Safar

Sofar (???) is a word that means “empty.” This corresponds to a time where people’s houses were empty. It also means "whistling of the wind". When this name was assigned to this month, it was probably a windy time of the year. Most of the Islamic months were named according to weather conditions at the time. However, since they are based on the moon, the months shift about 11 days every year. So, the seasons do not necessarily correspond to the name of the month anymore.

Timing

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Safar migrates throughout the seasons. The estimated start and end dates for Safar are as follows (based on the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia):

AH	First day (CE / AD)	Last day (CE / AD)
1437	13 November 2015	11 December 2015
1438	01 November 2016	29 November 2016
1439	21 October 2017	18 November 2017
1440	10 October 2018	08 November 2018
1441	30 September 2019	28 October 2019
1442	18 September 2020	17 October 2020
Safar dates between 2015 and 2020

Islamic events

01 Safar, prisoners of Karbal? entered Yazid's Palace in Syria
06 Safar, martyrdom of Sukayna bint Husayn, youngest daughter of Hussain ibn Ali and a prisoner of Karbal?
13 Safar, death of Sukayna bint Husayn, youngest daughter of Hussain ibn Ali and a prisoner of Karbal?
16 Safar, 609, the Almohads were defeated by Christian Spain at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa
20 or 21 Safar, Arba'een or Chehlum (the 40th day after Ashura)
23 Safar, Birth of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir
27 Safar, Migration (Hijrah) from Mecca to Medina by the Prophet Muhammad
28 Safar, the Prophet fell deathly ill; Martyrdom of Imam Hasan ibn ‘Al?, grandson of the Prophet

Hadith

In Islamic eschatology:

Abu Hurairah said that the Prophet said:
There will be an Ayah (sign) in (the month of) Ramadan. Then, there will 'isabah (splitting into groups) in Shawwal. Then, there will be fighting in (the month of) Dhu al-Qi'dah. Then, the pilgrim will be robbed in (the month of) Dhu al-Hijjah. Then, the prohibitions will be violated in (the month of) al-Muharram. Then, there will be sound in (the month of) Safar, then the tribes will conflict with each other in the two months of Rabi' al-awwal & Rabi' al-thani. Then, the most amazing thing will happen between (the months of) Jumada and Rajab. Then, a well-fed she-camel will be better than a fortress (castle) sheltering a thousand (people).