Read by our brother Abu Muadh Taqweem
Summary
- Past and present sent day superstitions
- How can a person get rid of such thoughts and remove their anxiety?
- Can superstitions be a form of shirk?
- Relying on Allah alone
Examples of superstitions
- Superstitions from pre-Islamic times
- Modern day superstitions
Superstitious person
- What sort of things may a superstitious person think?
- How should he or she deal with this?
- What dua can a person make?
Previous nations
- At the time of Musa (Moses) may peace be upon him, the people of Pharaoh believed he was a source of evil
- Likewise all of the Prophets and Messengers experienced opposition from their people who were misguided
Are superstitions a form of shirk (Polytheism)?
- When a person falls into superstitious and he believes that they have an effect (i.e. that harm will come from them), then this is shirk (polytheism)
- This is because a person believes that a thing within creation has the power to harm or benefit
- This negates ones trust and dependance upon Allah
- These are from the whisperings of the shaitan (Satan)
- Q: What if a person believes that infections occur in and of themselves? I.e. He believes that a disease itself has the power to afflict someone rather than believing Allah is the one in control of all things
- Examples from ahaadith
Examples from the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ)
- The Prophet (ﷺ) said in one narration “optimism pleases me”
- There were many superstitions at the time of the Prophet (ﷺ), for example some people believed that there was an “unlucky” month and people would avoid doing important things such as marriage during this time. Today we have such things as “Friday the 13th”, walking under a ladder, black cats etc
- He warned us about superstitions, these affect a person negatively
Being at Ease with Allah
- We should rely on Allah, The Mighty and Majestic, and have hope in him
- Allah sent Prophets and Messengers (may peace be upon them all) and he sent down his books to us via them so that we worship and rely only on Him alone
- Whoever clings onto the strong rope of Allah (i.e. the Qur’an, the Sunnah and tawheed) then his or her heart will be connected to Allah and he will suffice them
- Hadith of ‘Ikrima (may Allah be pleased with him). A bird flew past and made some noise, a man said that this was a good sign, Ibn Abbas who was present said “it is neither good nor bad”
- Everything happens purely by the decree of Allah alone
- Why did the Prophet (ﷺ) like optimism?
Statement of Ibn Qayyim
- Optimism is the natural inclination
- The soul of a person is inclined to certain things. What types of goodness did the Prophet (ﷺ) like?
- Allah has ingrained within us to be pleased with and included towards types of things (e.g. hearing a good name, being successful, having safety, attaining victory)
- What about the opposite?
- What if a person turns back from doing something out of superstition, then this is a form of shirk. How can a person expedite this?
Q&A:
- What about aking precaution but without believing in superstitions?
- Some people like specific numbers, and they will avoid certain numbers, what about this?
- What about 786 or 666
- Removing anxiety and depression by trusting and relying on Allah
Next week: The stars
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