39/34. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2224a — Good Words Please the Prophet
(Evil) Omens And Al-Fa'l, And That Which May Be Regarded As Inauspicious
Good Words in Islam: No Adwa, No Divination, Good Omen
Sahih Muslim : 2224a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2224a
حَدَّثَنَا هَدَّابُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ عَدْوَى وَلاَ طِيَرَةَ وَيُعْجِبُنِي الْفَأْلُ الْكَلِمَةُ الْحَسَنَةُ الْكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَةُ " .
Anas Narrated from:
Anas reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: There is no transitive disease, no divination, but good omen pleases me, i. e. the good word or a good word. 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.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2224aIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 152USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5519
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2224a
This hadith joins two corrections with one beautiful point. Anas reports that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said there is no transitive disease and no divination, but good omen pleases him. The narration explains the good omen as a good word or a good word. The note in the text says many scholars understand the rejection of Adwa and similar ideas as rejecting hidden independent harm and superstition, while Allah remains in control. So the hadith teaches faith and speech together. Do not give disease or divination power that belongs to Allah. At the same time, value good words. Clean, hopeful speech can please the heart without becoming fortune-telling.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not believe in divination as a guide to the unseen.
- Do not give disease independent power apart from Allah.
- Good words are praised as a pleasing form of good omen.
- Hopeful speech should stay free from superstition.
