Friday, January 21, 2011

Misconception About Month of Safar By Hafiz Bilal Murtaza Malik



Bismillah ir Rahman ir Rahim Innal-Hamdalillah was-Salaatu was-Salaam `alaa Rasoolillah 
As-Salaamu alaikum wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakatuhu

By leaving the correct ‘Aqeedah (creed) and straying away from it : There has come amongst the Muslims many evil and nonsensical ideas and beliefs, one of these is to believe in omens (bad luck charms) .

This is like when you hear some sayings and having some beliefs like : ‘The number 13 is unlucky number ‘, ‘If a black cat passes in front of you then you will be harmed’ , ‘Its not good to take a bath on this day ‘, ‘Don’t travel at such and such time’ , ‘This star brings rain , ….’ And the list is endless.

This completely goes against The Pure Islaam and teachings of Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) . He (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) came to remove and cleanse the people of all the pathways and notions that lead to shirk (disbelief). And remember this is very important because shirk is the most despised sin by Allaah , and it is the one sin that renders its doer an eternal inhabitant in the Hell Fire.

“ Verily, Allâh forgives not (shirk) that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allâh in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.” [Qur'aan 4:48]

Also regarding the belief in omens , Ibn Mas'ood ( radhiyAllaahu ‘anhu ) reported that he (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:

"At-tiyaarah (belief in omens) is Shirk, at-tiyarah is Shirk. It will not be amongst us, but Allaah would remove it through Tawakkul (true dependence on Allaah)." [Narrated by Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhee, who said it is authentic, but considered the last part of it to be Ibn Mas'ood's own statement.]

One of the common evil beliefs of the people is the belief that the month of Safar [Safar is the 2nd Month of the Islaamic Calendar, it comes after Muharram.] brings destruction and harm and diseases …etc. This again is an erroneous belief , as there is nothing like ‘a bad day , or a bad month’ in Islaam. And to make this even worse we find people innovating and introducing their bid’ahs (innovations) into Islaam and saying : ‘there is a special salaah (prayer) for the month of Safar ! Or there a special du’aa (supplication) for Safar !’ or ‘travelling or marriage in Safar is haraam (forbidden)! ‘

These things have no basis and no proof from the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) . As we all know, Islaam is a complete religion and it encompasses every single detail of our life. Thus we even find that this belief (regarding Safar) has a very distinctive and clear prohibiton in the legislation of Islaam : The Sunnah . There are many Ahaadeeth that show this. We have tried to select a few that show that there is no ‘bad omens (tiyarah)’ or ‘bad luck in the month of Safar’.

But even then, still you have the misguided ones innovating, going against the teachings of Islaam and thinking they are upon guidance! So Please read , understand and pass on the message. Surely the Best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). And upon Allaah we depend and seek help.

The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “There is no contagious disease that is transferred except by Allaah's permission. Nor is there the belief of when seeing or hearing an owl that it is the announcement of someone's death. Nor is there the belief of being pessimistic about the month of Safar. And fear the leper like you fear a lion.' [Silsilah as-saheehah : 780]

“There is no contagious disease that is transferred except by Allaah's permission, nor is there any effective omen. Nor the belief of when seeing or hearing an owl that it is the announcement of someone's death. Nor the belief of being pessimistic about the month of Safar, run away from the leper like you run away from the lion.' [Silsilah as-saheehah : 783]

The difference between the two hadeeths above : the second hadeeth has an additional wording ‘nor is there any effective omen’.

Narrated Abu Hurayrah ( radhiyAllaahu ‘anhu ): Allaah's Apostle (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, 'There is no 'Adhaa (no disease is conveyed from the sick to the healthy without Allaah's permission), nor Safar, nor Hamaa (interprating omen by looking at birds)." A bedouin stood up and said, "Then what about my camels? They are like deer on the sand, but when a mangy camel comes and mixes with them, they all get infected with mangy." The Prophet said, "Then who conveyed the (mange) disease to the first one?" [Saheeh Al- Bukhaaree]

'There is no contagious disease that is transferred except by Allaah's permission, nor any effective omen, nor a species from the Jinn and Shayateen which is claimed that it misguides people from the path and destroys them.' [Silsilah as-saheehah : 784]

Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, '(There is) no 'Adwa (no contagious disease is conveyed without Allaah's permission), nor is there any bad omen, nor is there any Hamah(bad omen from birds), nor is there any bad omen in the month of Safar, and one should run away from the leper as one runs away from a lion ' [Saheeh Al- Bukhaaree]

'There is no contagious disease that is transferred except by Allaah's permission. Nor, is the belief of being pessimistic about the month of Safar. Nor the belief of when seeing or hearing an owl that it is the announcement of someone's death.' [Silsilah as-saheehah : 785]

The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said,
"There is no 'Adha, nor Tiyara, nor Hama, nor Safar." [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree]

Abu Hurayrah ( radhiyAllaahu ‘anhu ) reported Allaah's Messenger as saying :
“There is no transitive disease, no hama, no star promising rain, no Safar. ” [Saheeh Muslim]

So reflect , and realize.

The hadeeths only have small differences in wording , as they have been reported from different sahaabas (Companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and compiled in different books. BUT what is important is :
The fact that these Ahaadeeth are so many , and the general meaning (lesson) is the same and unanimous : that there is no belief of bad omens in Islaam. This goes to show that this is something that should be explained and abandoned (by those practicing it) , as the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) ordered.

We have to believe in the Qadar (Will Power) of Allaah , whatever He decrees will happen without any doubt , and what He hasn’t decreed will never happen . This is one of the pillars of Eemaan (Faith). And this is the belief that is the source of Tawakkul (depending on Allaah and seeking His refuge and help in every matter of our lives).

And let us all remember that Allaah has said :
“….And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allâh will accomplish his purpose…” [Qur'aan 65:3] 

Walhamdulillaahi Rabbil-‘Aalameen

Remember me and all of Ummah in ur Duaa .. Jazak ALLAH Khair 
was'salam

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