Kitab At-Tauhid (The Oneness of Allah)
CHAPTER No: 28
What is said regarding Belief in Omens (At- Tataiyur)
Allah the Most Exalted said:
"Verily, their evil omens are with Allah but most of them know not."
(7:131)
Allah the Most Exalted said:
"They (Messengers) said: Your evil omens be with you! (Do you call it "evil omen") because you are admonished? Nay, but you are a people Musrifun (transgressing all bounds by committing all kinds of great sins, and by disobeying Allah)."
(36:19)
Narrated Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) that Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:
"(There is) no 'Adwa (contagion of disease without Allah's Permission), nor is At-Tiyarah (any bad omen from birds), nor is there any Hamah (the omen of the night bird i.e., owl), nor is there (any bad omen in the month of) Safar."
In Muslim's Sahih the following words are added:
"... and no Naw' (constellation) and no Ghul (ghost etc.)[1] "
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have heard the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) saying:
"No Adwa (contagion) and no Tiyarah (bad omen) but Al-Fa'l pleases me." So they asked, "What is Al-Fa'l?" He (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) answered, "It is the good word."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
With valid Isnad, Abu Dawud reported that Uqbah bin Aamir (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
At-Tiyarah (taking bad omens) was once mentioned before Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) and he (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said, "The best form of it is Al-Fa'l (optimism or the expectation that a event will occur by Allah's Permission). It does not prevent a Muslim from his object. Whenever any of you sees something he dislikes he should pray: 'O Lord, none but You bring good things! None but you prevent evil things! There is no power and no strength except in You.' "
It is narrated from Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) in a Marfu` Hadith:
"At-Tiyarah is Shirk, At-Tiyarah is Shirk. There is none among us who does not feel something in his heart about At-Tiyarah. But Allah, due to deep trust in Him, removes it."
[This Hadith was reported by At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud.]
and it is stated that its last part is the statement of Ibn Mas'ud.
Ahmad reported from Ibn 'Amr the following Hadith:
"Whoever is turned back by At-Tiyarah (bad omens) has committed Shirk" They asked, "What makes the atonement for such a sin?" The Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) answered, "To say: 'O Lord, there is no good except the good which You bestow. There is no evil except the evil which You decree. And there is no true God except You.' "
Fadl bin Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have said:
"At-Tiyarah is that which causes you to carry something out or that turns you back (from your mission)."
(Musnad Ahmad)
Important issues of the Chapter
1) Reminding the meanings of the verses:
"Verily, these evil omens are with Allah but most of them know not"
(7:31)
And
"Your evil omens be with you" (36: 19).
2) Repudiation of contagion of disease.
3) Negation of any bad omen (no At-Tiyarah)
4) Repudiation of Hamah (Omen in the night-bird i.e. owl).
5) Negation of any bad omen in the month of Safar.
6) A/-Fa'/ is not prohibited but in fact it is desirable.
7) Explanation of A/-Fa'/ in detail.
8) There is no harm if such suspicion falls on the hearts while disliking it. Indeed, Allah will provide safety, due to deep trust in Him.
9) What should be said if such feelings occur.
10) Declaration that At-Tiyarah is Shirk.
11) Explanation of blameworthy and condemned At-Tiyarah.
[1] Naw': Constellation in the path of moon or a division of time connected with the phases of the moon.
Ghul: Fictitious monster often invoked to scare children like ghost etc.