39/34. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2224b — The Good Word
(Evil) Omens And Al-Fa'l, And That Which May Be Regarded As Inauspicious
Good Omen in Islam: The Good Word Hadith
Sahih Muslim : 2224b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2224b
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ عَدْوَى وَلاَ طِيَرَةَ وَيُعْجِبُنِي الْفَأْلُ " . قَالَ قِيلَ وَمَا الْفَأْلُ قَالَ " الْكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَةُ " .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: There is no transitive disease, no divination, but good omen pleases me. It was said: What is good omen? He said: Sacred words.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2224bIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 153USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5520
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2224b
This narration from Anas b. Malik gives a direct definition of good omen. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said there is no transitive disease and no divination, but good omen pleases him. When asked what good omen is, he said, “the good word.” That answer keeps the matter simple. A believer should not follow divination or fear hidden signs. At the same time, Islam values speech that is good, clean, and hopeful. This hadith is often searched as the good word hadith because it shows that a positive word can have a good place in the heart, as long as it is not treated like a prediction of the unseen.
What we learn from this hadith
- Good omen is defined here as a good word.
- Divination is rejected, even while positive speech is valued.
- A believer should not depend on hidden signs.
- Simple good speech can bring hope without claiming the unseen.
