Written by Muhammad Ishaaq
We are coming to the end of the month of Muharram and embarking on the month of Safar. Both months have a history of being associated with pessimism and superstitious beliefs.
The month of muharram is associated with pessimism by large segments of the Muslim ummah today and the month safar was treated with pessimissm by the pre-Islamic arabs, hence we have the hadith of the Prophet, Sall-Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, that,
لاَ عَدْوَى وَلاَ طِيَرَةَ وَلاَ هَامَةَ وَلاَ صَفَرَ
‘(There is) no ‘Adwa (no contagious disease is conveyed without Allah’s permission), nor is there any bad omen (from birds), nor is there any Haamah, nor is there any bad omen in the month of Safar” (al-Bukhari)
Muharram is one of the 4 sacred months out of the 12 months (Dhul Qa’da, Dhul Hijjah and Rajab, being the other 3). Although it is a sanctified month as a whole, yet, the 10th day of Muharram is the most sacred among all its days. The day is named ‘Aashoora’ in commemoration of the day Fir’own and his armies were drowned while in pursuit of Musa (as) and His people. However, as a result of some historical facts, including, the noble Sahaabi and the 2nd Khaleefah, ‘Umar al-Farooq (ra) succumbed to his injuries and attained Martyrdom on the 1st of Muharram, 23 AH (After Hijri) and the noble grandson of the Prophet sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, Hussain ibn ‘Ali (ra), along with most of his family members was martyred in the desert of Karbala in Iraq on the 10th of Muharram, some people regard the month of Muharram to be deprived of blessings, hence, avoid ceremonial events and activities.
The month of Safar was a month in which the pre-Islamic Arabs were particularly pessimistic. The Arabs were as superstitious as anyone before Islam. They would not undertake a journey or do anything important without first “determining” that it would be safe to do so — by looking at birds and beasts. If a bird flew from right to left in front of them, that was a bad omen: flight in the other direction was a good omen. During travel, if a deer crossed going from right to left, the trip was cancelled. When they reached a destination, they would seek protection of jinn by supplicating to them. Yet, such deeply held beliefs and practices were uprooted completely by Islam in a very short period. Much later, weakening of faith in segments of Muslim societies did lead to seeping in superstitious practices from other societies. Weakening of our understanding of — and belief in — the articles of faith inevitably leads to superstitions of one form or another. That, unfortunately, is the situation of large segments of our ummah today.
In todays society, how many times have we heard the expressions “Touch wood (UK) or Knock on wood (US)” as a token of good fortune. The manager of a company introduces a new project/plan/strategy and says “I touch wood”. If things are more uncertain, he will say, “Keep your fingers crossed.” Keeping fingers crossed is expected to ward off evil. Touching/Knocking on wood is meant to bring good luck by enlisting the support of spirits who according to the ancient pagan myths lived in trees.
The fear of the number thirteen is so pervasive in the west that there is a term for it, Triskaidekaphobia (from Greek; tris meaning “3”, kai meaning “and”, deka meaning “10” and phobia meaning “fear”). American presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt avoided eating at tables where 13 people were present. Many tall buildings avoid 13th floor or room number 13. According to a report published in 1990, this fear costs America more than a billion dollars a year in absenteeism, travel cancellations, and drop in trade on the 13th of the month. Of course, it is the horror of horrors if the 13th of a month were to fall on a Friday.
Superstition is alive and well in the post-modern, post-enlightenment, neo-pagan civilization. In the enlightened western world today, one can find thousands of palm-readers, tarot-card readers and astrologers who even have professional associations and certification programs. Daily horoscopes are an indispensable part of even the most prestigious newspapers. Every year as the year ends, big names in the prediction business make big headlines —and millions of dollars— telling the world what will happen in the coming year.
Superstitions and fear of the unknown and inability to control or predict our own future have led people to all kinds of irrational acts and beliefs. But that was during the Dark Ages. In the age of science and technology that was supposed to end. The Encyclopaedia Britannica notes, “Being irrational, it [superstition] should recede before education, and especially Science.” That did not happen. So the experts have chosen to do the second best thing: Put a happy face on their defeat by giving scholarly explanations for its obvious failing. The Encyclopaedia Americana recognizes superstitions as part of being human. It calls it folklore. “Plainly, despite supposed sophistications, human beings are all the folk and thus are – the source of folklore.”
Such fancy rationalisation cannot hide the fact that belief in the irrational is a direct result of lack of belief in the All Knowledgeable, All-Powerful God, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, who controls everything. He created this vast universe and it is running according to His plan. Not a leaf falls from a tree or a droplet of water falls from the sky except through His will.
We do not know what will happen to us tomorrow, but He does. We put our trust in Him, seek His protection and help, and accept His will. The person lacking this awareness will endlessly take omens from cats, birds, and mice; sticks and greasy stone; sun and stars; or itching in one’s body.
Coming back to the hadith, لاَ عَدْوَى وَلاَ طِيَرَةَ وَلاَ هَامَةَ وَلاَ صَفَرَ. He, sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam negated and refuted the prevalent belief of the disbelievers at that time. These false beliefs would affect the hearts of the people so greatly that it would weaken their reliance on Allah and lead them to doubting Him, particularly, in controlling destiny.
