Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"There is no transitive disease and no evil omen, and I like a good omen." It was said: What is a good omen? He said: "A good word."
Reported by Muslim (No. 2224b, 2224a), Al-Bukhari (No. 5756), Abu Dawud (No. 3916), At-Tirmidhi (No. 1615), Ibn Majah (No. 3537) and Ahmad (No. 11734, 12105, 12316, 12357, 13142, 13411, 13439).
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that transitive disease in which the people of the pre-Islamic era of ignorance used to believe, thinking the disease is transmitted by itself to others apart from Allah's decree, is false. And the Tiyarah, which is regarding something audible or visible, as an evil omen whether it is from birds, animals, people with deformities, numbers, days, etc. He mentioned the "Tayr" (bird) specifically because it was commonly known during the pre-Islamic era of ignorance, as a bird would be urged to fly when someone intended to do something like travel, trade, or anything else. If the bird flew to the right, he would take this as a good omen and proceed with what he intended, whereas if the bird flew to the left, he would take this as a bad omen and refrain from doing what he intended. Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that he liked the good omen, which is the happiness and joy that one feels when hearing a good word that makes him have good expectations of his Lord.
Lessons
Reliance on Allah Almighty and realizing that none brings goodness except Allah and none wards off harm except Allah.
Tiyarah, which is believing in bad omens and refraining from doing things based on that, is prohibited.
A good omen is not part of the forbidden Tiyarah; rather, it signifies having good expectations of Allah Almighty.
Everything happens in compliance with the decree of Allah Almighty, alone with no partner.
Explanation in Arabic
يُخْبِرُ النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بأنَّ العدوى التي كان يَعتقدُها أهلَ الجاهلية بأنَّ المَرضَ يَنتقل بنفسه إلى الآخر من دون قَدَرِ الله بأنها باطلة،
وأنَّ الطيرة باطلة، وهي التشاؤم من أيِّ شيءٍ مسموعًا كان أو مرئيًّا، من الطيور أو الحيوانات أو أصحاب العَاهَات أو الأرقام أو الأيام أو غير ذلك،
وإنما ذَكَرَ الطيرَ لأنه كان المشهور عند الجاهلية، وأصله إطلاق الطير عند الشروع في عملٍ من سفر أو تجارة أو غير ذلك، فإن طار جهة اليمين تفاءل ومضى لما يريد، وإن طار جهة الشمال تشاءم وكَفَّ عمّا يريد.
ثم أخبر صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه يُعجبه الفَأْل، وهو ما يَحْدُثُ للإنسانِ من الفرح والسرور من كلمة طيبة يسمعها، وتجعله يحسن الظن بربه.
التوكُّل على الله تعالى، وأنه لا يأتي بالخير إلا الله، ولا يدفع الشر إلا الله.
النهي عن الطيرة، وهي ما يُتشاءم منه، ويصد عن العمل.
الفأل ليس من الطيرة المنهي عنها، بل هو من حُسْنِ الظن بالله تعالى.
كل شيء يحصل بتقدير الله عز وجل وحده لا شريك له.
Scholars’ grades
Scholar
Grade
Applies to
Work
Muslimd. 261 AH
Authenticصحيح
The hadith
صحيح مسلمNo. 2224
Grades of other versions (3)
Authentic chainShu'ayb al-Arna'utإسناده صحيح على شرط الشيخين — تخريج المسند لشعيب (12323)
Authentic chainShu'ayb al-Arna'utإسناده صحيح — تخريج مشكل الآثار (1841)
Authentic chainShu'ayb al-Arna'utإسناده صحيح — تخريج المسند لشعيب (12822)
Other versions
AuthenticMuttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim)Sahih al-Bukhari 5756
عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "لا عدوى ولا طِيَرة ويعجبني الفأل" قالوا: وما الفأل؟ قال: "كلمة طيبة" ((متفق عليه)).
"There is no contagion, nor is there any evil omen in birds, nor is there any evil omen in the owl, nor is there any evil omen in Safar, and run away from the leper as you would run away from the lion."
