Taking an Omen as a Bad Sign and Pessimism
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Question: Some people among us believe that if they hear a dog barking, may Allah keep you safe, or see an owl flying over a place or making a sound, that this means someone is going to die
from that place. Is this correct? And does such a belief affect the Muslim's creed?
Answer: This is taking an omen as a bad sign and pessimism regarding the sound of the owl, or other birds, and believing or fearing that it causes or indicates the occurrence of evil, or illness, or death. This is the taking of omens that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has forbidden, and it is the practice of the disbelievers. Just as the people of Pharaoh took an omen from Musa (peace be upon him) and those with him, and just as the people of Salih (peace be upon him) took an omen from him and those with him, and just as the polytheists took an omen from Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained that taking an omen is shirk (associating partners with Allah),He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 3539 ،And he said, may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him:Sunan Abi Dawud 3910Sahih (Al-Albani) , so if a person believes that this bird and this owl indicate the occurrence of evil, and he takes an omen from it, then this is the condemned taking of omens, from which prohibition has come. For these creatures were created by Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, for wisdoms and benefits, and they have no benefit or harm in themselves; rather, this is by the planning and decree of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.
And 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 certainty,And to say: O Allah, there is no omen except Your omen, there is no good except Your good, and there is no god but You,And he says: O Allah, none brings about good deeds except You, and none repels evil deeds except You, and there is no power and no strength except by You.
Question: Do we measure optimism by this taking of omens, such as if a person sees, for example, a beautiful bird on his first day, or is greeted with happy news, and he takes a good omen for a happy day for himself?
Answer: As for seeing a beautiful bird and the like, I do not know a basis for it, but optimism is a good thing; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) liked a good omen, and a good omen is hope for good, unlike taking an omen as a bad sign, which is hope for evil and a bad opinion of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) liked a good omen when he heard a good word, for he, peace and blessings be upon him, liked that.
from that place. Is this correct? And does such a belief affect the Muslim's creed?
Answer: This is taking an omen as a bad sign and pessimism regarding the sound of the owl, or other birds, and believing or fearing that it causes or indicates the occurrence of evil, or illness, or death. This is the taking of omens that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has forbidden, and it is the practice of the disbelievers. Just as the people of Pharaoh took an omen from Musa (peace be upon him) and those with him, and just as the people of Salih (peace be upon him) took an omen from him and those with him, and just as the polytheists took an omen from Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained that taking an omen is shirk (associating partners with Allah),He (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 صفرTaking omens is polytheism; taking omens is polytheism
الطيرة شرك، الطيرة شرك، الطيرة شركAnd 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 certainty,And to say: O Allah, there is no omen except Your omen, there is no good except Your good, and there is no god but You,And he says: O Allah, none brings about good deeds except You, and none repels evil deeds except You, and there is no power and no strength except by You.
Question: Do we measure optimism by this taking of omens, such as if a person sees, for example, a beautiful bird on his first day, or is greeted with happy news, and he takes a good omen for a happy day for himself?
Answer: As for seeing a beautiful bird and the like, I do not know a basis for it, but optimism is a good thing; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) liked a good omen, and a good omen is hope for good, unlike taking an omen as a bad sign, which is hope for evil and a bad opinion of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) liked a good omen when he heard a good word, for he, peace and blessings be upon him, liked that.