Historical Events in Safar: What Happened in the Second Islamic Month

Safar is the second month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, coming straight after Muharram. Many Muslims know little about it beyond an old belief that it is an unlucky month. In fact, several important historical events in Safar took place during the life of the Prophet ﷺ, and his teachings about this month are a powerful lesson in trusting Allah instead of omens. This guide covers what the name means, the main events historians place in Safar, and how families can make the month a time of learning.

What Does Safar Mean?

The word safar is usually linked to the Arabic root meaning "empty" or "void". Classical scholars gave a few explanations for the name. One is that Arab homes were often left empty in this month as people travelled or went out on raids after the sacred month of Muharram ended. Another is that it relates to a time of year when food stores ran low. Whatever the origin, the name describes the habits of pre-Islamic Arabia, not anything ill-fated about the month itself.

Unlike Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Qadah and Dhul Hijjah, Safar is not one of the four sacred months. There are no special acts of worship tied to it, and no particular fasts or prayers prescribed for it. It is an ordinary month in which every good deed counts, like any other.

Is Safar an Unlucky Month? What Islam Teaches

Before Islam, many Arabs believed Safar brought misfortune. Some avoided weddings, travel or starting new work during it. Traces of this belief still survive in some cultures today, with people delaying marriages or other plans until the month is over.

The Prophet ﷺ directly rejected this idea. In a hadith reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, he said: "There is no contagion (without Allah's will), no evil omen, no hamah, and no Safar." Scholars explain that "no Safar" means the month carries no bad luck of its own. Good and harm come only by the decree of Allah, not because of a date on the calendar.

This teaching is about tawakkul, trust in Allah. Treating a month, a number or a bird's flight as a bad sign was a common habit in many societies, and Islam freed people from it. For Muslims today, the lesson is simple: Safar is a normal month in which you can marry, travel, start a business and do any good deed with confidence.

Key Historical Events in Safar

Early historians did not always agree on exact dates, so some events below are placed in Safar by many historians while others place them in a neighbouring month. Where accounts differ, it is noted.

The first military expedition: Al-Abwa (Safar, 2 AH)

According to the major books of Seerah, the Prophet ﷺ led his first expedition, to Al-Abwa (also called Waddan), in Safar of the second year after the Hijrah. No fighting took place. The Prophet ﷺ made a treaty with the tribe of Banu Damrah, an early example of the alliances that helped protect the young Muslim community in Madinah.

The tragedies of Al-Raji and Bir Maunah (Safar, 4 AH)

Two of the most painful events of the Madinan period are dated by many historians to Safar of the fourth year. At Al-Raji, a small group of Companions sent to teach the Quran were betrayed and killed, among them Khubayb ibn Adi and Asim ibn Thabit. Around the same time, at the well of Bir Maunah, a larger group of about seventy Companions, many of them reciters of the Quran, were ambushed and martyred. The Prophet ﷺ was deeply grieved, and he made supplication against the tribes responsible for a month afterwards.

These events are a reminder of the sacrifices made by the early Muslims to teach the Quran to others, and of how highly the reciters of the Quran were valued in the community.

The march to Khaybar (7 AH)

The campaign of Khaybar, which ended with the Muslims taking the fortified oasis north of Madinah, is placed by different historians in Muharram or Safar of the seventh year. Many accounts say the Prophet ﷺ set out at the end of Muharram and that the conquest was completed in Safar. Khaybar brought economic stability to Madinah, and it is also where the Prophet ﷺ married Safiyyah bint Huyayy.

The army of Usamah and the Prophet's ﷺ final illness (Safar, 11 AH)

Near the end of Safar in the eleventh year, the Prophet ﷺ prepared an army under the command of the young Usamah ibn Zayd, a sign of his trust in the next generation. In the same days, according to many historians, he began to suffer the illness that would lead to his passing in Rabi al-Awwal. Usamah's army was dispatched shortly afterwards by Abu Bakr, honouring the Prophet's ﷺ final instruction.

Other events linked to Safar

Some historians also link Safar to the start of the Prophet's ﷺ migration from Makkah, saying he left at the end of Safar and reached Quba in Rabi al-Awwal. Reports vary, and other dates are given, so this is best described as one view among several.

Lessons From the Month of Safar

• Trust in Allah over superstition. The Prophet ﷺ removed fear of omens from people's hearts. Plans, marriages and journeys should never be delayed because of a month.
• The value of teaching the Quran. The Companions martyred at Al-Raji and Bir Maunah were sent out as teachers. Learning and teaching the Quran was, and remains, one of the most honoured roles in Islam.
• Patience in hardship. Safar saw both victories and painful losses. The Prophet ﷺ and his Companions met both with patience and continued their mission.
• Trusting the young. Appointing Usamah ibn Zayd to lead an army shows the confidence Islam places in young people who are well taught.

Making Safar a Month of Learning for Your Family

Because there are no special rituals in Safar, it is a good time to build simple, lasting habits. Families can read one story from the Seerah each week, talk about why Islam rejects superstition, or set a small Quran reading goal. Our guide to the best age to start learning Quran can help you set the right goal for each child.

If you'd like a structured way to learn the Seerah, Islamic history and the basics of faith, our online Islamic studies classes cover them in one-on-one lessons with a qualified teacher, for kids and adults. To understand the verses connected to these events, our Quran Tafseer course explains the Quran's meaning step by step.

Start Learning With a Free Class

Safar is a reminder that every month is a chance to grow closer to Allah. If you or your child want to learn the Quran, Tajweed or Islamic history with a teacher, book a free 30-minute trial class. There is no obligation, and the trial is used to match you with the right teacher. You can compare plans on our pricing page and start learning this month.