The phrase of “No contagion”لاَ عَدْوَى used by the Prophet sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam means that contagion is not independently effective, because the Pre-Islamic Arabs used to believe that contagion was itself a characteristic of a disease and that it had no external control over it. They also believed that there was nothing that could prevent contagion from occurring and that nothing could eliminate it. When the Prophet sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said “No contagion” he certainly did not mean that contagion itself does not exist, nor did he mean that diseases and sicknesses do not spread from one person to another due to them coming into close contact, rather, He sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was refuting the belief that the disbelievers had which was that if a sick person happened to come close enough to a healthy person, then sickness would DEFINITELY be passed onto the healthy person. The Prophet sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was explaining that sickness does not spread simply by mixing healthy people with sick ones, rather, it happens with the decree and command of Allah; contagion may or may not occur because it is not necessarily the case that every contagious disease will spread from a sick person to a healthy one unless and until Allah permits this to occur. If Allah does not permit it to happen then it cannot and will not ever occur, because that is by the decree and command of Allah.
Contagion is nothing but a means that will only have an effect if Allah decrees for it to occur, it is not something that necessarily takes place. Abu Hurayrah (ra), reported that the Prophet sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “A sick one should not go into the presence of a healthy one, nor should a healthy one go into the presence of a sick one.” (Muslim). He sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said this regarding camels because allowing them to mix is a means of spreading disease among them. Therefore, in this Hadeeth, the Prophet sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam proves that contagion actually exists, but He sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam only proved its existence as a means and not as an end. Abu Hurayrah (ra), narrated that the Prophet sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “Run away from a person with leprosy as you would run away from a lion.” (Ahmad & Bukhaari). This is because mixing with such a person is a means of spreading the sickness from a person with leprosy to a healthy one. So this Hadeeth of the Prophet sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam explains that although these are nothing but means and that their effect will not take place without the decree of Allah, we still have to exert our utmost efforts in avoiding these means that may result in disease, destruction or tribulations. Moreover, we must rely on Allah in all cases.
The Prophet sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam used the phrase “No pessimism” وَلاَ طِيَرَةَ because during Jaahiliyyah, or the pre-Islamic period of ignorance, the disbelievers were extremely pessimistic about everything. Ibn Mas’ood (ra), said that “Each one of us had this (i.e., pessimism), but Allaah replaced it with our reliance on Him.” (Abu Daawood & Tirmidhi). This saying means that at that time, the people’s hearts were full of pessimism. For example, people used to feel pessimism when they felt the wind blowing strongly, or if some of them intended to set out on a journey and subsequently saw something that they disliked, they would be sure that they would meet a calamity or even death during the forthcoming trip, so they would be overcome by pessimism. However, a believer must completely rely on Allah ta’ala as Ibn Mas’ood RA, said: “Allah replaced pessimism with reliance on Him.” Pessimism is a false and futile concept; it has no effect in determining events because they are all under the control and decree of Allah. This is why the Prophet sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam used to hate pessimism and love optimism; for one who is always optimistic has a high opinion of his Lord, which the believer is commanded to have.
The Prophet sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said “No Haammah” وَلاَ هَامَةَ. Haammah is an owl which the pre-Islamic Arabs used to think that when someone died and was buried, an owl would come out of his/her grave. The Arabs used to think that the bones of the deceased turned into owls which flew about. They also used to think that if someone was murdered, an owl would come out of his head and would keep repeating: “Give me a drink, give me a drink,” until the slain person was avenged and his murderer was killed.
Finally, by the phrase “No Safar” وَلاَ صَفَرَ the Prophet sall-Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam wanted to eliminate from its roots pessimism and refute and negate all the false beliefs that the disbelievers used to harbour regarding the month of Safar. The disbelievers used to think that during the month of Safar, all problems, disasters, calamities and other evils would occur. Therefore they would avoid getting married in this month as they thought that such a union would be doomed; nobody would trade during this month as they thought that it would be fruitless; they also thought that all other endeavours during that month would end in problems, hardships and even death. Safar is just one of twelve months that Allaah has given us; nothing happens in this month except what Allah has decreed to happen within it, Allah did not specify a certain month of the year where all difficulties, hardships and calamities would afflict people. In fact, if one looks at history, he will discover that many conquests and victories occurred during the month of Safar for the Muslims. Therefore, all forms of pessimism regarding minutes, hours, days and months are negated by Islam.
There is no doubt that a believer faces the same uncertainties in life as the non-believer but he faces them with the help of and reliance on Allah, with Tawakkul.
Tawakkul refers to putting trust in Allah – to believe that He alone can ward off the harms of this world, provide you blessings and sustenance, and to ease your challenges.
Tawakkul is also about accepting the results that He decides regardless of how they may turn out to be.
Allah (swt ), says: …And whoever places his trust in Allah, Sufficient is He for him, for Allah will surely accomplish His Purpose: For verily, Allah has appointed for all things a due proportion. (Qur’an 65:3)
The Qur’an makes it clear that Tawakkul is not an option but rather a requirement. Allah Ta’ala says: “…and put your trust in Allâh if you are believers indeed. (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5: 23). He also says in the Qur’an:“….And in Allah let believers put their Trust” [Surah Ibrahim 14:11]
Tawakkul shouldn’t be mistaken with giving up your efforts thinking that somehow your challenges will get resolved. Rather striving and working with the attitude that Allah will take care of your affairs is part of you having the Tawakkul on Allah.
May Allah ta’ala keep us in His protection and grant us the noble characteristic of Tawakkul which we can live in every moment of our lives, with His tawfeeq. Ameen