0/10. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 86 — No Evil Omens, Allah Controls All
Regarding the Divine Decree (Qadr)
Hadith About Qadar, Contagion, and Evil Omens
Sunan Ibn Majah : 86
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 86
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي حَيَّةَ أَبُو جَنَابٍ الْكَلْبِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لاَ عَدْوَى وَلاَ طِيَرَةَ وَلاَ هَامَةَ " . فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ الْبَعِيرَ يَكُونُ بِهِ الْجَرَبُ فَيُجْرِبُ الإِبِلَ كُلَّهَا قَالَ " ذَلِكُمُ الْقَدَرُ فَمَنْ أَجْرَبَ الأَوَّلَ " .
It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'There is no 'Adwa (contagion), no Tiyarah (evil omen) and no Hamah.' A Bedouin man stood up and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what do you think about a camel that suffers from mange and then all other camels get mange?' He said: 'That is because of the Divine Decree. How else did the first one get mange?'" Note: The majority of scholars interpret this to mean that these things in and of themselves do not transmit or cause harm through supernatural or hidden means but that Allah is ultimately in control and any fearful superstition around these is false.
[1] Meaning one will not automatically be infected by another's ailment, rather only if Allâh has decreed it.[2] Scholars mention different meanings for this pre-Islamic belief. It is a worm that comes out of the murdered person's head seeking vengeance; it refers to the owl which was considered a bad omen if seen in certain circumstances; or it was a bird that came from the bones of a dead person which would fly away. See Fathul-Bâri and An-Nihâyah .Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 86In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 0English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 86
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 86
This hadith about Qadar and evil omens teaches that a believer should not fall into fearful superstition. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said there is no Adwa, no Tiyarah, and no Hamah. A Bedouin then asked about a camel with mange and how other camels also get mange. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered by pointing to Divine Decree and asked how the first one got mange. The note in the input explains that the majority of scholars understand this to mean these things do not cause harm through hidden or supernatural power by themselves. Allah is ultimately in control, and fearful superstition is false. So the hadith directs the heart away from omens and back to Allah’s decree.
What we learn from this hadith
- A believer should not place independent power in omens or superstitions.
- Illness and harm occur under Allah’s Divine Decree.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered the Bedouin’s real-life question with a reminder of Qadar.
- The note explains that Allah’s control is the main point, not denial of normal causes.
