Part 9 Magic & Fortune Tellers & Omens

The Ahadeeth of Tawheed

from the

Silsilah Ahadeeth As-Saheehah

 of

Shaykh Al-Albaani

 Translated by

Abbas Abu Yahya

Chapters of Tawheed and the Shahadtayn

Part 9

26 Magic & Fortune Tellers & Omens

2650 - 'Whoever performs magic is not from us, (or has magic done for him), or performs fortune telling or has his fortune told for him, or believes in omens or has an omen done for him.'

793 - ' Whoever acquires knowledge from the stars, has acquired a branch of magic.'

762 - 'The Messenger of Allaah never used to seek omens from anything. If he would send a worker, he would ask about his name, if he liked his name it would make him happy, and happiness could be seen on his face.  If he disliked his name, dislike could be seen on his face.

And if he entered a village he would ask about its name, if he liked its name, it would make him happy and happiness could be seen on his face, and if he disliked its name, dislike could be seen on his face.'

777 - 'The Messenger was an optimist and did not believe in omens, and he admired the name al-Hasan.'

780 - 'There is no contagious disease that is transferred except by Allaah's permission. Nor is there the belief of when seeing or hearing an owl that it is the announcement of someone's death. Nor is there the belief of being pessimistic about the month of Safar.  And fear the leper like you fear a lion.'

781-'There is no contagious disease that is transferred except by Allaah's permission. Nor is there any effective omen, and the evil eye is true.'

782 - 'There is no contagious disease that is transferred except by Allaah's permission. Nor is there any effective omen, nor the belief of being pessimistic about the month of Safar. Nor the belief of when seeing or hearing an owl is the announcement of someone's death.  A Bedouin said: what about camels which are out in the desert, like Gazelles, and they mix with a mangy camel and it affects them.'

The Messenger - sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – said: 'Who affected the first one?'

783 - 'There is no contagious disease that is transferred except by Allaah's permission, nor is there any effective omen. Nor the belief of when seeing or hearing an owl that it is the announcement of someone's death. Nor the belief of being pessimistic about the month of Safar, run away from the leper like you run away from the lion.'

784- 'There is no contagious disease that is transferred except by Allaah's permission, nor any effective omen, nor a species from the Jinn and Shayateen which is claimed that it misguides people from the path and destroys them.'

785- 'There is no contagious disease that is transferred except by Allaah's permission. Nor the belief of being pessimistic about the month of Safar. Nor the belief of when seeing or hearing an owl that it is the announcement of someone's death.'

786- 'There is no contagious disease that is transferred except by Allaah's permission, nor any effective omen, and I admire good optimism; which would be a good saying.'

787- 'There is no contagious disease that is transferred except by Allaah's permission, nor any effective omen, and I love good optimism.'

788- 'There is no contagious disease that is transferred except by Allaah's permission, nor any effective omen, certainly you find pessimism in three things: a woman, a horse and a house.'

789- 'There is no contagious disease that is transferred except by Allaah's permission, nor any effective omen, nor the belief of when seeing or hearing an owl that it is the announcement of someone's death, if there was to be an omen in something, then it would be in a horse a woman and a house. 

And if you hear about the plague in a place then do not enter in to it, and if there is a plague in a place and you are in it, then do not leave that place.'

993- 'The people of Jahileeyah used to say: 'There are omens in a house, in a woman and a horse.' 

The origins of the hadeeth:

Two men from Bani 'Aamir entered upon 'Ayesha, they told her that Abu Huraira narrates on the authority of the Prophet-sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam - that he said: 'The people of Jahileeyah used to say: 'There are omens in a house, in a woman and a horse.'

She became very angry; half of her flew to the sky, and half to the earth.

She said : I swear by the One Who sent down the Furqaan  (the criterion)to Muhammad, that the Messenger never ever said this, rather what he said was: 'the people of jahileeyah used to seek omens from that.'

And in the narration of Ahmad:

'But the Prophet of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam - used to say: the people of jahileeyah used to say: Omens are in a woman, a house and a riding animal. Then 'Ayesha read <<No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz)>> to the end of the Ayaah.'

And it was narrated by al-Hakim (2/479) and he said:  'authentic Isnaad' and ad-Dhahabi agreed with him, it is as they said it was, rather it is upon the conditions of Muslim.

What supports this narration is what at-Tayaalisee narrated in his 'Musnad' (1537): Muhammad bin Raashid narrated to us on the authority of Makhool, it was said to 'Ayesha : that Abu Huraira says: that the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam -  said;  'Pessimism is found in three things: in a house, a woman and a horse.'  

'Ayesha said: Abu Huraira did not memorize this, because when he entered, the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam - was saying: May Allaah curse the Jews; they say: 'Without doubt pessimism is in a house, a woman and a horse,' so he heard the end of the hadeeth, and he never heard the beginning of it.'

To sum up, the narrators had differed in the wording of the hadeeth, some of them narrated it as in the chapter heading.

There are narrators who mentioned this saying with an extra wording in the beginning of the hadeeth. This indicates that there are no omens or pessimism (and they have the same meaning like the scholars have said). This is what the majority of narrators were upon.

Therefore their narration is the stronger opinion, since they have more information/knowledge, so it is obligatory to accept it.

Certainly what supports this opinion is the hadeeth of 'Ayesha, which is the one where the people of jahileeyah are those who said that Omens are in a woman, a house and a riding animal.

Zarkashee said in 'al-Ejabah' (p.128) : 'Some of the scholars have said: The narration of 'Ayesha regarding this matter resembles the truth InshAllaah (i.e. More than the hadeeth of Abu Huraira) due to it being in agreement with the prohibition of the Messenger of Allaah - alayhi as-Sallat wa sallam of believing in omens, which is a general prohibition, disliking them and persuasion in leaving them, due to the saying of the Messenger : 'Seventy thousand people will enter Paradise without being taken into account.  They are those who don't seek cauterization,(and in the original text: do not hoard up wealth) do not request Ruqya, nor do they believe in omens, and they rely upon their Lord.''

I say: he indicates by his saying: 'Some of the scholars' to Imaam at-Tahawee -may Allaah have mercy upon him.  At-Tahawee favours the previously mentioned hadeeth of 'Ayesha in 'Mushkil al-Athaar', and similarly in 'Sharh al-Ma'aani' and he ended his research about this subject with this hadeeth.

He said regarding the hadeeth of Sa'ad, and about those which are similar in meaning:

'What is indicated in this hadeeth is  different to what is indicated before it in other hadeeth, (I mean, the hadeeth of Ibn Umar, narrated by 'Utbah bin Muslim and that which has the same meaning on the authority of Ibn Umar), that is due to Sa'ad scolding Sa'eed when he mentioned to him about omens, he informed him on the authority  of the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam -  that he said : 'There are no omens,' then he said: If there were omens in anything, it would be in a woman, a horse and in a house.' 

However he did not say that omens are in these things. Rather what he said was if there were omens in things they would be in those, i.e. if there were to be in anything they would be in those things. So if they were not in these things, then they would not be in anything.'

All Praise belongs to Allaah, may His peace and blessings be upon our final Prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions and all those who follow his guidance.

Part 8 - The Return of Shirk and Islaam is wiped out after becoming Apparent

The Ahadeeth of Tawheed

from the

Silsilah Ahadeeth As-Saheehah

 of

Shaykh Al-Albaani

Translated by

Abbas Abu Yahya

Chapters of Tawheed and the Shahadtayn

Part 8

24-The Return of Shirk and Islaam is wiped out after becoming Apparent

1- 'Night and day will not pass away until al-Laat and al 'Uzzaa are worshipped." So 'Ayesha said: O Messenger of Allaah! I thought that when Allaah sent down: <<It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, that He may make it prevail over all other religions, no matter how much the disbelievers detest it.>> that it would be complete. He sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "There will be of that what Allaah wishes.'

87- "Islaam will become unknown like a garment is worn out due to constant washing, until fasting, prayer, nor the rituals of Hajj, nor charity are known.  The Book of Allaah Azza wa Jal will be taken up in one night, and not even an Ayaah will remain on the earth.  There will remain a group of people, (an old man and an old woman), who will say: We found our forefathers on this statement: 'La illa ill Allaah' so we also say it."

Narrated by Ibn Majah (4049)  and Hakim (4/473) from the way of Abu Muwaaawiyah on the authority of Abu Maalik al-Ashjaa'ee on the authority of Rab'aee bin Harrash on the authority of Hudayfah bin al-Yaaman marfoo'an with him, and he had extra wording: "Silaah bin Zafr said to Hudayfah: 'What will 'La illa ill Allaah' Benefit them if they don't know what is prayer nor fasting, nor the rituals of Hajj nor charity? ' Hudayfah turned away from him, but he repeated this to Hudayfah three times, and Hudayfah would turn away from him every time, then Hudyafah turned towards him on the third time and said: 'O Silaah! It will save them from the fire.'  And he said this three times.'

From the benefits of this hadeeth:

There is some dangerous information in this hadeeth, which is that there will come a day upon Islaam, where its traces will be wiped out.  And a day upon which the Qur'aan will be raised, and nothing will remain of it, not even one Ayaah will remain.

This will not happen absolutely, except after Islaam will colonize/control all over the planet earth, and Allaah's word will be high.  As is clearly mentioned in the text of the saying of Allaah Tabaraka wa Ta'ala:  << It is He Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it superior over all religions  >> and as is explained by the Messenger of Allaah - sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam –  in many Ahadeeth.

The Noble Qur'aan will not be raised at the end of time except as a preparation for the establishment of the last hour upon the most evil ones of creation. They will not know anything of Islaam whatsoever, not even the Tawheed of Allaah Ta'ala.

There is also an indication in the hadeeth to the greatness of the Qur'aan.  It being present amongst the Muslims is the reason for their Deen to remain and its structure to be well solid and stable.  Which can only occur by studying the Qur'aan and pondering over it and understanding it.  That is why you should make a contract with Allaah to memorize it, until Allaah permits it to be taken up.

So, how greatly misguided are some of the blind followers, who hold the opinion that the Deen is preserved by the four schools of thought (Madhaaib), and that there is no harm upon the Muslims if their Qur'aan was lost, if this were to happen!!

25 - From the Aspects of Shirk

331- "Indeed Ruqya, amulets and Tiwalah (a form of magic) are Shirk."

Ruqya - here it means, what is used to seek refuge with the Jinn, or something which is used but its meaning is not understood.  Similar to how some of the non-Arab religious people write some words on their books like 'Ya Kabeej' to protect their books from woodworm, as they claim.

Amulets – these were originally taken from gems which the Arabs used to tie on the head of the new born baby to protect it from the evil eye.  Then they extended this to all forms of seeking refuge.

I say: And from this practice is what some of the people do, when they attach a horse shoe to the door of the house, or at the front of their place!

Some drivers attach a shoe to the front of their car or to the back of it, or a blue gem on the car mirror, which will be in front of the driver from the inside of the car.  They do all of this because of the evil eye, as they claim.

Do amulets include those types which some people attach upon their children or upon themselves, if it is from the Qur'aan or supplications which are established on the Prophet - sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam.  Here the Salaf have two opinions, I hold that the stronger opinion is the impermissibility of such things, as I have illustrated in the notes to 'al-kalimat -  Tayyib' by Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah.

Tiwalah is a type of magic and things which a woman uses to cause her husband to love her.  Ibn al-Atheer said: 'It was classified as Shirk, due to their belief that it has the ability to affect the person and it opposes that which Allaah Ta'ala has destined.'

All Praise belongs to Allaah, may His peace and blessings be upon our final Prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions and all those who follow his guidance.

Last Part - Warning Against the Fitnah of Takfeer

Last Part

Warning Against the

Fitnah of Takfeer

By the

Muhadith, Allama, Ash-Shaykh

Muhammad Nasir ud-Deen al-Albaani

Translated By

Abbas Abu Yahya

Making Takfeer of Sinners is not Allowed

So every type of sin and specifically what is widespread in this time from what is regarded as permissible actions, such as interest, illegal sexual relations, drinking alcohol amongst them, all of these are kufr of action.  So it is not allowed for us to make Takfeer of the sinners- who have been deceived by some of these sins - just because they have perpetrated a sin and regarded it as permissible actions for themselves!  Except if it becomes apparent to us – with certainty – and it is unveiled with what is in the depths of their ownselves that from their Aqeedah they do not prohibit what Allaah and His Messenger have prohibited.  So, if we know they have fallen into this opposition with their hearts, then we can judge that they have committed kufr, the kufr of apostasy.

