Superstitions and Islam

BismilLahhirRahmannirRaheem
Superstitions and Islam

Scientific advancement has done wonders: man has landed on the moon, mars is within human reach, depth of oceans have been fathomed, nature is being tamed, animals are being cloned, and man is continuously striving to subject everything of this universe to the microscopic scrutiny of his expanding knowledge and research. But if a man is without Faith and Eeman, even his vast knowledge cannot liberate him from the slavery of superstitions. Things, which have been created to serve man, are being ignorantly considered as masters of his destiny.

Tawheed – Oneness of Allah Subhana-o-Ta’ala is a great honor and a blessing bestowed upon humanity by Islam. Tawheed means that Allah is the Master, the Absolute Controller and Regulator. Nothing has ever happened, can ever happen and will ever happen without the will and knowledge of Allah. His decision is supreme and no one can challenge it. Success destined for someone by Him can never ever suffer a failure, and if He means failure for someone, nothing can turn it into success. Human intrigues, schemes and planning have no value and are meaningless and futile before Allah’s will. No one can interfere in man’s fate; let they be stars, stones, any given number or numerals, specific moments in time, special days or months. Tawheed crushed all such idols of superstitions, and saved man from the worship of falsehood.

Superstition is a slavery, which makes man fear from things, or attaches the hope of help and benefit from things, which have no power to do good or bad to him. You must have seen or heard many examples of superstitious practices. For example, if a black cat crosses your path, or if an owl hoots, both are considered as bad omen. Traveling on a certain day is considered unsafe. One who is devoid of faith in Allah’s Supreme authority and power falls a prey to these superstitions and follies. Surprisingly countries where by and large people are educated, certain numbers are considered bad, and hotels don’t assign that number to rooms.

These superstitions had their followers in the pre-Islamic Arabia too. Before embarking on a journey, people used to set a bird free, and if it flew to the right, it was considered as a good omen, and if it flew to the left, the journey was given up. The owl was considered an evil bird. Its hoot was considered as harbinger of death and destruction. The month of Safar was considered bad and any business initiated in that month was believed to be doomed. Prophet (SAW) rejected these notions of ignorance and said there is no truth in such beliefs.

Arabs also believed that Shiyaateen lived in the woods and deserts and had the power to change their color and deceived travelers. They used to call them “Ghaul”. Prophet (SAW) rejected this idea as mentioned in Fatah-ul-Baari, Volume 10, page 168. Arabs also considered the month of Shawwal as bad and improper for marriages. Prophet (SAW) married Ummul Momineen Hazrat Aa’isha (RA) in the month of Shawwal and she went to his house in the same month. She said that which “Nikah” can be more blessed than mine.


Islam had planted the concept of Tawheed so deep in the hearts that no one could ever believe in such senseless superstitions. Hazrat Zunairah (RA) is a Sahaabiah. When she embraced Islam, she was subjected to such a torture that she lost her eyesight. Non-Muslims said that the loss of sight was due to turning her back to the idols, and saying bad things about gods and goddesses. In our days and time, not to speak of women, even men, both educated and illiterate, could have been influenced, but Hazrat Zunairah (RA) did not flinch even for a split of a second. She had lost “Basaarat”, eyesight, but not “Baseerat”, the Insight and wisdom. She said everything was subject to Allah’s will. Prophet (SAW) was very happy with her staunch faith. He prayed for her and as a result Allah (SWT) restored her eyesight.

Egypt came under the banner of Islam during the Caliphate of Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA). Country’s economy and prosperity depended on the river Nile. According to Egyptian custom a maiden girl was to be sacrificed to the river as and when it dried up. It happened that the Nile dried up after the Muslim conquest. Egyptians told Hazrat Amr-bin-alAas, the then governor of Egypt that the river needed a sacrifice for its revival. Hazrat Amr-bin-alAas informed Sayyidina Umar Farooq (RA), who wrote this on a piece of paper: “Nile, if you flow by the command of Allah, revive and resume, otherwise dry up for ever”, and ordered that his message should be thrown in the river. This was done and the Nile resumed its flow, revived and never did dry since then.

It is said that Taimoor conquered India and when he was trying to cross the river Jamuna, fortunetellers told him not to cross the river as it was an inappropriate time. Taimoor was not a very educated person, but he was a Muslim. He spontaneously rejected the idea and said that being a believers in Tawheed, he did not care for things in superstitions as did the believers in Trinity.

It is sad that even in this progressive era, some Muslims believe in superstitions. According to Islam, no time, day, or month is bad. No bird, or animal or any of its acts is a bad omen. It is better to consult one’s own conscience, provided it alive, and not to go after the astrologers and fortunetellers. Good or bad, luck or bad luck, success or failure, all is the direct result of man’s own thinking, acts and practices. Let us think what a great blessing is Tawheed for us. Belief in it has certainly made us to prostrate to the one and only Allah (SWT), our Creator, Nourisher and Provider, but has liberated us from thousands of other false gods, goddesses, and superstitions.

Iqbal (Rahmatullah Alaih) said:

“This one prostration, which you feel burden-some,
Liberates and rids you from a thousand prostrations.”