Ṣafar is the second month of the Islamic lunar calendar. There is a weak hadith narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās that states, “On the last Wednesday of the month [of Ṣafar] there is a continual calamity.” In other hadiths it is mentioned that this is the day during which Pharaoh and his army perished, and the people of ‘Ād and Thumūd were destroyed. Accordingly, there emerged from these texts various supplications and prayers to meet these historic, calamitous events with prayers and devotion. It should be made clear that these devotions, prayers, and supplications are not necessarily based on a specific Sunna, but are themselves compliant with the Sunna since we are allowed to engage in extra devotions and supplications. This falls under the general legal principle that any increase in worship using devotions found in the Sunna is permissible.
Considering this, the following are recommendations to perform and recite on the last Wednesday of the month of Ṣafar.
1. To pray the following prayer on the last Wednesday during the month of Ṣafar: four units of prayer after Fajr prayer (i.e. Ḍuḥatime) and before ‘Asr prayer with one salām. In each unit of prayer recite the Fātiḥa once and surah al-Kawthar (17 times), surah al-Ikhlāṣ (5 times), surah al-Falaq (one time), and surah al-Nās (one time).
2. After this prayer, recite the following supplication three times:
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم – يا شديد القُوَى – يا شديد المِحال – يا عزيزُ يا كريمُ – ذلَّت لِعزَّتِك جَميع خلقك – اكفِني من جَميعِ خَلقِكَ يا مُحسِنُ – يامُجْمِلُ – يا متُفَضِّلُ – يا مُنعِمُ – يا مُكرِمُ – يا لا إله إلا أنتَ بِرحمَتِكَ يا أرحَم الراحمِين
Bismillah al-Raḥmān al-Raḥīm – Yā Shadīd al-Quwa-yā shadīd al-Miḥāl – ya ‘Azīz ya Karīm – Dhalat li ‘Izatika Jamī’ Khalqik – Ikfinī min Jamī’ Khalqika ya Muḥsin ya Mujmil ya Mutafaddil ya Mun’im ya Mukrim ya lā ilāha illa Ant biraḥmatika ya Arḥam ak-Rāḥimīn.
O Allah, Possessor of intense strength and power, 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 Blessings, O Generous One - there is no god except You, we ask Your Mercy, O Most Merciful!
3. Recite the following 360 times:
واللهُ غَلِبٌ على أمرِهِ ولاكِنَّ أكثَرَ النَّاسِ لا يَعلمون
wa Allahu Ghālibun ‘ala Amrihi wa lākinna Akthara al-Nāsī lā y’alamūn
And Allah has full power and control over His affairs; but most among mankind know it not.
4. Then write with one’s fingers the following verses in a bowl full of water, then drink the water:
سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ نُوحٍ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ (*) إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ
سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ (*) كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ
سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ (*) إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ
سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ إِلْ يَاسِينَ (*) إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ
سَلَامٌ قَوْلًا مِّن رَّبٍّ رَّحِيمٍ
سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوهَا خَالِدِينَ
سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ ۚ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ
سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ
