FatwaFederal TerritoriesQuran & Hadith
IRSYAD AL-HADITH SIRI KE-210: AMALAN MANDI SAFAR
Is the Safar bathing practice recommended because the word safar appears in a hadith?
Short answer
The hadith mentioning safar is authentic and was narrated by, among others, al-Bukhari and Muslim.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hadith
- Topic
- Quran & Hadith
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The hadith mentioning safar is authentic and was narrated by, among others, al-Bukhari and Muslim. However, it negates the belief in ill omens in the month of Safar and the natural spread of disease, and does not encourage any bathing ritual. Scholars such as Ibn Hajar, al-Nawawi and al-Qurtubi explain that safar in the hadith refers to pre-Islamic Arab beliefs, either making Safar a forbidden month for fighting or a belly worm disease. Thus the mere appearance of the word safar in the hadith cannot serve as evidence permitting Safar bathing to ward off misfortune.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Mandi Safar adalah satu amalan turun menurun masyarakat Melayu di mana diadakan temasya mandi-manda yang ada di adakan pada hari Rabu yang terakhir di dalam bulan Safar dengan tujuan menolak bala.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD AL-HADITH SIRI KE-210: AMALAN MANDI SAFAR”, 16 August 2017. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-al-hadith/699-irsyad-al-hadith-siri-ke-210-amalan-mandi-safar. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/is-safar-bathing-recommended-in-hadith/