An important detail regarding the issue of pessimism and taking omens.

The Shaykh : There remains another point to discuss regarding the issue of taking omens and pessimism. Taking omens and pessimism originally stem from birds, for the Arabs, O Salih, O Abu Bakr, the Arabs used to take omens from birds. A man would release a bird, and if it flew to the right, left, front, or back, they had beliefs about that. However, taking omens has come to mean pessimism based on something seen, heard, or known. This is its definition. Taking omens is pessimism based on what? Something seen, heard, or known. Pessimism based on something seen is when a person sees something that disturbs him while he is determined to proceed on his way. He sees something that disturbs him in his path and says, "Enough, we have canceled this direction," because he saw what disturbed him or what he dislikes. Some people take omens from persons. If he leaves his house to attend to his need and meets a sick person, he says, "Enough, we have canceled the need. Our need will not be fulfilled, because the one we met is whom? A sick person." And by what defect does he take this omen? By something seen. Included in this is taking omens from birds that fly to the right, left, front, or back. This is pessimism based on something seen. Or it is heard; sometimes a person goes to a certain place and hears people quarreling, and they say, "O loser, O loser," while he is speaking to his companion, but the word "O loser" fell on his ear, so he took an omen. He took an omen and said, "Enough. Since the first thing I heard was 'O loser,' if I go, I will be a loser." This is what? Pessimism based on what? Something heard. As for pessimism based on times, which of the two types is it? It is the known type. It is pessimism based on something known, because a month is neither seen nor heard. Therefore, a person must avoid these matters and these assumptions, and be determined with resolve and firmness. If you are determined, then rely upon Allah. As for a person making his mind focus on these matters, this is a mistake. It will become difficult, and Satan will play with him in everything.