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What is the ruling on the belief that a good omen, whether from human actions, animals, or natural phenomena, is merely a sign from Allah Almighty of the nearing of victory or goodness, without attributing any influence to the creatures themselves over the future?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) loved good omens and disliked evil omens (ṭīrah). A good omen (fa'l) is optimism inspired by a good word, such as when a traveler hears "O Salim (safe one)" and rejoices. This is commendable, as long as one does not intentionally seek to hear such an omen from the outset; otherwise, it would fall under the prohibited "azlam" (divining arrows). Ṭīrah, on the other hand, is pessimism, and it is forbidden. If one hears something unpleasant, they should not abandon their endeavor but rather say: "O Allah, none brings good except You, and none averts evil except You." Examples of good omens include the Prophet's (peace be upon him) optimism concerning the name Suhayl ibn Amr, and the joy of the Companions when carrying soil from the land of Persia. As for "believing that animals, or humans, or natural phenomena are a sign from Allah," there is no harm in this, provided that one does not intentionally seek or consult them. It is also stipulated that there should be no certainty, but rather one should say: "Perhaps this is a warning for me," or "Perhaps it is a message for me." This is a form of optimism and taking heed.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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