For example, when a person comes wanting to complete a transaction or something, wanting to go in to see the manager, they tell him, “Do not go in, because the manager is very angry today.”
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The questioner : Oh Shaykh, for example, when a person comes wanting to complete a transaction or something, wanting to go in to see the manager, they tell him, “Do not go in, because the manager, for example, is very angry today, and I am afraid that if you go in to him, he will not complete your transaction.” Okay. Or, for example, you went and did not pray the Fajr prayer, and you are afraid he might say, “Perhaps he will not complete my transaction” or something. Does this fall under taking an omen as a bad sign?
The Shaykh : There is a difference between the two issues. He did not pray Fajr because if he had prayed, he would not have completed his transaction. Is that what you are saying?
The questioner : No, I mean, for example…
The Shaykh : The first issue does not involve taking an omen as a bad sign. You were told that the manager is angry, and that if you went in to him, the transaction might not be in your interest. This is correct. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A judge should not judge while he is angry.” Second: What is it?
The questioner : The second is that a person feels that he started with something not good, meaning he missed the Fajr prayer or something, so he feels a sense of distress, for example.
The Shaykh : This is also not from the category of pessimism, because this is something that has passed. This is something that has passed. And it may be that this is an honor from Allah for the servant, in that when he leaves a righteous deed, he sees distress in himself. Have you not seen the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he finished the two rak'ahs of the Dhuhr or 'Asr prayer, he stood up and went to the front of the mosque, leaned on a wooden post, interlaced his fingers, and placed his cheek on the back of his hand, as if he were angry, meaning he was not at ease or relaxed. What is the wisdom? That he had not completed the prayer. So some people, by Allah’s success for them, when a defect occurs, even if they did not feel it, they are guided to a constriction in their hearts until they do not rest until they complete this deficiency.
The questioner : He means that if he is on the same day and wants to do a transaction, but because of shortcoming in the prayer, he did not do it. That is his intention.
The Shaykh : No, he says his chest just feels tight.The questioner : He is afraid that if he does a transaction, it will be hindered because of this.
The Shaykh : And how is this? I did not understand your question, or did the brothers not understand?
The questioner : Oh Shaykh, I mean both.
The Shaykh : This is what Allah brought for him. As for what I did not understand, I answered you on it. And as for what the brothers understood from you, it may be that a person is punished with a punishment if he leaves one of the obligatory duties, in that his affairs are not made easy for him. And it is possible to cite evidence for that by His saying, the Exalted:[At-Talaq 65:4] [At-Talaq 65:2-3]. And this is not from the category of pessimism, because taking an omen as a bad sign and pessimism is what prevents you from proceeding. For this reason, it came in the hadith:
The questioner : Is pessimism prohibited absolutely, with no exceptions?
The Shaykh : Absolutely, it is prohibited absolutely.
The questioner : And the hadith of the three.
The Shaykh : As for the hadith of the three, I answer it by saying that And this condition does not indicate the occurrence of the conditioned. And as for some phrases, “bad omen in three things” without a condition, they restricted it by saying that these three things, due to the person’s frequent practice of them, he may find in them something that makes him pessimistic about them. And this happens often. Often, when you buy a car, for example, you find blessing in it. It stays with you for a long time, and there is no damage in it. You accomplish many things with it. There is a car, for example, that you buy, which may be better than that one, newer and more modern, and it troubles you. It troubles you. You become pessimistic about it. And likewise, some women. Some women, when they enter upon the husband, they trouble him and make his life bitter, and he wishes to get rid of her. And some women are the opposite. And likewise, apartments. Sometimes, as soon as you enter the house, your chest opens up. Meaning, for example, they rent you an apartment. Some apartments, from the day you enter them, your chest opens up, and you like them. And some are the opposite.
The questioner : Is this not a bad omen?
The Shaykh : Yes, but it is not that kind of bad omen that is without a cause. This has a cause. It has a cause.
The Shaykh : There is a difference between the two issues. He did not pray Fajr because if he had prayed, he would not have completed his transaction. Is that what you are saying?
The questioner : No, I mean, for example…
The Shaykh : The first issue does not involve taking an omen as a bad sign. You were told that the manager is angry, and that if you went in to him, the transaction might not be in your interest. This is correct. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A judge should not judge while he is angry.” Second: What is it?
The questioner : The second is that a person feels that he started with something not good, meaning he missed the Fajr prayer or something, so he feels a sense of distress, for example.
The Shaykh : This is also not from the category of pessimism, because this is something that has passed. This is something that has passed. And it may be that this is an honor from Allah for the servant, in that when he leaves a righteous deed, he sees distress in himself. Have you not seen the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he finished the two rak'ahs of the Dhuhr or 'Asr prayer, he stood up and went to the front of the mosque, leaned on a wooden post, interlaced his fingers, and placed his cheek on the back of his hand, as if he were angry, meaning he was not at ease or relaxed. What is the wisdom? That he had not completed the prayer. So some people, by Allah’s success for them, when a defect occurs, even if they did not feel it, they are guided to a constriction in their hearts until they do not rest until they complete this deficiency.
The questioner : He means that if he is on the same day and wants to do a transaction, but because of shortcoming in the prayer, he did not do it. That is his intention.
The Shaykh : No, he says his chest just feels tight.The questioner : He is afraid that if he does a transaction, it will be hindered because of this.
The Shaykh : And how is this? I did not understand your question, or did the brothers not understand?
The questioner : Oh Shaykh, I mean both.
The Shaykh : This is what Allah brought for him. As for what I did not understand, I answered you on it. And as for what the brothers understood from you, it may be that a person is punished with a punishment if he leaves one of the obligatory duties, in that his affairs are not made easy for him. And it is possible to cite evidence for that by His saying, the Exalted:
And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him of his matter ease.
ومن يتق الله يجعل له من أمره يسراًAnd whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (3) And will provide for him from where he does not expect.
ومن يتق الله يجعل له مخرجا ويرزقه من حيث لا يحتسبWhoever is turned back from his need by taking an omen as a bad sign has associated partners with Allah.
من ردته الطيرة عن حاجته فقد أشركThe questioner : Is pessimism prohibited absolutely, with no exceptions?
The Shaykh : Absolutely, it is prohibited absolutely.
The questioner : And the hadith of the three.
The Shaykh : As for the hadith of the three, I answer it by saying that
If the bad omen
إن كان الشؤمThe questioner : Is this not a bad omen?
The Shaykh : Yes, but it is not that kind of bad omen that is without a cause. This has a cause. It has a cause.