Sidratul Muntaha

This month is the month of descent of misfortunes. In a year one Million and Eighty Thousand misfortunes descend, out of which Nine Hundred and Twenty Thousand, descend in the month of Safar. It is therefore mentioned in a Hadith by the Beloved of Allaah, Muhammad Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam that anyone who gives me the good news that he survived Safar, I will give him the good news of that person’s entering Paradise.

Hadrat Adam’s mistake occurred in this month. Hadrat Ibraheem was put into the fire on the 1st of Safar. Hadrat Ayyub got involved in his misfortune in this month. Hadrat Yahya , Hadrat Idrees , Hadrat Yunus and Hadrat Muhammad Sallallahu Alahi Wa Salam the Beloved of Allaah SWT were all involved and put into trials in this month. Hadrat Habeel {Able, son of Adam } was martyred in this month.

Many of the Saliheen state that Allah sends down the trials and tribulations that will occur throughout the year on the last Wednesday of the month of Safar. Those trials and tribulations are spread out accordingly and apportioned to specific people. It has been recommended to make certain duas and perform certain devotional acts seeking Allah’s Mercy and Gentlessness during this time to avoid being apportioned any trial or tribulation.

Amal for the First Night of Safar:

It is essential for all Muslims to perform, on the first night of Safar, 4 Raka’h {Nafl Salah} after Salatul Isha in a manner that in the first Raka’ah after Surah Al Fatihah is recited Surah Al kafiroon 15 times and in the 2^nd Raka’h

{after Surah Al Fatihah} is recited Surah Al Ikhlas 15 times and in the 3^rd Raka’h

{after Surah Al Fatihah} is recited Surah Al Falaq 15 times and in the 4^th Raka’h

{after Surah Al Fatihah} is recited Surah An Naas 15 times. After Salaam recite and recite Salatunnabi 70 times. Allaah will protect him from all misfortunes and difficulties and bestow great Thawab {Reward} upon them. {Raahatul Quloob}

What to do on the last Wednesday of Safar:

• Pray 4 rak’ahs (other than an obligatory/fard prayer)
• In each rak’ah recite the Fatiha, then Surat Al-Kawthar (Chapter 108) 17 times, then Surat Al-Ikhlas (Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad – Chapter 112) 5 times, then Surat Al-Falaq (Chapter 113) once, and finally Surat Al-Naas (Chapter 114) once.
• Repeat this in each rak’ah.

After saying the salaam after the 4th rak’ah, this dua should be recited:
Bismillahi Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem, wa Salla Allahu ta’ala ‘ala Sayyidna Muhammadin wa ‘ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa sallim. {Allahuma} ya Shadeed al-Quwa, wa ya Shadeed al-Mihaal, ya ‘Azeezu dhallat li ‘izzatika jamee’ khalqik; ikfini min jamee’ khalqik, ya Muhsin, ya Mujammil, ya Mutafaddil, ya Mun’im, ya Mukrim – ya men la illaha illa Anta, bi Rahmatika ya Arham Ar-Rahimeen. {Allahuma} bi sirri Al-Hasan wa Akheeh, wa Jaddihi wa Abeeh, ikfini sharra hadha al-youm wa ma yunzilu feeh, ya Kaafi. {Fasa yakfeekahumu Allahu wa Huwa As-Samee’u Al-’Aleem}. Wa Hasbunal Allahu wa na’am al wakeel, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahi Al-’Alee, Al-’Adheem. Wa Salla Allahu ta’ala ‘ala Sayyidna Muhammad wa ‘ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa sallim.

The Translation:
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. May the peace and mercy of Allah the Exalted be upon our Master Muhammad, and upon his Family and Companions. {O Allah} the One of Intense Power, the One of Intense Perspicacity. O Glorious One, Your entire creation is humbled before your Might – protect me from your entire creation, O Charitable One, O Beautifier, O Gracious One, O Giver of Blessing, O Generous One – there is no god except You, we ask your Mercy, of Most Merciful. {O Allah} by the secret [blessing you have given] Al-Hasan, his brother [Husayn], his grandfather [may the peace and mercy of Allah be upon him!], his father [Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him] – protect us from the evil of this day and from what descends on this day, O Sufficient Protector! {Allah will suffice you against them, He is the All-Seeing, All-Knowing}. Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs, and there is no might or power except Allah’s, the Exalted, the Mighty. And may the peace and mercy of Allah be upon our Master Muhammad, his Family, and Companions.

Also, it is highly recommended to read Surat Ya-Seen (Chapter 36) on that day, and when reaching the verse:

{Sallamun qawlan min Rabbin Raheem} (Verse 58) to repeat that verse 313 times.

After finishing the Surah, then read this dua:
{Allahuma} Salli ‘ala Sayyidina Muhammadin salaatan tunjeena biha min jamee’ al-ahwaali wa al-afaat, wa taqdi lana biha jamee’ al-hajaat, wa tutahirruna biha min jamee’ al-sayyi’aat, wa tarfa’una biha ‘ala ad-darajaat, wa tubalighuna biha aqsa al-ghayaat, min jamee’ al-khayraat, fi al-hayaati wa ba’ad al mamaat. {Allahuma} isrif ‘anna sharra ma yanzilu min al-samaa, wa ma yakhruju min al-ard, innaka ‘ala kul shayy’in qadeer. Wa Salla Allahu ta’ala ‘ala Sayyidina Muhammad wa ‘ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Sallim.

Translation:
O Allah, send mercy upon our Master Muhammad, a [prayer of] mercy with which You save us from all threats and calamaties, and by it [the prayer for mercy] You fulfill all our needs, and You purify us from the entirety of our sins, and You raise us by it to the highest levels, and You allow us to reach our greatest aspirations, in this life and after death. O Allah, avert from us the evil that descends from the heavens, and from [the evil] the comes from the earth – indeed, You are in power over all things. And may Allah send His Mercy upon our Master Muhammad, his Family, and Companions.

Finally, it is recommended to make dua for one’s spiritual needs as well as one’s worldly needs, then ask Allah for protection and good health.

May Allah give us all the success to benefit from each month, each day, and each moment. May Allah continue to bless you all, your families, and the entire Ummah.

Naqshbandi Safar Awrad

It is prescribed to perform the following throughout the month:

Every day in addition to any recitations already being carried out:

1. Ashadu an la ilaha ill’ Allah wa ashadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu (saws) – three times

2. Astaghfirullah (300 times).

3. Give sadaqah (charity) daily for the sake of Allah Almighty with the intention of lifting away afflictions and misfortunes.

4. Surat Al Fil (7 times)

5. Ayat al-Kursi (7 times).

6. On the last Wednesday of Safar it is recommended not to go out.

It is a good practice, and that of Granshaykh Abdullah Daghestani qs, to sacrifice a lamb (qurban) for the sake of Allah Almighty on the 27th of Safar.