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Do the phrases "bad omen" or "good omen," used when something undesirable or joyful occurs, express a correct meaning?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Using the phrases "from good fortune" (min husn al-tali') and "from ill fortune" (min su' al-tali') is forbidden, because they attribute the influence over cosmic events to "fortunes" (stars), which do not possess such power. If the speaker believes that the celestial bodies act on their own, independently of Allah, then this is major shirk (polytheism). If they believe that matters are in Allah's hands and merely utter these words, then it is a shirk of words that contradicts the perfection of monotheism. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade believing in the influence of stars when he said: "Some of my servants became believers in Me and disbelievers. As for him who said: 'We have been given rain by the grace of Allah and His mercy,' that one is a believer in Me and a disbeliever in the stars. And as for him who said: 'We have been given rain by such and such a constellation,' that one is a disbeliever in Me and a believer in the stars." Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen mentioned that this phrase is uttered by those who are unaware of the Sharia, and it is a type of astrology, which is considered shirk. Therefore, it is obligatory to repent from it and to denounce it to anyone who says it.

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

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