Fatwa ID: 08995
Answered by Maulana Abdurrahman Persaud
Question:
Regarding the Sunnah of taking of good omens (fa’l), I put this into practice, but despite that, the outcome of my situation was not good and turned out the total opposite of what I had hoped for.
If fa’l is meant to inspire positivity, but in reality it has no effect on the actual outcome – then is it really a Sunnah from Islam and what is the real value of even practicing it?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
The concept of ‘taking good omen’ is an established sunnah and practice of our beloved Prophet ﷺ, as he says:
لَا عَدْوَى وَلَا طِيَرَةَ وَيُعْجِبُنِي الْفَأْلُ الصَّالِحُ: الْكَلِمَةُ الْحَسَنَةُ
“There is no spreading of infection [except if Allaah wills it] and no evil omen, and I am pleased by a good omen – and a good omen is a good word.”
Looking to good omens and having good thoughts regarding Allah is of the matters that a believer is required to pay attention to because that gives him the motivation to act and look forward to what lies ahead, and to be optimistic.
Although it does not possess any natural effect or influence over destiny, it can undoubtedly possess a psychological bearing. Predominantly, a good omen induces hope and activity while an evil omen results in despondency, hopelessness, and weakness.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ showed us how to be practical when having expectations of Allah ﷻ as he said in a Hadith Qudsi:
أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي،
“I am according to how my slave thinks of me.”
Having total reliance on Allah ﷻ that nothing good or bad happens only from his will is our core belief as muslims. When the Prophet taught us about good omens, is to couple our core belief with good teachings about Allah ﷻ.
And to do it regarding it to be a sunnah of our beloved Prophet ﷺ is a value that is weighty in the sight of Allah ﷻ.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Abdurrahman Persaud
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
عَنْ أَنَسٍ رضي الله عنه عَن النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: «لَا عَدْوَى وَلَا طِيَرَةَ وَيُعْجِبُنِي الْفَأْلُ الصَّالِحُ: الْكَلِمَةُ الْحَسَنَةُ
البخاري 18/ 44.
ص166 – حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار ط الحلبي – وَالْفَأْلُ: ضِدُّ الطِّيَرَةِ كَأَنْ يَسْمَعَ مَرِيضٌ يَا سَالِمُ أَوْ يَا طَالِبُ أَوْ يَا وَاجِدُ أَوْ يُسْتَعْمَلُ فِي الْخَيْرِ وَالشَّرِّ قَامُوسٌ، وَمِنْهُ حَدِيثُ ” «كَانَ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – يَتَفَاءَلُ وَلَا يَتَطَيَّرُ» وَكَذَا حَدِيثُ «كَانَ يُعْجِبُهُ إذَا خَرَجَ لِحَاجَتِهِ أَنْ يَسْمَعَ يَا رَاشِدُ يَا رَجِيحُ» أَخْرَجَهُمَا السُّيُوطِيّ فِي الْجَامِعِ الصَّغِيرِ. وَوَجْهُهُ أَنَّ الْفَأْلَ أَمَلٌ وَرَجَاءٌ لِلْخَيْرِ مِنْ اللَّهِ – تَعَالَى – عِنْدَ كُلِّ سَبَبٍ ضَعِيفٍ أَوْ قَوِيٍّ بِخِلَافِ الطِّيَرَةِ – المكتبة الشاملة
يقولُ اللَّهُ تَعالَى: أنا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بي، وأنا معهُ إذا ذَكَرَنِي، فإنْ ذَكَرَنِي في نَفْسِهِ ذَكَرْتُهُ في نَفْسِي، وإنْ ذَكَرَنِي في مَلَإٍ ذَكَرْتُهُ في مَلَإٍ خَيْرٍ منهمْ، وإنْ تَقَرَّبَ إلَيَّ بشِبْرٍ تَقَرَّبْتُ إلَيْهِ ذِراعًا، وإنْ تَقَرَّبَ إلَيَّ ذِراعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ إلَيْهِ باعًا، وإنْ أتانِي يَمْشِي أتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً
أخرجه مسلم (2675)