The Ruling on Taking Omens and Pessimism
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Q58: The questioner, Sister H. N. A. from Jordan, says in her question: Some people among us believe that if they hear a dog barking-
May Allah honor you- or see an owl flying over a place, or making a sound, that this means the death of someone from that place. Is this correct? And does such a belief affect the faith of a Muslim?
A58: This is taking omens (tatayyur), i.e., pessimism regarding the sound of an owl or other birds, or believing that this causes or indicates the occurrence of evil, illness, or death. This is the taking of omens that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has forbidden, and it is the practice of disbelievers. The people of Pharaoh took omens by Moses, and the people of Salih (peace be upon him) took omens by him and those with him, and the polytheists took omens by Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained that taking omens is shirk (associating partners with Allah). He (peace be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 3539. And he (peace be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 3910Sahih (Al-Albani)
If a person believes that this bird, and this owl, indicates the occurrence of evil and he takes a bad omen from it, then this is the blameworthy taking of omens about which prohibition has come, because these are creatures that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, created for wisdoms and benefits, and they have no benefit or harm in themselves. This is by the decree and determination of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. It is obligatory for the Muslim, if he finds something of this and something of it occurs in his heart, to repel it with faith and say:Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 22:737 .
May Allah honor you- or see an owl flying over a place, or making a sound, that this means the death of someone from that place. Is this correct? And does such a belief affect the faith of a Muslim?
A58: This is taking omens (tatayyur), i.e., pessimism regarding the sound of an owl or other birds, or believing that this causes or indicates the occurrence of evil, illness, or death. This is the taking of omens that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has forbidden, and it is the practice of disbelievers. The people of Pharaoh took omens by Moses, and the people of Salih (peace be upon him) took omens by him and those with him, and the polytheists took omens by Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained that taking omens is shirk (associating partners with Allah). He (peace be upon him) said:
There is no ‘Adwa, no omen, no Hamah and no Safar.
لا عدوى ولا طيرة ولا هامة ولا صفرTaking omens is polytheism; taking omens is polytheism
الطيرة شرك، الطيرة شرك، الطيرة شركIf a person believes that this bird, and this owl, indicates the occurrence of evil and he takes a bad omen from it, then this is the blameworthy taking of omens about which prohibition has come, because these are creatures that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, created for wisdoms and benefits, and they have no benefit or harm in themselves. This is by the decree and determination of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. It is obligatory for the Muslim, if he finds something of this and something of it occurs in his heart, to repel it with faith and say:
O Allah, there is no omen except Your omen, and there is no good except Your good, and there is no god but You
اللهم لا طير إلا طيرك ولا خير إلا خيرك ولا إله غيرك
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.