (Waddan) — first military expedition of the early Muslim state |
| Safar, 7 AH | Battle of Khaybar — Muslims defeated the Jewish fortresses of Khaybar |
| 28 Safar, 11 AH | Akhiri Chahar Shamba — the last Wednesday the Prophet ﷺ felt well enough to bathe and appear in the mosque before his illness worsened |
| 28 Safar, 50 AH | Martyrdom of Hasan ibn Ali (RA), grandson of the Prophet ﷺ |
| 1 Safar, 61 AH | Prisoners of Karbala entered the court of Yazid in Syria |
| 20 Safar, 61 AH | Arba’een — 40th day after the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali (RA) |
| 27 Safar, 589 AH | Death of Salahuddin al-Ayyubi (Saladin), liberator of Jerusalem |
Safar Superstitions — Completely Debunked
This is the most critical section of this guide — and the one most poorly handled by competing sources. The Prophet ﷺ personally and emphatically rejected every superstition associated with Safar.
What Are the Common Safar Superstitions?
Across Muslim communities — particularly in South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa — a range of baseless beliefs circulate about Safar:
❌ Safar is an unlucky month — weddings should not be held ❌ The first 13 days of Safar are especially evil (“Tairah Teezi”) ❌ The last Wednesday of Safar (Akhiri Chahar Shamba) is the most calamitous day of the year ❌ One should boil chickpeas and distribute them so bad omens pass to others ❌ Make 365 flour balls and throw them in water to drive away the year’s calamities ❌ Recite Surah Al-Muzzammil 313 times to avoid Safar’s misfortune ❌ Safar is especially hard on the souls of the dead ❌ Seeing a black cat, crow, or certain animals at the start of a journey in Safar brings disaster
None of these have any basis in the Quran or authentic Sunnah. Not a single one.
The Prophet ﷺ Abolished All Such Beliefs
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“There is no ‘Adwa (contagion — disease spread without Allah’s will), no Tiyarah (superstitious belief in bad omens from birds or other things), no Haamah (superstition about owls), and no Safar (evil omen in the month of Safar).” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5707; Sahih Muslim, 2220)
This single hadith — recorded in the two most authentic hadith collections in Islam — is a comprehensive demolition of the concept of an unlucky Safar. The Prophet ﷺ named the month explicitly and declared it carries no evil omen.
He also said:
“Taking omens is shirk; taking omens is shirk; taking omens is shirk. Every one of us has some of it, but Allah removes it by trust (in Him).” (Sunan Abi Dawud, 3910)
He repeated it three times — a rhetorical device in Arabic that signals extreme emphasis. Tiyarah (superstitious omens) is not merely a cultural habit or a harmless quirk. It is Shirk — the gravest sin in Islam — because it attributes power over fate to something other than Allah.
Why Is Tiyarah Shirk?
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah explains in Miftah Dar al-Sa’adah:
When a person sees a black cat and turns back from his journey believing it will cause harm, he has effectively believed that the cat possesses the power to change his destiny. This is attribution of divine control to a created being — which is the very definition of minor shirk (Shirk al-Asghar), and in some forms, major shirk (Shirk al-Akbar).
Allah says:
“Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself.” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:79)
And:
“No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees, before We bring it into existence.” (Surah Al-Hadid, 57:22)
Calamity and blessing come from Allah alone, written in Al-Lawh al-Mahfuz (the Preserved Tablet) before creation. A month — a measurement of the moon’s orbit — has no power whatsoever over human fate.
What About Akhiri Chahar Shamba?
Akhiri Chahar Shamba (Arabic: آخر أربعاء — the Last Wednesday of Safar) is believed by some to be the most catastrophic day of the year. Some claim it was the day the Prophet ﷺ fell terminally ill; others claim it is a day of divine wrath.
The Islamic position: There is no authentic hadith that establishes any special negative (or positive) status for the last Wednesday of Safar. Imam Ibn al-Jawzi, Imam al-Suyuti, and contemporary scholars including Shaykh Ibn Baz and Shaykh Ibn Uthaymin have all ruled that the observances associated with Akhiri Chahar Shamba — special prayers, distributions of food to ward off evil, treating it as a festival or a day of mourning — are bid’ah (innovation) with no basis in the Sunnah.
The historical kernel is this: the Prophet ﷺ, during his final illness which began in Safar/Rabi al-Awwal 11 AH, did feel better on one Wednesday and was able to bathe and appear in the mosque. But this was a moment of temporary relief in a terminal illness — not a day of cosmic significance. The Companions did not commemorate it annually, and there is no instruction to do so.
Is Safar Truly an Ordinary Month? — The Positive Perspective
One of the most significant gaps in competing articles is that they focus entirely on what Safar is not (not unlucky, not inauspicious) without explaining what it is. Safar is not merely an ordinary month to be endured — it is a month of opportunity.
Every Month Is a Gift from Allah
The Prophet ﷺ said, reporting from Allah (Hadith Qudsi):
“The son of Adam harms Me by abusing Time, for I am Time. In My Hands are all things, and I cause the alternation of night and day.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 4826; Sahih Muslim, 2246)
When a Muslim calls any time period “unlucky” or “evil,” they are in effect criticizing something Allah created and controls. This is not merely incorrect — it is an offense against the Divine.
Safar Is the Month of the Hijrah
As established above, Safar contains the 27th — the night the Prophet ﷺ left Makkah and began the journey that would define Islam. Far from being a month of bad luck, Safar houses one of the most blessed journeys in human history.
Great Scholars Were Active in Safar
Many great Islamic scholars were born, passed away, and produced landmark works during Safar. History associates this month with Salahuddin al-Ayyubi’s death — a man who recaptured Jerusalem for the Muslim Ummah. His legacy is one of honor, not ill fortune.
What to Do in Safar — Practical Worship Guide
Since Safar is not a sacred month (Ash’hur al-Hurum) like Muharram, Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, and Rajab, it does not carry specific obligatory or extra-emphasized worship. However, every month is a container of opportunity, and the general principles of consistent worship apply fully.
Recommended Acts Throughout Safar
Voluntary Fasting: Safar is an excellent month to maintain the voluntary fasting habits begun in Muharram.
Ayyam al-Beed — the White Days (13th, 14th, 15th of every lunar month):
- In Safar 1448H: Monday 28 July, Tuesday 29 July, Wednesday 30 July 2026
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If you fast any part of the month, then fast the 13th, 14th and 15th.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i, 2424)
Mondays and Thursdays:
“Deeds are presented to Allah on Monday and Thursday, and I love for my deeds to be presented while I am fasting.” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi, 747)
Dhikr and Quran: Maintain the Quran recitation schedule started in Muharram. The first two months of the Islamic year set the tone for the year’s spiritual discipline.
Sadaqah (Charity): The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.” (Jami at-Tirmidhi, 1887)
This hadith is especially relevant in Safar — not because the month is dangerous, but because the Sunnah of charitable giving is a perpetual protection against hardship in every month.
Strengthening Family Ties (Silat al-Rahm): The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever wishes that his provision be expanded and his life be extended, let him maintain his ties of kinship.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5986)
Safar, following the spiritual intensity of Muharram, is a natural time to invest in relationships.
Dua and Tawakkul: The greatest antidote to superstition is genuine Tawakkul — complete reliance on Allah. Replace fear of the month with:
Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘alAllah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah
“In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah. There is no power or might except with Allah.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, 5095)
This is the dua the Prophet ﷺ recommended when leaving one’s home — a shield of divine protection every single day, in every single month.
Arba’een — 20 Safar
Arba’een (Arabic: أربعين — forty) or Chehlum (Urdu/Persian for forty) falls on the 20th of Safar and marks the 40th day after the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali (RA) and his companions at Karbala on 10 Muharram 61 AH.
In Safar 1448H, Arba’een falls on: Monday, 4 August 2026.
What Is the Islamic Basis for Arba’een?
The 40th day after a death holds cultural significance in many Muslim societies — large gatherings, processions (particularly among Shia Muslims), and acts of remembrance are observed. The largest annual human gathering on earth is said to occur at Karbala on Arba’een.
From a Sunni jurisprudential perspective, scholars note that there is no specific hadith prescribing the 40th day as a special observance. However, the general act of remembering Husayn (RA) with love and acknowledging his sacrifice is something the entire Muslim Ummah shares — he was the grandson of the Prophet ﷺ, and his martyrdom was one of the greatest tragedies in Islamic history.
What Muslims across all traditions agree on: Husayn ibn Ali (RA) stood for truth against tyranny, and his sacrifice and character deserve honor and remembrance.
The Battle of Abwa — Safar’s First Islamic Military Connection
The Battle of Abwa (also called Ghazwat al-Waddan) took place in Safar of the 2nd year after Hijrah (623 CE). It was the first military expedition personally led by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ after the establishment of the Muslim state in Madinah.
The Prophet ﷺ led approximately 60–200 Muslim fighters toward the coastal area of Abwa (between Makkah and Madinah) with the objective of intercepting a Quraysh caravan. No battle occurred — the Quraysh caravan had already passed — but the expedition demonstrated that the Muslim community in Madinah now had the organization, resolve, and leadership of a sovereign state.
This historical event in Safar — far from portending disaster — represented Islamic resilience and the beginning of the Muslim Ummah’s political agency.
