Islamic Perspective on Superstitions and Charms

1. CHAPTER 3 – Superstitions, Charms (TA3WEEZ) and Omens-not permissible

2. Amulets/Charms It was the practice among the Arabs in the time of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) to wear arm bracelets, bangles, beaded necklaces and shells, etc as charms to avert evil and bring good luck. Similar practices people have these days. Unfortunately, some muslims as well. Faith in charms, amulets and talismans contradicts true belief in Allah’s Rubobeyah (Mastery/Lordship) by attributing to created objects the power to avert evil and bring good fortune.

3. What is superstition? ``Superstition is the belief in supernatural causality—that one event causes another without any natural process linking the two events—such as astrology and certain aspects linked to certain religion, like omens, witchcraft and prophecies, that contradict natural science.`` This belief is not permissible in Islam.

4. There are many ahadith where the Prophet (pbuh) strictly forbids this practice: Imran ibn Husayn reported that when the Prophet (pbuh) saw a brass bangle on a man’s upper arm, he said to him, “Woe be on you! What is this?” The man replied that it was to protect him from a sickness called al-Wahinah. The Prophet (pbuh) then said, “Cast it off, for verily it would only increase your weakness. And, if you die with it on, you would never succeed.” [Ahmed & Ibn Maajah]

5. Thus, the wearing of copper, brass or iron bracelets, bangles and rings by the sick or the healthy in the belief that they will avert or cure sickness is strictly forbidden. Unless it is used for a scientific reason. The Prophet (pbuh) also prophesisedthat the Muslims will imitate the practices of the Christians and the Jews. The belief among many Muslims who believe in saints and their intercession is no different in principle from that found in Christianity.

6. Beware of mawlid (celebration of the prophet`s birth). It is imitating Christmas and is Bid`ah (Innovation). The Prophet (pbuh) has emphasised the failure of those who seriousness of wear amulets: Uqbah ibn Aamir reported that the Prophet (pbuh) once said, “May Allah cause failure and unrest to whoever wears a talisman or puts it on others” [Ahmad & al-Haakim]

7. Examples of Superstitions Superstitions about death. DOG. A dog howling at night when someone in the house is sick is a bad omen. DOOR. It's bad luck to leave a house through a different door than the one used to come into it.

8. Horseshoes: Houses in America have horseshoes nailed over their doors. Miniature versions are also worn on charm bracelets, key chains or necklaces in the belief they will bring good luck. The origin of this belief is from the ancient Greek mythology where horses were considered sacred animals. If a horse’s shoe was hung over the door of a house, it was thought to bring good fortune. The open end of the horseshoe has to point upward so it would hold the good luck and not pointed downwards as they believed that the good luck will spill out.

9. The belief in superstitions or charms gives created things the divine power to avert misfortune and thus, those who subscribe to such beliefs contend that Allah’s being the MASTER (Lord) is limited by His creation. The belief in charms is a form of Shirk. This ruling is further strengthened by the following hadith:

10. ‘Uqbah ibn Aamir reported that when a group of ten men came to the Prophet (pbuh), he only accepted the oath of allegiance from nine. They asked, “Oh Messenger of Allah, why did you take the covenant from nine of us and refuse this man?” The Prophet (pbuh) answered, “Verily he has a talisman on him.” The man then put his hand in his cloak, pulled out the talisman and broke it. When the Prophet (pbuh) finished taking the oath from him, he turned and said, “Whoever wears a talisman has committed Shirk!” [Tirmdhi & Ahmad]

11. Quranic Charms: There is no record of the Prophet (pbuh) wearing Quranic verses or allowing them to be worn. The wearing of Quranic charms also contradicts the prophetic method of breaking spells and averting evil. The Sunnah is to recite the Quranic chapters 113 and 114 and certain verses (e.g. Aayatul Kursee, 2:255) when evil approaches. [Al Bukhari]. The only prescribed method of gaining good fortune and blessing from the Quran is by its recitation and application. Wearing the Quran in an amulet is like a sick man given a prescription by a doctor. Instead of reading it and getting the medication, he rolls it into a ball, puts it in a pouch and hangs it around his neck, believing that it willmake him well.

12. It is not permissible for one to wear a Quranic charm believing that it will avert evil and bring good fortune. This contradicts what Allah has already destined. Consequently he will depend on it instead of Allah. ‘Eesaa ibn Hamzah said, “Once I came to visit Abdullah ibn Ukaym and found Hamzah with him, I asked Abdullah, “Don’t you wear a Tamemah (charm)?” He replied, “May Allah give us refuge from that! Don’t you know that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said, ‘Whoever wears a necklace or bracelet, depends on it” [Ahmad & al-Tirmidhi] Muslims have to carefully avoid using the Quran as a good luck charm (i.e. by hanging it in their cars, on key chains, bracelets, necklaces) as this opens the door to Shirk.

