Adapted from the book "Shirk ke Chaur Darwazay" by Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi and Hafiz Mahmood al-Khudri
In the pre-Islamic era, when people were about to set out on a long journey or begin an important task, they would cause a bird to fly. If it flew to the right, the action was considered auspicious and was pursued. If it flew to the left, the plan was deemed inauspicious and was abandoned.
Islamic Shari‘ah strongly negated such practices, declaring them false and an act of shirk.
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ said:
((لَا عَدْوَى وَلَا طِيَرَةَ وَلَا هَامَةَ وَلَا صَفَرَ.))
Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Medicine, Hadith 5757; Sahih Muslim, Book of Peace, Hadith 2220
“There is no contagious disease, no omen-taking, no evil in the sound of owls, and no reality in the month of Safar.”
This Hadith clearly explains that taking omens has no real influence in causing benefit or harm. Allah alone controls all benefit and harm, and a believer should place trust in Allah and remain obedient to the Prophet ﷺ. Misplaced reliance on omens can drive one into the destructive pit of shirk.
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
((الطَّيَرَةُ شِرْكٌ الطَّيَرَةُ شِرْكٌ.))
Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Medicine, Hadith 3910 – Declared authentic by al-Albani رحمه الله
“Taking omens is shirk. Taking omens is shirk.”
Imam Muslim (رحمه الله) narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir (رضي الله عنه) the same meaning of Safar.
Sahih Muslim, Book of Peace, Hadith 5797
Others believed the month of Safar itself—which follows Muharram—was unlucky and cursed.
Even today, many Muslims in the Indian subcontinent consider the 13th of Safar unlucky and avoid marriages or celebrations during these days. As evidence, they often quote a fabricated narration:
((مَنْ بَشَّرَنِي بِخُرُوجِ صَفَرٍ بَشَّرْتُهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ.))
“Whoever gives me the glad tidings of Safar ending, I will give him the glad tidings of Paradise.”
Refutation: This narration is fabricated and baseless. Mulla Ali Qari (رحمه الله) stated in Al-Mawdu‘at al-Kabir, p. 116:
((لَا أَصْلَ لَهُ))
“There is no basis for it.”
To consider the month of Safar or any particular day or date as inauspicious is part of the superstitions and shirk-based beliefs of the Age of Ignorance. There is no basis for such beliefs in Islam.
Thus, any person who adopts omens or holds beliefs of misfortune is falling into the trap of shirk.
May Allah protect us from these destructive beliefs and attach our hearts firmly to Tawheed until we meet Him.
آمِين يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ
✿ Superstition and the Notion of Misfortune (Tiyarah)
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sent into this perishable world, the world was engulfed in deep darkness of ignorance. People were afflicted by satanic whispers and various shirk-based superstitions. Among the polytheistic customs and false beliefs of Jahiliyyah was “Tiyarah” — the taking of bad omens.In the pre-Islamic era, when people were about to set out on a long journey or begin an important task, they would cause a bird to fly. If it flew to the right, the action was considered auspicious and was pursued. If it flew to the left, the plan was deemed inauspicious and was abandoned.
Islamic Shari‘ah strongly negated such practices, declaring them false and an act of shirk.
Hadith on the Rejection of Omens
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ said:((لَا عَدْوَى وَلَا طِيَرَةَ وَلَا هَامَةَ وَلَا صَفَرَ.))
Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Medicine, Hadith 5757; Sahih Muslim, Book of Peace, Hadith 2220“There is no contagious disease, no omen-taking, no evil in the sound of owls, and no reality in the month of Safar.”
This Hadith clearly explains that taking omens has no real influence in causing benefit or harm. Allah alone controls all benefit and harm, and a believer should place trust in Allah and remain obedient to the Prophet ﷺ. Misplaced reliance on omens can drive one into the destructive pit of shirk.
Omen-Taking is Shirk
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:((الطَّيَرَةُ شِرْكٌ الطَّيَرَةُ شِرْكٌ.))
Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Medicine, Hadith 3910 – Declared authentic by al-Albani رحمه الله“Taking omens is shirk. Taking omens is shirk.”
⚠ The Myth of Safar and Misconceptions
Among the superstitious beliefs of Jahiliyyah was the notion of "Safar". The Arabs believed that “Safar” was a worm in the stomach that caused gnawing pain during hunger and could even lead to death. They considered it a contagious condition.Imam Muslim (رحمه الله) narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir (رضي الله عنه) the same meaning of Safar.
Sahih Muslim, Book of Peace, Hadith 5797Others believed the month of Safar itself—which follows Muharram—was unlucky and cursed.
A Fabricated Hadith Regarding Safar
Even today, many Muslims in the Indian subcontinent consider the 13th of Safar unlucky and avoid marriages or celebrations during these days. As evidence, they often quote a fabricated narration:((مَنْ بَشَّرَنِي بِخُرُوجِ صَفَرٍ بَشَّرْتُهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ.))
“Whoever gives me the glad tidings of Safar ending, I will give him the glad tidings of Paradise.”
Refutation: This narration is fabricated and baseless. Mulla Ali Qari (رحمه الله) stated in Al-Mawdu‘at al-Kabir, p. 116:((لَا أَصْلَ لَهُ))
“There is no basis for it.”
Final Word
To consider the month of Safar or any particular day or date as inauspicious is part of the superstitions and shirk-based beliefs of the Age of Ignorance. There is no basis for such beliefs in Islam.Thus, any person who adopts omens or holds beliefs of misfortune is falling into the trap of shirk.
May Allah protect us from these destructive beliefs and attach our hearts firmly to Tawheed until we meet Him.
آمِين يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ
