SECTION 24 – BELIEVING IN SUPERSTITION
From 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said three times: “Belief in ill omen is a form of shirk. It is not possible for anyone among us that this thought does not pass through his heart. But Almighty Allah removes this feeling with trust (tawakkul).”
Abū Hurayrah related that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “(There is) no illness transmitted except by the will of Allah. There is no ill omen in a beast whose flank is thought to contain it, causing abdominal pain. There is no ill omen in the hooting of an owl.” A bedouin then said, “Then what about my camel which wanders in the sand like a gazelle? A diseased camel has mixed with it and infected it.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Who transmitted the disease to the first diseased camel?" [513]
Zuhri narrated from a man that Abū Hurayrah said he heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saying: “Those who have sick camels should not lead them to those who have healthy camels.”
The man who had heard this statement from Abū Hurayrah then returned to Abū Hurayrah and said: Did you not tell us that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "There is no illness transmitted except by the will of Allah. There is no ill omen in a beast whose flank is thought to contain it, causing abdominal pain. There is no ill omen in the hooting of an owl?" Abū Hurayrah replied to him: I did not tell you that. Zuhri said: Abū Hurayrah reported this hadith. Abū Salama told me that he never heard Abū Hurayrah forget a single hadith.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: “There is no contagion, no ill omen from a bat, no influence of the stars on people’s destinies, and no pain in the abdomen caused by a snake that one imagines being present.”
Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “There is no *ghūl*.”
COMMENTARY
Among the Arabs there was a saying that circulated among them, frightening minds. It was about the *ghūl*, which are jinn who transform into various forms, deceiving people and destroying them. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, affirmed the existence of jinn but removed the delusion that they destroy people. Similar to this is the imaginary giant that is mentioned in Turkey to frighten young children, such as “the croaker is coming,” or “a huge one is coming.”
Abu Dawud said: It was narrated to me by Haris bin Miskin, who said: I bear witness that Ishaq related to me from Ashhab, who said: Malik was asked about the statement (there is no ill-omened month like Safer). So Malik said: The people of pre-Islamic times used to consider Safer as one of the months in which warfare was permissible. They would count it as a permitted month one year and as a prohibited month another year. Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “There is no ill-omened month like Safer.”
It is narrated from Bakiyyah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:
Muhammad ibn Rashid (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I asked, "What does 'Ham' mean?"
He said:
"According to the beliefs of the people of the Age of Ignorance, they would say: Whoever dies and is buried in a grave, an owl will emerge from his grave and hoot."
I said, "What is the meaning of the word 'Safer'?" Muhammad ibn Rashid said:
"I heard that the people of the Age of Ignorance considered the month of Safer to be unlucky. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, ‘There is no ill omen in Safer.’" Muhammad ibn Rashid said:
“They say that 'Safer' is a pain gripping the abdomen, which passes from person to person.” Upon this, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, “There is no ill omen in Safer.”
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There is no contagion, and there is no ill omen. I love the good omen, and the good omen is a good word.” [515]
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, heard someone say something that he liked. Thereupon he said: “We have taken your fortune from your mouth.”
EXPLANATION
Someone was overheard saying, while on the road, "My task will be easy." If one hears the word "easy," and considers it to be a good omen, then it is permissible to interpret this as such. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, also approved of it.
Atā, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: “People say that the people are a pain like a hernia in the abdomen.” (Ibn Jurayj said:) I asked, "What is the *hamma*?" Atā replied, “It is the owl which perches upon the houses and cries bitterly; it is what the people call an owl. Indeed, this owl is not a human owl [that emerges] from the bone of the deceased and becomes an owl, bearing the name *sady*. Rather, the owl you ask about is merely a known animal.”
It is narrated from Urve bin Amir that Ahmed al-Qurayshi said:
Mention of ill omen was brought up in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He said, “The best of things to ward off ill omen is optimistic interpretation. Pessimism does not divert a Muslim from his way. So when any of you sees something he dislikes, let him say: ‘O Lord, goodness comes only from You, and evil is averted only by You. One gains strength for acts of worship and is kept far from evils only through Your help.’”
From Abdullah ibn Burayda, may Allah be pleased with him, from his father:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, did not consider anything to be an omen. When he sent a messenger on an errand, he would ask for his name. If the name pleased him, he would be content with it, and its joy would be seen on his face. And if the name did not please him, a sign of his displeasure with the name would be seen on his face. And when he entered a village or town, he would ask for its name. If the name pleased him, he would rejoice, and a sign of his joy would be seen on his face. And if he disliked the name, a sign of his dislike would be seen on his face.
Sa'd ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: "There is no ill omen from an owl. Nor does disease spread without the permission of Allah. And there is no omen. If there were to be an omen, it would be in horses, women, and dwellings."
Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: “Misfortune occurs in the home, in women, and in horses.” [517]
Abu Dawud said: The matter of misfortune pertaining to horses and homes was asked of Malik (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: There are houses in which people reside and perish, then others reside and they too perish. According to our understanding, this is its interpretation. Allah knows best.
