Adab al-Mufrad

Benefits and Issues:
➊ There are various opinions among the scholars regarding the owl, of which two are more well-known: In the era of ignorance (Jahiliyyah), people used to believe that when the blood of a murdered person was not avenged, an owl would emerge from his head, circle around his grave, and say, “Give me (blood in revenge), give me.” It would not go back until his revenge was taken. The second opinion is that his soul or bones take the form of an owl and cry out for seven days, and then it returns. Islam has refuted this and clarified that there is no reality to it.

➋ The details of bad omens and augury have already been mentioned in the previous hadith, and as for the evil eye, it is a true matter. Sometimes it occurs due to envy, and sometimes it happens simply because something appears pleasing. Therefore, the Shariah has instructed that when something appears pleasing, one should say “masha Allah.” In one hadith, it is even mentioned that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Most of the deaths in my ummah, after Allah’s decree, will be due to the evil eye.” (Hasan, Musnad Abi Dawud Tayalisi: 1760, al-Sunnah Ibn Abi Asim: 311, Majma‘ al-Zawa’id: 5/106). Therefore, to protect oneself from it, one should be diligent in reciting the prescribed supplications (adhkar), and the last three surahs (the three Quls), and perform ruqyah (blowing over oneself) with them.