Source: Sharḥ Kitāb al-Jāmiʿ from Bulūgh al-Marām by Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī
❖ Ḥadīth
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: الشؤم سوء الخلق
It is narrated from ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Misfortune is bad character.”
Narrated by Aḥmad, and its chain is weak.
📚 Referencing
- Ḍaʿīf (Weak): [Musnad Aḥmad 6/85]
- For detailed referencing and weakening, see: Silsilat al-Aḥādīth al-Ḍaʿīfah [793]
✦ Vocabulary
الشُّؤْمُ:
Means ill-omen or misfortune — it is the opposite of اليُمن, which means blessing or good fortune.
✿ Key Points & Benefits
➊ Bad Character Is the Real Misfortune
The Prophet ﷺ rejected the idea that any object or person inherently brings misfortune.
However, in some narrations, it is mentioned:
“If there is any misfortune in something, it would be in a woman, a horse, and a house.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, al-Jihād / 47]
This means: No object is intrinsically inauspicious. Misfortune only arises due to bad traits.
For example:
- A woman may be ill-tempered and abusive
- A horse may be stubborn and difficult to handle
- A house may be unhealthy, cramped, or depressing
➋ The Hadith in Discussion Emphasizes:
True misfortune lies in bad character.
Qualities like:
✘ Foul speech
✘ Greed and stinginess
✘ Jealousy
✘ Harshness and cruelty
Such traits deprive a person of a blessed life, turning their presence into a source of discomfort and negativity — both for themselves and others.
However, this misfortune is not permanent.
If one corrects their character, the negativity and “ill-omen” are removed.
✅ Summary
✔ The hadith is weak, but the meaning aligns with sound Islamic principles.
✔ No creation is inherently unlucky — it is negative traits that bring about hardship.
✔ Good character leads to barakah (blessing) in life, while bad character results in emotional and social ruin.
✔ Misfortune can be reversed by embracing noble behavior and refining one’s morals.
