Safar is the second month in the Islamic calendar. Unfortunately, even today Muslims in many regions consider Safer to be an unlucky month. In order to find the real reasons behind this myth, we have to take a look at history, particularly history before the advent of Islam.

Even before the advent of Islam, the people of Arabia considered some months sacred; including Rajab, Dhul Qadah, Dhul Hajjah and Muharram. They would stop fighting in these months. Wars and fighting was a regular for the people of Arabia. As soon as Safar started, and marked the end of sacred months, they would resume fighting. As they left homes to continue fighting, some inevitably faced death. This leaving of homes and facing death eventually led them to believe that this month of Safar was unlucky, instead of realising the actual cause for it. The Arabs used to call it "Tasfaru" meaning "that our homes have been deserted".

 Some historian also point out that after hajj, the pilgrims would start leaving for their respective homes. After being so full of pilgrims for quite some time, Makkah and Haram would suddenly look almost deserted. The hustle bustle would diminish, so they would call it "Sifrun", meaning "the days of being empty for the two houses (meaning Haram, and Makkah)".

The third opinion was that it was the season of autumn in Safar. Leaves turned yellow and fell out. So, they called it "Safar" meaning autumn.

The Arabs had their reasons to consider Safar unlucky, but in reality it isn't.It is just one of Allah's months. It has been forbidden to consider anything  unlucky in Islam. However, considering something as a good omen has not been forbidden.

Abu Huraira (RA)reported:

I heard Allah's Messenger (SAW) as saying: There is no divination but the best type is the good omen. It was said to Allah's Messenger (SAW): What is good omen? Thereupon he said: A good word which one of you hears." [1]

Some people, while considering Safar unlucky, try to ward off anything evil by doing some acts that have no basis in Islam. Some of them are:

1.    Offering a special prayer on the last Wednesday of Safar

2.    Cooking and distributing some particular food; like black chick peas to deflect their problems to others

3.    Writing the verses of SALAM, and putting them in vessels of water to drink them later

4.    Avoiding marriage ceremonies/Aqeeqah ceremonies, or any other ceremonies to avoid any mishap in their happiness

5.    Throwing 365 balls of flour in water to ward off all harm

6.    Considering Safar to be a difficult month for the dead

All of these are simply rituals that have no link to Islam.

Aishah (RA) narrated that:

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours (i.e. Islam) that is not part of it, will have it rejected." [2]

This shows that everything that has not been taught by Quran, or our Prophet (SAW), or his Companions (RA), then it is innovation, and innovation in our deen is a sin, and is looked down upon. It is essential to remember that innovation does not necessarily mean that it is an evil act. Most of the times, innovation has been disguised as a good deed. So, whether the innovation is a good deed or an evil deed, we should refrain from it because it is an innovation; a biddah. 

References:

[1] Narrated by Sahih Muslim:  Book 39, Hadith 150

[2] Narrated by Sunan Ibn Majah: Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 14