What is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding these phrases: "It is good luck that such and such happened," "Sometimes a chance encounter is better than an appointment," and "This is an unlucky day"?
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The questioner : What is the ruling of the Shari'ah, in your view, O honorable Shaykh, regarding these phrases: "It is good luck that such and such happened." Second: "Sometimes a chance encounter is better than an appointment." And third: "This is an unlucky day." We ask for your guidance, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : As for the first phrase, which is the statement of the one who says, "It is good luck that such and such happened," this is a phrase used by those who follow the stars, who rely on the stars' omens to determine misfortune or good for a person. It is a phrase that a person should not say; rather, it is closer to being forbidden than to being disliked.
As for the statement of the one who says, "Sometimes a chance encounter is better than an appointment," there is nothing wrong with it, because describing something as a chance encounter, if it is from the actions of a human being, is permissible. Indeed, things happen to a person by chance, without him estimating them or calculating for them. However, regarding the actions of Allah, it is not permissible to attribute chance to the actions of Allah, because Allah the Exalted knows what He does (Exalted and Majestic is He) before He does it, and He is upon a straight path in everything He does (Glorified and Exalted is He). So, if chance is attributed to the action of a servant and the state of a servant, there is nothing wrong with it, but if it is attributed to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), it is not permissible.
As for the third phrase, which is "This is an unlucky day," there is nothing wrong with it if one does not intend cursing or blaming, but rather intends to inform, like the statement of Lut (peace be upon him) when the angels came to him: So, describing days with the description they deserve, if it is not in the way of blame and disapproval, is permissible, because this is information, and information about reality is true.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : As for the first phrase, which is the statement of the one who says, "It is good luck that such and such happened," this is a phrase used by those who follow the stars, who rely on the stars' omens to determine misfortune or good for a person. It is a phrase that a person should not say; rather, it is closer to being forbidden than to being disliked.
As for the statement of the one who says, "Sometimes a chance encounter is better than an appointment," there is nothing wrong with it, because describing something as a chance encounter, if it is from the actions of a human being, is permissible. Indeed, things happen to a person by chance, without him estimating them or calculating for them. However, regarding the actions of Allah, it is not permissible to attribute chance to the actions of Allah, because Allah the Exalted knows what He does (Exalted and Majestic is He) before He does it, and He is upon a straight path in everything He does (Glorified and Exalted is He). So, if chance is attributed to the action of a servant and the state of a servant, there is nothing wrong with it, but if it is attributed to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), it is not permissible.
As for the third phrase, which is "This is an unlucky day," there is nothing wrong with it if one does not intend cursing or blaming, but rather intends to inform, like the statement of Lut (peace be upon him) when the angels came to him:
This is a difficult day
هذا يوم عصيبThe questioner : May Allah bless you.