'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Paying attention to the bad omen (tayyara) is association (shirk). It has nothing to do with us. Allah will remove it by reliance on Him."
The Prohibition of Superstitious Omens
The noble hadith from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, recorded in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 909, establishes a fundamental Islamic principle regarding superstitious beliefs. The Prophet (peace be upon him) explicitly declares that "paying attention to bad omens is shirk" - associating partners with Allah.
The Nature of This Shirk
This form of shirk occurs when one attributes power to created things rather than Allah. Believing that certain events, animals, or occurrences can independently bring good or bad fortune gives them a status that belongs only to the Creator.
The phrase "it has nothing to do with us" emphasizes that such superstitious practices have no place in the pure monotheistic faith of Islam and are alien to the teachings of the Prophet.
The Cure: Reliance on Allah
The hadith provides the antidote to such superstitious thinking: "Allah will remove it by reliance on Him." True tawakkul (reliance on Allah) means understanding that all affairs are in Allah's hands alone.
When a Muslim fully trusts in Allah's decree and wisdom, superstitions lose their power over the heart. One recognizes that whatever occurs is by Allah's permission and contains wisdom, even if we don't comprehend it.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars explain that this prohibition applies to attributing evil or good to anything other than Allah. While certain signs may be recognized as part of Allah's creation, they have no inherent power to affect outcomes.
The believer's attitude should be one of constant remembrance of Allah and trust in His perfect planning, rather than being swayed by superstitious interpretations of events or occurrences in creation.