Islam and Women

Islam Discourages Superstitions

Umm Milad Attariyyah

Some people harbour a world view built on superstitions, perceiving positive events as the results of good luck and negative ones as results of bad omens. Consequently, when faced with adversity, they often attribute it to the supposed ill-fated luck of a specific person, using it as an explanation for the losses they have suffered. Superstitions have no place in Islam. They are nothing more than baseless feelings that can border outright delusions. The adoption of such superstitious beliefs and the inclination to attribute significance to ill omens is detrimental to mental peace and health. A Muslim should have firm faith in Allah Almighty. This strong certainty and reliance give a person courage and confidence.

Islamic law gives the ruling:

اِذَا تَطَیَّرْتُمْ فَامْضُوْا

“When you assume a bad omen, do not act upon it.”

A Muslim should recite the following and place their trust in Allah Almighty:

لَا طَيْرَ اِلَّا طَيْرُكَ، وَلَا خَيْرَ اِلَّا خَيْرُكَ، وَلَا اِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

“O Allah! There is no omen except Your omen, and no good except Your good, and there is none worthy of worship except You.”

One should then carry out the very thing about which they assume a bad omen.^{^[1]}

Even if one does not attain the desired results, or is afflicted by illness or worries, they should have the belief that it is from Allah Almighty and it did not occur due to something being ill-fated. Just as it is mentioned in the noble Quran:

مَاۤ اَصَابَ مِنۡ مُّصِیۡبَۃٍ اِلَّا بِاِذۡنِ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یُّؤۡمِنۡۢ بِاللّٰہِ یَہۡدِ قَلۡبَہٗ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ بِکُلِّ شَیۡءٍ عَلِیۡمٌ (۱۱)

“No misfortune befalls except by Allah's command; and whosoever believes in Allah, Allah will guide his heart; and Allah knows everything.”^{^[2]}

Death, illness, loss of wealth, and all other calamities befall a person by the command of Allah Almighty. The person who believes in Allah Almighty, has certainty that whatever occurs does so due to the will of Allah Almighty, recites اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَیْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَ upon the occurrence of a calamity, shows gratitude upon blessings and is patient upon difficulties, Allah Almighty will grant their heart guidance, and they will become preoccupied with even more acts of righteousness and obedience. Allah Almighty is fully aware of all things.^{^[3]}

The following conviction keeps a Muslim at peace in every state: “Whatever occurred did so in accordance with the will of Allah Almighty. There must be some wisdom of Allah Almighty hidden in this; my Lord knows better.”

Some people, particularly women, have many misconceptions concerning the month of Ṣafar. They consider it problematic for males and deem its 13^th date to be ill-fated. They also think it is the month in which calamities and illnesses descend, etc.

Driven by these unfounded convictions, individuals often abstain from engaging in various activities during this month. Examples include avoiding marriage, refraining from travel, and hesitating to initiate business ventures. Additionally, people prepare a variety of dishes and distribute them within their communities, believing that such actions can prevent the arrival of calamities associated with this month. However, these practices have no basis in Islam, and those who promote such ideas often deviate from the true teachings of our pristine faith.

If we seek knowledge of the noble Quran and the blessed Sunnah, and study the Prophetic biography, not only will our faith be strengthened, we will also be able to identify that which is correct and that which is false.

The fourth Caliph of Islām, Sayyidunā ꜤAlī b. Abī Ṭālib رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ and the daughter of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا were married in Ṣafar.^{^[4]} Ponder, if marriage in this month was forbidden, would the marriage of these noble personalities have taken place in it? Do people think that this month only brings about failure? This cannot be the case, as this is the very month in which Allah Almighty granted the Muslims victory, and the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and his noble Companions رِضْوَانُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَیْہِمْ اَجْمَعِیْن were blessed with the conquering of Khaybar.^{^[5]}