13. Tiyarah Omens Pre-Islamic Arabs used to consider the direction on which birds and animals moved to be a sign of impending good or bad fortune and planned their lives around such signs. This is referred to as Tiyarah. For example, if a person set out on a journey and a bird flew over him and turned left, he would see this as a sign of impending bad fortune and return home.

14. These practises are invalidated by Islam as they corrode the foundation of Tawheed al –Asmaa was - Sifaat and Tawheed al – Ebaadah by: • Directing the form of worship known as trust (Tawakkul) to other than Allah, and • Attributing to man the power to predict the coming of good or evil and the ability to avoid Allah’s destiny. • Attributing divine power to the movement of His creation.

15. The evidence of prohibition of Tiyarah is in the following hadith: The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Whoever does Tiyarah or has it done for himself, has his future prophesied or has someone bewitched, is not one of us” [at – Tirmidhi] Therefore Tiyarah is considered among the acts which puts one who believes in it outside the fold of Islam.

16. Ruling on Omens The ancient Arabs took their omens from birds and other nations take theirs from elsewhere, but the principle involved is the same. The following are a few omens used presently by the Western society: • Knock on Wood: When someone is thankful for something and hopes that his luck will not change he says, “Knock on wood”, and looks around for some wood to knock on. The origin of this belief goes back to the time when people in Europe thought that gods lived inside trees. To ask the tree-god a favor they would touch the tree. If the wish was granted they would touch the tree again to thank the god.

17. Breaking a Mirror: Many people believe that breaking a mirror accidentally is a sign of seven years bad luck. Ancient people thought that their reflections in water were their souls. So if their reflections were shattered (e.g. if someone threw a pebble in the water), then their souls were also shattered. When mirrors were made this belief was transferred to them also. • Black Cats: The crossing of a black cat in front of one’s path signals the coming of bad luck to many. This belief originated in the middle ages when people believed that black cats were witches pets.

18. Number 13: In America the no.13 is considered unlucky and thus, in many apartment buildings the 13th floor is called the 14th. Friday the 13th is considered particularly unlucky and many people avoid travel or special engagements on this day. If anything bad befalls them that day, they immediately attribute it to the day itself. According to some, the origin of this belief goes back to the evening of Jesus’ last supper as told in the Bible. At the last supper, there were 13 people. One of the 13 was Judas, the man who supposedly betrayed Jesus. Friday the 13th is supposed to be particularly unlucky for at least two reasons. First, Friday is the day Jesus was supposed to have been crucified. Secondly, according to medieval belief, Friday is the day when witches held their meetings.

19. Allah’s ability to cause good and bad fortune is being shared by His creation in these beliefs. Knowledge of the future and the unseen is also being claimed, a quality belonging to Allah alone. One of Allah’s attributes is Aalim al – Ghayb (Knower of the Unseen). Allah also has the Prophet (pbuh) confess in the Quran that had he known the unseen and future he would have avoided all misfortune:

20. قُل لَّآ أَمۡلِكُ لِنَفۡسِى نَفۡعً۬ا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ وَلَوۡ كُنتُ أَعۡلَمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبَ لَٱسۡتَڪۡثَرۡتُ مِنَ ٱلۡخَيۡرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِىَ ٱلسُّوٓءُ‌ۚ إِنۡ أَنَا۟ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ۬ وَبَشِيرٌ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ “Say: I have no power over any misfortune or harm to myself except as Allah wills. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have multiplied all good, and no evil should have touched me, I am but a warner, and a bringer of Glad Tidings to those who have faith” [Surah al-Araaf 7:188] Therefore, the belief in omens and superstitions can clearly be classified as an act of Shirk in all areas of Tawheed.

21. Du`a as a cure Recite al- wu 3wwizatain- SuratulFalaq and Suratul-nas U 3izukuma bikalimatillahitaamahwa min kullishaitaniwahaamahwa min kulliaininlaamah ``I cling on stubbornly using the perfect words of Allah, from every devil and every evil eye``

22. Azhabilba`srabbannaaswashfi anta shafilaashifaillashifaaukshifanlaayughadirusaqaman • ``Remove the suffering, Master of Mankind and heal it perfectly as you are the true Healer. There is no cure except Your cure, which is not followed by sickness.`` • A`uzu bi kalimtillahiltaamah min sharri ma khalaq- `I cling stubbornly to your perfect words seeking protection from all evil.``

23. Du`a • Allhummainni as alukakhairahawakhaira ma jabaltahawa a` uzubika min sharrihawasharriwajabaltahaalaihi • Allahumma la khairaillakhairukwa la tairaillatairukwalaailahaghairuk • ``Oh Allah, there is no good except your good (You decide) and there is no bad attached to the movements of bird except what You have decided and there is no force to be obeyed except You.``