Abu Dawud:
Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: A mat in the home is better than a barren woman.
Ferve bin Musayq, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: I said, "O Messenger of Allah, we have a land among us called the land of 'Ibiyyin, where our cultivation and sustenance are; there is plague in it." Or he said, “The plague in it is severe.” Upon that, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Leave it, for death comes through proximity to it.”
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
A man said: Messenger of Allah, we were in a house where our numbers and possessions were abundant. Then we moved to another house, and there our numbers and possessions diminished.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) replied: “Abandon that house.”
COMMENTARY
If the idea of misfortune spreads among the members of a household in a house, then abandoning it is appropriate in order to remove the thought implanted in their minds. For it would be difficult to dissuade them from this belief.
It is related from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) took the hand of a leper, placed it in a plate together with his own hand, and said: “Eat with trust and reliance on Allah.”
[471] “Treat yourselves, for the Noble and Exalted Allah has not created a disease without creating a cure for it, except for old age.”
[472] While the Prophet (peace be upon him) was with me, al-Hasan ibn Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) entered. He had just recovered from an illness. We had dates on stalks. The Prophet (peace be upon him) rose and began to eat of those date stalks. Al-Hasan rose to eat as well. The Prophet (peace be upon him) turned towards al-Hasan and said, "You have just recovered from an illness, so refrain." Al-Hasan refrained from eating. He said: “I prepared a meal of barley flour and many herbs, bring it.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “O Ali, taste this food, for it will be very beneficial to you.”
3857 – It is narrated from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "If there is any good in seeking treatment, then it is through drawing blood." [473]
3858 – It is related from Selma, the servant of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), that if anyone complained to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about a headache, he would order him to have cupping performed. And if someone complained about pain in his feet, he would order him to dye them with henna. [474]
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had cupping done from his head and between his shoulders and said: "Whoever allows this blood to flow out will not harm him with another way of treatment for any illness.” [475]
Ma’mar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I once had cupping performed, and my mind left me so much that I could barely recite the opening verses of the prayer in my prayers.” Ma'mar had cupping done from his head. [476]
3863 – It is narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have bloodletting from his hip for a pain. [477]
3864 – Narrated by Jabir: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent a physician to Ubayy, who cut one of his arteries. [478]
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade cupping. [479] We treated with cupping despite the prohibition of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), but neither our ailments healed nor did we find relief.
3866 – Narrated by Jabir: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) treated Sa’id bin Muaz with cupping for an arrow wound. [480]
3867 – Narrated by Ibn Abbas: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to put medication in his nose. [481]
3870 – Narrated by Abu Hurairah: He said, “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the use of bad medicines.” [482]
3871 – According to a narration from Abdurrahman bin Osman, a physician asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about the status of frog in medications he mixed. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the physician from killing the frog. [483]
3872 – Narrated by Abu Hurairah: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever swallows poison and then tries to vomit it out will remain in the Fire, struggling to vomit it out eternally.” [484]
3873 – Narrated by Suwaid bin Tarik: He asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about using alcohol as medicine. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade him from using it as medicine. Then he asked again, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade him again. He said: O Prophet of Allah, alcohol is a medicine. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “No, it is a disease.” [485]
“Whoever eats seven Ajwa dates every morning, nothing harmful or poisonous will affect him that day.” [486]
Abu Dawud said, "He meant wormwood and hellebore." [487]
3878 – Narrated by Ibn Abbas: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Wear white garments, for they are the best of your clothing. And shroud your dead with white.” “The most beneficial kohl is ismid, for it increases the brightness of the eye and strengthens the eyelashes.” [488]
"Eye affection is a truth." [489]
“Do not kill your children secretly; indeed, the effect of a woman in childbed having intercourse with her husband is so great that it can unseat him from his mount.” [490]
A narrator, Malik, said: “The word ‘gayle’ means a man having sexual relations with a woman who is nursing.” [491]
Abdullah bin Mas'ud said: The twitching of your eye is the work of Satan. Satan pricks your eye, and when a Jew performs witchcraft, he prevents the prick from the hand. If you feel such a pain, it suffices you to say what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded: “O Lord of mankind, remove the affliction, grant relief, for You are the Giver of relief, and You will not leave any disease without relief except that You relieve it; You alone can relieve.” [492]
“There is no benefit in treatment by recitation except from eye affection and stings of venomous insects.” [493]
3885 – Narrated from the grandfather of Sabit bin Kays bin Shammas: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) visited Sabit one day. Ahmed bin Salih says that Sabit was sick. So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “O Lord of mankind, relieve the affliction from Sabit bin Kays bin Shammas.” Then he took earth from the Bathan valley of Medina, put it in a cup, poured water over it, recited [Quranic verses], and blew on it, and then poured it over Sabit bin Kays. [494]
A narrator, Abbas, omitted mentioning eye affection. This is the wording narrated by Sulayman bin Dawud. [495]
Sabit said: "Shall I not charm you with the charm of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?" Sabit said, “Of course.” Anes said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “O Lord of mankind, relieve us from Your mercy, for You are the Most Merciful, and grant us relief from Your healing. Grant us relief so that You leave no disease behind.” [496]
3891 – Narrated by Osman bin Abi’l-As: He came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Osman said: I have a sickness that almost destroys me. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Rub it seven times on your right hand, with a stroke, and seek refuge in the power and majesty of Allah from the evil of this pain that I feel.” Osman said: I did so, and the Almighty and Sublime Allah removed the pain from me, and since then I have advised my family and others to do this. [497]
3892 – Narrated by Abu Darda’: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: “If one of you is afflicted with something or his brother is afflicted, let him say: ‘O Allah, Lord of the dominion, if You please, relieve it; You are the Most Powerful. Your name is holy, Your command is over the heavens and the earth. Let your mercy be upon the earth as You have mercy, forgive our sins and errors, for you are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.’ For indeed that is good.” [498]
3894 – Yāriz ibn Abū Ubayd reported that he saw a sword wound on Salama's thigh. He asked, "What is this?" Salima said, "This is a wound I received at Khaybar." The people said, "Salima has died!" So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was informed. He breathed into him three breaths. And he did not feel any discomfort thereafter.
He used to say, “The soil of our place is a cure with the permission of our Lord for our sick.”
It was narrated that Mu’adh inquired, "Did you say anything else?" He replied, "No." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Take what they give you. I swear by Allah! There are people who eat falsehood in exchange for truth, and you eat truth in exchange for falsehood." [502]
3898 – The father of Suhayl reported from Abū Salih that he heard him say: I sat with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and a man from the tribe of ‘Usaid came and said, "O Messenger of Allah! I was poisoned last night and I could not sleep until morning." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, “What poisoned you?” He said, "A scorpion.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “But if you had sought refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He created at night, then, with His permission, it would not have harmed you.” [503]
He came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the morning and told him about that. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “From where did you learn this? You have done well by taking the herd, so distribute it. And set aside a share for me with it." [504]
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite Surah al-Fatiha and blow (upon himself) when he was afflicted with illness. Whenever his pain intensified, I would recite it to him and rub it over him hoping for its blessing. [505]
My mother wanted to fatten me up so that I could marry the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. She made every effort but she could not achieve what she desired. Eventually, she fed me dates and cucumbers. Thus, I grew plump in the best way. [506]
3904 – Abū Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever seeks information from a diviner or a fortune-teller, his prayer will not be accepted for forty days." Musaddad added: If a woman does so, her husband has disavowed what Muhammad was sent with. [507]
3905 – Ibn ‘Abbās reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever seeks knowledge from the stars, he has sought from magic.” He added, “The more he seeks, the deeper he goes into it." [508]
“Our Lord said: Some of My servants wake up believing in Me and some disbelieving in Me. And Allah’s grace and mercy caused rain to fall upon them this night, so those who believed in Me said, ‘Allah has shown us His favor.’ And those who denied Me said, ‘It is due to the movement of these stars,’ so they disbelieve in Our Lord while believing in the stars.” [509]
3907 – The father of Katān ibn Kabīsah reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: "Flying birds are not an omen." [510]
3909 – Mu’āwiya ibn al-Hakam as-Sulami reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever draws lines for augury, then if a line coincides with his line, he has hit the truth.” Musaddad said: If a woman does so to her husband, or when she is menstruating or after intercourse, then he has gone out of what Muhammad was sent with. [511]
“Belief in omens is shirk. There is no one among us whose heart does not pass through it, but Allah removes it with trust.” [512]
3911 – Abū Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "There is no disease that spreads without permission, there is no omen in a snake’s slough, and there is no evil in the cry of an owl." A bedouin said, “Then what about my she-camel which wanders in the desert and gets mixed with a diseased camel? It becomes afflicted too.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Who passed the disease to that first she-camel?" [513]
3912 – Abū Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Disease does not spread without permission, there is no omen in the cry of an owl, and there is no harm in a snake’s slough.” [514]
3916 – Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "(There is no disease that spreads except by His will)
Disease does not transmit. Nor is there ill omen. A pleasing divination pleases me, and the good, righteous divination is merely beautiful words. [515]
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, did not consider anything to be of ill omen. When he sent a messenger on an errand, he would ask for his name. If the name pleased him, he would be content with it, and its joy would be seen on his face. And if the name did not please him, the sign of his dislike would be seen on his face. When he entered a village or town, he would ask for its name. If the name pleased him, he would rejoice, and the sign of his joy would be seen on his face. And if he disliked the name, the sign of his displeasure would be seen on his face. [516]
3922 – It is narrated from Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Ill omen is found in the home, in the woman, and in the horse.” [517]
He said: "Eat with reliance on Allah and through patience." [518]