And if we don’t know this, then there is no way for us to judge them with kufr, because we fear we will fall into the threat of the saying of  his - SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam - :  “If a man says to his brother: ‘Oh kaffir! Indeed it returns to one of them.’

There are many ahadeeth mentioned with this meaning. I will mention a hadeeth, which is a great evidence. It is in the story of that Companion who killed one of the mushrikeen .  When the mushrik saw that he was about to come under the blow of the sword of the Muslim Companion, he said, “I testify that none is worthy of worship except Allaah!!”  The Companion took no interest in that and killed him!!  When the news reached the Prophet - SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam - he disapproved of it severely.  The Companion mentioned an excuse that he did not say what he said except from the fear of being killed, but the answer of the Messenger - SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam - was:

“Did you open up his heart?!”

Therefore the kufr of belief does not have a fundamental connection with just actions, but it has a connection with the heart.

And it is not possible for us to know what is in the heart of the faasiq (sinner) or the adulterer or the thief or the one who is a fornicator nor the one who takes interest, etc. Except if he confesses with his tongue what is in his heart.  As far as his action is concerned then it is notification that he has opposed the Sharia', with a differing of action.

So, we say:  without doubt you have opposed the Sharee'ah! and indeed you have committed fisq(a sin)! and adulterated! But we do not say:  'Indeed you have become a  kaafir and apostated from your Deen', until there manifests  from him something which will be an excuse for us with Allaah Azza wa Jaal in judging him regarding apostasy and following that comes the well know ruling in Islaam which is none other than the saying of the Messenger - SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam -:  “Whoever changes his Deen then kill him.”

Then I said and I continue to say to those who constantly make Takfeer of the Muslim rulers: let’s suppose the kufr of these rulers is the kufr of apostasy! And suppose there was a ruler who was above them, then it would be obligatory – in this situation - on that higher ruler to implement the Islaamic punishment on them.

However, how do you benefit yourselves practically if we agree for the sake of argument that all of these rulers are kuffar, and their kufr is the kufr of apostasy? 

What can you possibly do and establish?

If the Takfeer is say: for the sake of 'al Walaa wa al Baraa', loyalty to the believers and disassociation from the kuffar!! Then we reply to them: loyalty and disassociation are connected to friendship and hate – by the heart and by actions -, and it is dependent on capability, therefore it is not conditional that you proclaim Takfeer, and declare apostacy, just because 'al Walaa wa al Baraa' are present.  Rather, friendship and hate could both take place in an innovator, sinner, or an oppressor!!

Then I say to these people, here we have the kuffar, and they have occupied the many lands of Islaam! We are with sadness being trialed with the occupation of Palestine by the Jews. What is possible for us and for you to do about it? Is it important to stand – alone – against those rulers whom you think and claim are kuffar?

If only you had left this issue alone, and started laying down the foundation for the structure, on which the foundations of an Islaamic government stands, which is following the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah - SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam -, this is how he educated his Companions, and they built from this source its system and its foundation.

We mention this a lot, and we emphasize it a lot: that it is necessary for all Muslim organizations to work in truth, in order to bring back the rule of Islaam.  Not only in the Islaamic lands, but on the whole earth, and that is the fulfillment of His Tabaraka wa Ta'aala saying: 

<<It is He who has sent His Messenger with the guidance the Deen of Truth, to make it superior over all other religions even though the Mushrikeen hate it>>

What has been mentioned by prophecies in some of the prophetic hadeeth is that this Ayaat will be realized at a later time.

For it to be possible for the Muslims to implement this Qur’aanic text and this divine promise, it is necessary to follow an evident path and a clear way. Will this evident path be by announcing a revolution against these rulers of whom it is thought that their kufr is the kufr of apostasy?!  Then along with their suspicion, which is wrong and a suspicion which is mistaken, they cannot do anything!!

