Ruling on Hanging Poetic Verses That Prohibit Pessimism
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Honorable Shaykh! There are two verses of poetry that say:
And whoever encounters crows and drives them away for his safety, he must be an omen of ill
And every fortress, however long its safety lasts upon its pillars, must eventually be demolished
So what is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding these two verses?
This is correct. The person who encounters crows and drives them away, as they used to do in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, is considered an omen of ill, because it is not permissible for a person to attach himself to such matters.The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: (There is no contagion and no ill omen).
And if a person habituates himself to pessimism regarding birds, or months, or days, or people, he becomes weary and his heart becomes attached to other than Allah.Meaning: For example, some Arabs consider the month of Safar to be an omen of ill.He says: They say this month is a month of ill omen. This is forbidden; it is not permissible. For times are all one [Al-Nisa: 79]. Then other people came and said: We will call the month of Safar the month of good. This is also an error; because Safar is a month among the months, not a month of good nor a month of evil, and it is like the others.
Likewise, some Arabs consider the month of Shawwal to be an omen of ill regarding marriage.They say: If a person contracts his marriage in Shawwal, it is a failed marriage. And Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) refuted this and said: (The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) married her in Shawwal and consummated the marriage with her in Shawwal, and you were the most jealous of us with him) Did the marriage become failed or not? No, rather the opposite.
In conclusion: That a person should make his heart attached to Allah, and not be pessimistic or take omens.And he does not make himself humiliated, so that whenever something befalls him he says: This is sorcery, this is the evil eye, as is the case now with many people; illusions have killed them in the present time. Everything is the evil eye! If he sneezes or yawns three times, he will say: This is the evil eye! If he is struck by a tremor, he will say: This is a jinn! And if he dislikes a person due to words exchanged between them, he will say: This is sorcery!! This is an error.So the obligatory: That a person should have determination and reliance upon Allah, and that he should stay away from these matters, so that he may find rest and ease his soul.
The questioner: But -O Shaykh- these two verses are on a large sign.
The Shaykh: Yes; do not change it. This is a warning against pessimism regarding birds.
And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
And whoever encounters crows and drives them away for his safety, he must be an omen of ill
And every fortress, however long its safety lasts upon its pillars, must eventually be demolished
So what is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding these two verses?
This is correct. The person who encounters crows and drives them away, as they used to do in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, is considered an omen of ill, because it is not permissible for a person to attach himself to such matters.The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: (There is no contagion and no ill omen).
And if a person habituates himself to pessimism regarding birds, or months, or days, or people, he becomes weary and his heart becomes attached to other than Allah.Meaning: For example, some Arabs consider the month of Safar to be an omen of ill.He says: They say this month is a month of ill omen. This is forbidden; it is not permissible. For times are all one
What comes to you of good is from Allah, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself
مَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِنْ نَفْسِكَLikewise, some Arabs consider the month of Shawwal to be an omen of ill regarding marriage.They say: If a person contracts his marriage in Shawwal, it is a failed marriage. And Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) refuted this and said: (The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) married her in Shawwal and consummated the marriage with her in Shawwal, and you were the most jealous of us with him) Did the marriage become failed or not? No, rather the opposite.
In conclusion: That a person should make his heart attached to Allah, and not be pessimistic or take omens.And he does not make himself humiliated, so that whenever something befalls him he says: This is sorcery, this is the evil eye, as is the case now with many people; illusions have killed them in the present time. Everything is the evil eye! If he sneezes or yawns three times, he will say: This is the evil eye! If he is struck by a tremor, he will say: This is a jinn! And if he dislikes a person due to words exchanged between them, he will say: This is sorcery!! This is an error.So the obligatory: That a person should have determination and reliance upon Allah, and that he should stay away from these matters, so that he may find rest and ease his soul.
The questioner: But -O Shaykh- these two verses are on a large sign.
The Shaykh: Yes; do not change it. This is a warning against pessimism regarding birds.
And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.