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Safar
Safar
SAH-far (with the 'a' pronounced as in 'father' and the stress on the first syllable). The 'f' is pronounced as in 'fox' and the final 'r' is gently rolled or pronounced as in British English.
من (ص ف ر) داء في البطن يصفر منه الوجه، والجوع، والشهر الثاني من الشهور الهجرية.
Safar (صَفَر) derives from the Arabic root ص-ف-ر (S-F-R). The name has two primary meanings: it refers to a disease or digestive condition in the abdomen that causes the face to become pale (صفر in this context), and it also means emptiness or barrenness. Most significantly, Safar is the name of the second month in the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, following Muharram. The root conveys the sense of something being empty or depleted, which is why the month is called Safar—the pagan Arabs believed the month was 'empty' of blessed rain.
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Safar originates from classical Arabic and the pre-Islamic Arabian calendar system. It was retained as the name of the second month when the Islamic lunar calendar (Hijri calendar) was established during the time of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab.
Safar holds significant cultural and religious importance in Islamic tradition as one of the twelve months of the Hijri calendar, used for dating Islamic events, religious observances, and historical records. In traditional Islamic medicine and culture, Safar was associated with illness and misfortune, leading to various folk beliefs and superstitions about the month, though these are not endorsed by Islamic theology. The month remains essential to Islamic lunar timekeeping and is used throughout the Muslim world for religious, legal, and administrative purposes.
Different spellings and forms of Safar across languages
While the word Safar (صَفَر) does not appear directly in the Quranic text as a name or month designation, the concept of the Islamic lunar calendar is mentioned in the Quran. The Quran references the counting of months in Surah At-Tawbah (9:36): 'Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth.' The names of the Hijri months, including Safar, were established after the Quranic revelation through Islamic tradition and practice.
In Arabic abjad numerology, ص=90, ف=80, ر=200, totaling 370, which reduces to 3+7+0=10, then 1+0=1. However, using the reduced values: Safar carries the numerical vibration associated with creativity, communication, and new beginnings in traditional numerological interpretation.
Safar (صَفَر) is a distinctive Arabic name with deep roots in Islamic tradition and the lunar calendar system. As an unisex name, it carries both historical and religious significance that resonates throughout the Muslim world and among Arabic speakers globally.
The name Safar originates from the Arabic root ص-ف-ر (S-F-R), which encompasses several interconnected meanings. Primarily, Safar refers to the second month of the Islamic (Hijri) lunar calendar, following Muharram. In traditional Arabic medicine and linguistic tradition, the root also refers to a digestive ailment or disease that causes pallor and weakness, giving the month an association with depletion and emptiness in pre-Islamic Arabian culture.
The etymological connection to emptiness stems from the belief among pre-Islamic Arabs that this month brought little rainfall and sustenance, thus rendering the land 'empty' of blessing. This nomenclature was preserved in the Islamic calendar system established during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab in the 7th century CE.
Safar holds a crucial position in Islamic timekeeping as the second month of the twelve-month Hijri calendar. This lunar calendar, based on the cycles of the moon, differs from the solar Gregorian calendar by approximately 11 days each year. Consequently, Safar occurs at different times each year in relation to the Gregorian calendar.
The Islamic calendar's months are:
The Quran establishes the significance of this twelve-month cycle in Surah At-Tawbah (9:36), confirming that Allah has established twelve months as the official count for religious and administrative purposes in Islam.
Throughout Islamic history, Safar developed various cultural associations and folk beliefs. In traditional Islamic medicine and popular culture, Safar was sometimes considered a month of illness and misfortune—a belief rooted in the month's etymological connection to disease and emptiness. Some Muslims developed superstitions regarding medical treatments, travels, and major life decisions during this month.
However, Islamic scholars emphasize that these cultural beliefs lack theological foundation in the Quran and authentic Sunnah (prophetic tradition). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reportedly rejected pre-Islamic superstitions related to Safar, emphasizing that the month itself carries no inherent blessing or curse beyond Allah's will.
While Safar is primarily known as the calendar month, it also functions as an unisex given name in Arabic-speaking communities and among Muslims worldwide. Parents may choose this name for its historical resonance, its connection to Islamic identity, or for its distinctive sound and meaning.
The name's unisex nature reflects its origins in the calendar system, where the month itself transcends gender boundaries. Contemporary usage shows both male and female bearers of the name Safar, particularly in Saudi Arabia, other Gulf states, and across the broader Arab world.
One prominent contemporary figure bearing this name is Dr. Safar al-Hawali, a renowned Saudi Islamic scholar, preacher, and intellectual born in 1950. His lectures and writings on Islamic thought and contemporary issues have influenced many Muslims worldwide. His choice to bear the name Safar reflects the name's continued relevance in modern Islamic scholarship and public life.
Variations of Safar appear across different Arabic-speaking regions and languages influenced by Arabic:
In other Islamic languages, the month name remains recognizable:
For English speakers, Safar is pronounced as "SAH-far," with stress on the first syllable. The 'a' in both syllables carries the open vowel sound of 'a' in "father." The 'f' is pronounced as in "fox," and the final 'r' may be gently rolled depending on regional accent preferences.
The establishment of the Islamic lunar calendar occurred during the early Islamic period when the need for standardized dating became essential for religious observances, legal contracts, and historical record-keeping. The twelve months, including Safar, were named based on pre-Islamic Arabian traditions that the early Muslim community preserved and integrated into Islamic practice.
This integration demonstrates the Islamic principle of accepting cultural practices that do not contradict Islamic principles. The names of the months themselves carry no religious obligation but serve practical and traditional purposes in Muslim societies.
Safar represents a fascinating intersection of linguistic, cultural, and religious significance within Arabic and Islamic tradition. Whether understood as the second month of the Islamic calendar or chosen as a personal name, Safar carries the weight of centuries of Islamic history and cultural practice. Its unisex nature and distinctive meaning make it a meaningful choice for those seeking names rooted in Islamic heritage and classical Arabic tradition.