Safar and the Marriage of Fatimah (RA) and Ali (RA)
Tradition records that the marriage (Nikah) of Fatimah bint Muhammad (RA) — the Prophet’s ﷺ beloved daughter — and Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) took place in the month of Safar. This union produced Hasan (RA) and Husayn (RA), both of whom the Prophet ﷺ described as the masters of the youth of Paradise.
That one of the most blessed marriages in Islamic history took place in Safar is itself a refutation of the idea that the month is inauspicious for weddings.
Common Misconceptions About Safar — Summary Table
| Misconception | Islamic Ruling | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Safar is an unlucky month | False | Hadith in Bukhari 5707 explicitly negates this |
| No weddings in Safar | Baseless | Fatimah (RA) & Ali (RA) married in Safar |
| First 13 days are evil (“Tairah Teezi”) | False/Bid’ah | No Quranic or hadith basis |
| Akhiri Chahar Shamba is the most calamitous day | False/Bid’ah | Ruled bid’ah by Ibn Baz, Ibn Uthaymin, and others |
| Distribute chickpeas to repel evil | Bid’ah | No basis in Sunnah |
| 365 flour balls in water for protection | Bid’ah/Shirk | No basis; attributes fate to ritual, not Allah |
| Black cats or crows cause bad luck | Shirk | Tiyarah = shirk (Sunan Abi Dawud 3910) |
| Safar is hard on souls of the dead | False | No Islamic basis whatsoever |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does Safar 2026 start? A: Safar 1448H is expected to begin on Wednesday, 16 July 2026, subject to moon sighting.
Q: Is Safar an unlucky month in Islam? A: Absolutely not. The Prophet ﷺ explicitly negated this in an authentic hadith in both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Believing any month is inherently unlucky is a form of superstitious thinking that Islam abolished.
Q: Can I get married in Safar? A: Yes. There is no Islamic prohibition on marriage in any month of the year. In fact, the marriage of Fatimah (RA) to Ali (RA) reportedly took place in Safar. Such restrictions are cultural superstitions with no Quranic or Sunnah basis.
Q: What is Akhiri Chahar Shamba? A: It is a cultural observance on the last Wednesday of Safar, believed by some to be the most unlucky day of the year. Islamic scholars classify any special rituals associated with it as bid’ah (innovation) with no foundation in the authentic Sunnah.
Q: What is Arba’een / Chehlum? A: It is the 40th day after the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali (RA) at Karbala, falling on the 20th of Safar. It is observed particularly by Shia Muslims with large gatherings at Karbala. In Safar 1448H, it falls on 4 August 2026.
Q: What happened on 27 Safar in Islamic history? A: The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ began his Hijrah (migration) from Makkah to Madinah on the night of 26–27 Safar, 1 AH. This is one of the most consequential events in Islamic history.
Q: Is it recommended to fast in Safar? A: There is no specific fast prescribed for Safar, but voluntary fasting is always virtuous. The recommended days are the Ayyam al-Beed (13th–15th) and Mondays and Thursdays throughout the month.
Q: What should I do to protect myself during Safar? A: The Islamic answer is the same for every month: maintain your five daily prayers, recite morning and evening adhkar, give sadaqah, maintain ties of kinship, make dua, and place your complete trust (Tawakkul) in Allah alone. No month, day, or object has power over your fate except by Allah’s permission.
Q: What is the meaning of Safar? A: Primarily “empty” or “void” — from the Arabic root meaning houses left empty. Pre-Islamic Arabs vacated their homes at the start of Safar to raid after the sacred months ended. Some scholars also link it to the Arabic word for yellow (autumn leaves) or travel (al-safar).
Summary — Reclaim Safar with Knowledge
Safar is a month wrapped in unwarranted fear by communities who inherited pre-Islamic Arab superstitions and dressed them in a faintly Islamic garb. The Prophet ﷺ abolished all of this categorically. The month of Safar is:
✅ Not unlucky — the Prophet ﷺ said so explicitly ✅ Blessed historically — it houses the beginning of the Hijrah ✅ A month of opportunity — fasting, dhikr, charity, and family are all rewarded ✅ Perfectly fine for weddings — Fatimah (RA) married Ali (RA) in Safar ✅ A month to practice Tawakkul — trust Allah, not months
Replace superstition with knowledge. Replace fear with worship. Replace cultural myths with the Sunnah.
“Whoever leaves his home saying: Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘alAllah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah — it will be said to him: You are guided, protected and provided for, and Shaytan will move away from him.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, 5095; Jami at-Tirmidhi, 3426)
This is your protection — not ritual flour balls, not chickpeas, not avoidance of a month. It is the Name of Allah and trust in Him alone.
May Allah make this Safar a month of guidance, protection, and abundant good for you and your family. Ameen.
Saif is the content author and creator behind DesiTarikh.pk, a platform dedicated to providing accurate and easy-to-understand information about desi calendar months, Islamic dates, cultural events, and seasonal timelines of Pakistan and South Asia.
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