So what is the methodology?  What is the path?

No doubt that the correct path, which is an exemplary path, is what the Messenger of Allaah - SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam - used to constantly talk about and remind his companions about in every khutbah: 

"And the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammed - SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam ."

So it is upon all the Muslims without exception and specifically those who busy themselves with the return of Islaamic rule, that they begin from where the Messenger of Allaah - SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – began. We have labeled this in two concise words: 

Purification and Education

Because we know the firmly established reality, which is being neglected or more accurately purposely neglected, by those extremists who do not have anything except that they proclaim Takfeer of the rulers, and then nothing else!!

And they continue to proclaim Takfeer of the rulers then nothing stems from them, or about them, except discord and strife!!

The calamities in these past few years which have been by the hands of these people, beginning from the discord (fitnah) of the Haraam of  Makkah to the dissension in Egypt and the killing of Sadaat.  Finally, in Syria and now in Egypt and Algeria- a sight that everyone can see;  the shedding of the blood of many of the innocent Muslims because of these fitn, tribulations, and the occurrence of many trials and calamities.

All of this because they opposed many of the texts from the Book and the Sunnah and the most important of which is: 

<< Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah you have a good example to follow, for him who hopes in the meeting with Allaah and the Last Day and remembers Allaah much. >>

If we really want to establish the rule of Allaah on the earth – in reality not just in a claim - then do we start with making Takfeer of the rulers while it is not possible for us to confront them – let alone fighting them - or do we start – with the obligation - the Messenger of Allaah - SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam - started with?

There is no doubt that the answer is: 

<< Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah you have a good example to follow…….. >>

But what did the Messenger of Allaah - SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam -begin with? 

It is known – with certainty - to anyone who has smelt the fragrance of knowledge that he began with the Daw’ah between individuals whom he thought were ready to accept the truth.  Then whoever was ready to respond to him, from the individuals of the noble Companions responded to him - as it is well known in the prophetic biography.  Then the punishment and the severity befell these Muslims in Makkah.  After that came the command for the first migration and the second until Allaah Azza wa Jal consolidated Islaam in al-Madeena al-Munnawara.  From there began the skirmishes and the opposition. Also, the fighting between the Muslims and the kuffaar on one side and the Jews from the other.……etc.

Therefore it is necessary for us to begin by teaching the people the true Islaam; like the Messenger - SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam - had begun.  Now we cannot just confine ourselves to teaching alone, because things have entered into Islaam which are not from it, and has no association with Islaam, from the bida' and innovations which were the reason for the clear downfall of the lofty status of Islaam. 

Because of this it is obligatory upon those inviting to Islaam to begin with purification of Islaam from what has entered into it.

The first principle – “Purification”

The second principle – “Education”

The education that is associated with this purification is the education of the young active Muslims on this pure Islaam.

If we study the reality of the Islaamic groups which have existed, for nearly a generation, and their ideas and the practice of these ideas.  We would find that many of them have not benefited themselves, nor have they benefited others with anything that can be remembered! Despite their outcry and noise, that they want an Islaamic government!!  Which was a reason of spilling blood of the innocent with this baseless argument!! Without them having realised anything from it.

We continue to hear from their beliefs which are opposed to the Book and Sunnah and actions which are negated by the Book and Sunnah, let alone them trying, again and again with futile attempts which oppose the Sharia'.

Finally I say:  there is a statement which one of the propagators of Islaam said, which I used to hope that his followers would adhere to it and fulfill it, which is: 'Establish the Islaamic state in your heart it will be established for you on the earth.'

Because If a Muslim corrects his Aqeedah built upon the Book and Sunnah, then there is no doubt that from this he will correct his worship, correct his behavior and his manners etc.

But, with regret, these fine words have not been acted upon by these people, they persist with an outcry to establish the Islaamic state but without any benefit! and it is said about them – and I swear by Allaah to this - what the poet said is true:

You hope for success and you do not follow its path

Indeed a ship does not sail on dry land.

Perhaps in this what I have mentioned is persuasive enough for every just person, and a termination for every oppressor.

We seek Allaah's help.