Superstition regarding the owl

The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta

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Fatwa number ( 13847 )
Q: A man found an owl in his house. What should he do with it? What is the Islamic ruling regarding it and the claim that it is an omen of bad luck? And what should be said when its sound is heard? May Allah reward you with good. .
A: Islam is a religion of worshipping Allah the Exalted, relying upon Him, turning to Allah, entrusting matters to Him, submitting to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and depending upon Him in bringing about benefits and repelling harms. Allah the Exalted said:

It is You we worship and You we ask for help.

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

[Al-Fatihah 1:5]

And He said:

so worship Him and rely upon Him. And your Lord is not unaware of that which you do.

فَاعْبُدْهُ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

[Hud 11:123]

, so it is obligatory for the Muslim to devote all worship exclusively to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and to single out his heart’s attachment to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in achieving what he seeks, bringing about what benefits him, warding off what he fears and dreads, and repelling what harms him, while taking the means that Allah the Exalted has prescribed and made the cause of their effects. It is also obligatory for the Muslim to abandon superstition regarding birds such as owls and the like; because believing in superstition that they bring benefit or repel harm
is shirk (associating partners with Allah) that contradicts tawhid (the oneness of Allah). It is established from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

There is no ‘Adwa, no omen, no Hamah and no Safar.

لا عدوى ولا طيرة ولا هامة ولا صفر

Sunan Ibn Majah 3539

. Thus, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) invalidated what the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance believed about these things regarding superstition, and denied that they have any effect. It is also established

From Mu'awiyah ibn al-Hakam, that he said to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): "Among us are people who practice divination." He said: "That is something that one of you finds in himself, so do not let it prevent you."

عن معاوية بن الحكم أنه قال لرسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم -: ومنا أناس يتطيرون، قال: ذلك شيء يجده أحدكم في نفسه فلا يصدنكم

So the Chosen One (peace and blessings be upon him) informed that superstition through divination is only something that the one who practices it finds in himself due to his suspicion, fear, and his associating partners with Allah in what he heard or saw. He forbade them from letting divination prevent them from what they intend to do, such as travel, work, or anything else. Rather, they should rely upon Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and proceed with what they intended in their life affairs. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the one who sees what he dislikes to say:

O Allah, no one brings good things except Thee, and no one averts evil things except Thee and there is no might and power but in Allah.

اللهم لا يأتي بالحسنات إلا أنت، ولا يدفع السيئات إلا أنت، ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بك

Sunan Abi Dawud 3919Da'if (Al-Albani)

Narrated by Abu Dawud . And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.

Source www.alifta.gov.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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