By HARUN RAZAQ

The dawah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the Sahabah (RA) and orthodox scholars such as Shaikh Ibn Taimiyyah, Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahab, Ibn Bazz among others abolished all the superstitions and beliefs of the jahiliyah period such as beliefs that Safar, the second month of the Islamic calendar is a month of ill-fortune and bad luck in Saudi Arabia.

However, reverse was the case with many other parts of Muslim and Islamic world such as Nigeria.

Superstitions and beliefs like attributing evil to certain month that the ember months-November, December are dotted with some evils still exists among some so-called Muslims. Whereas Islam condemns all forms of superstitions attached to certain month such as Safar.

Disaster and misfortune take place according to the Will and Plan of Allah. No other force or power can direct it without the permission of Allah.

The Prophet (SAW) condemned all the superstitions and beliefs of the jahiliyah period in hadiths. For example, Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that: the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “(There is) no ‘Adwa (contagious disease without Allah’s permission), nor is there any pessimism, nor is there any Haamah, (a type of bird), nor is there any (bad omen in the month of) Safar,…” (al-Bukhari, 5387; Muslim, 2220).

Also another sound hadith reported by Muslim from Abu Hurairah states: “Do not blaspheme time for Allah is time”, (i.e. it is Allah Who lays down the natural laws for its operation).

Ibn al-Qayyim said: “Section of hadiths which gives the dates of future events for example, “In the year such and such, such and such will happen” or “In the month such and such, such and such will happen.” …there will be a rise in prices, fighting, and the ruler will be distracted from public affairs…”

All the hadiths of this type are false and fabricated. (al-Manaar al-Muniif, p.64) Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimiin (RA) said: … Times have no effect (on people’s lives) and Allah never decreed that it should have any effect. Like any other month, both good and bad may be decreed during any month…

The Standing Committee (of scholars) was asked: concerning the claim of some of the scholars that in the Islamic religion there is a naafil (supererogatory) Salat which is prayed on the last Wednesday of the month of Safar, at a particular time for warding off the calamities which come down in the month.

The scholars replied: “We do not know of any basis in the Qur’an or in the Sunah for the naafil prayer mentioned in the question. We have no proof that any one among the salaf of this ummah or the righteous people of its later generations did this naafil prayer. Rather, it is a reprehensible innovation.

Whoever attributes this prayer and the things that are mentioned with it to the Prophet (SAW) or to any of the Sahabah (RA) is fabricating serious lies, and Allah will give him the punishment for liars which he deserves”. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 2/354) For this reason, all forms of pessimism regarding minutes, hours, days and months are not part of Islam.

A Muslim’s faith must be sound and distinct from that of the disbelievers. It is incumbent upon a believer, when anything distasteful happens to him, not to attribute it to any creature but turn to Allah and knock at the door of repentance and forgiveness like the Prophets and other men of God (such as Adam and Hawa, see Q 7: 23; Musa (AS) see Q 7: 151and other men of God, see Q3:146-148). We must reteirate that nothing can avert the decree and command of Allah except total obedience to Allah and authentic supplication from the Qur’an and Sunnah.