Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili.
The calendar on the wall reads the 13th. Across the valley, a businessman postpones signing a crucial agreement. A family refuses to begin construction on their new home because the day happens to be Tuesday. An elderly woman abandons her journey after a black cat crosses her path. An owl perches silently on a rooftop, and whispers of impending tragedy spread through the neighbourhood like wildfire.
In the twenty-first century—an age of artificial intelligence, space exploration, and genomic medicine—millions still allow numbers, animals, and coincidences to dictate their decisions. The question demands an answer: Why do otherwise rational human beings cling to beliefs that neither science nor religion supports?What is Superstition? A superstition is a belief or practice that attributes supernatural powers to events, objects, or occurrences without any evidence. These beliefs persist even when scientific knowledge and authentic religious guidance prove them unfounded. Psychologists define superstition as the irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events can influence its outcome.The term Triskaidekaphobia describes the pervasive fear of the number thirteen. Many hotels omit the 13th floor. Some airlines have no 13th row. People avoid starting ventures on the 13th day. In our own valley, while some consider the number inauspicious, disciples of the revered Sufi saint Makhdoom Sahib (RA) regard it as blessed—Allah knows best.Various theories attempt to explain this fear, from ancient religious beliefs to the Last Supper. What remains consistent across these explanations is their foundation in human imagination, not revelation or reason.
Superstitions Closer to Home-Kashmir style; Our valley is no exception to these unfounded beliefs. Many people refuse to undertake journeys on Tuesdays or host functions in their homes. The Bulbul bird, a charming and melodious songbird, graces. Yes, the bulbul bird is considered a sign of good luck, happiness, and peace in many Asian and Middle Eastern cultures. Finding a bulbul building a nest in your garden or near your home is widely viewed as a divine blessing and a sign of incoming prosperity. A crow cawing signals visitors. Twitching of the eye indicates something significant. An owl on the rooftop portends death. Superstitions surrounding death are equally widespread. Some avoid sweeping at night, refuse to visit relatives after returning from a funeral or graveyard, consider a call from the gravedigger or the person who washed the deceased a bad omen, or fear keeping a coffin at home. None of these beliefs has any basis in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah. They are cultural practices, not Islamic teachings. A Muslim honours the deceased, visits the bereaved, prays for the departed, and accepts Allah’s decree without attaching supernatural powers to people, places, objects, or events.
Before Islam and the Islamic Position; Even before the dawn of Islam, the Arabs were deeply superstitious. They would not travel or undertake anything important without first “determining” its safety by observing birds and beasts. This practice, known as tiyarah (taking omens from birds), governed their daily lives. They lived at the mercy of winged creatures, consulting them as though they held the keys to destiny. These deeply held beliefs were completely rejected by Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) not only guided humanity to true faith but also trained believers to negate fallacies, fantasies, whims, and superstitions. The revelation came to liberate minds as much as souls.
The Curses and The Cures; FAQ, Does Islam encourage superstition? The answer is categorically “NO.” Even though many Muslims harbour superstitious beliefs, these are strictly cultural and traditional—remnants of pre-Islamic eras—with a lack of firm knowledge of religion.The Qur’an declares decisively:”No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow.” (Qur’an 31:34) Allah the Almighty alone possesses knowledge of the unseen. He alone governs human affairs. Everything good or bad, success or failure, is subject to His supreme will. Not a leaf falls from a tree nor a droplet of water descends from the sky except through the will of Allah Almighty.The Prophet (SAW) said:”There is no ‘Adwa (transmission of infectious disease without Allah’s permission) and no Tiyarah (superstitious belief in bird omens).”* (Bukhari and Muslim) In another narration, he declared:”Tiyarah is shirk.” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)
Believing that an object, bird, day, or number independently brings benefit or harm contradicts Tawheed—the Oneness of Allah—because only Allah controls events. Islamic scholars distinguish between major shirk, minor shirk, sinful innovations, and baseless cultural beliefs. Believing independent powers reside in omens contradicts Tawheed and may amount to shirk, depending on the belief’s nature and the individual’s conviction. The Prophet (SAW) further warned:”The person who goes to a soothsayer and believes in him has rejected that which was revealed to Muhammad (SAW).” (Musnad Ahmad). This is not merely a cultural preference but a matter of faith. Believing in omens and fortunes erodes the foundation of Islamic belief in Qadr (divine decree).
What Does Islam Teach Instead? Islam replaces superstition with certainty. Instead of fearing numbers, days, birds, or omens, believers rely upon Tawakkul (trust in Allah), make dua, perform “Istikharah “, when uncertain, and begin their affairs with “Insha’Allah.” Faith replaces fear, and trust replaces anxiety. When announcing a plan, the believer says “Insha’Allah” (if Allah wills), putting trust in the Creator. When embarking on a journey, they recite the travel supplication seeking Allah’s protection. When uncertain about a decision, they perform Salat al-Istikharah. When entering the home, they mention Allah’s name and greet with peace. This is faith in action—practical, certain, and liberating.
The Psychological Perspective; Psychology explains why superstitions survive. Our minds seek patterns even where none exist, remember coincidences that confirm our beliefs, and ignore the countless times those beliefs prove false. What appears to be “luck” is often selective memory rather than evidence. Human brains evolved to find patterns—a survival mechanism that now leads us to see connections between unrelated events. Superstitions flourished during the dark ages when ignorance prevailed. With religious awakening and scientific knowledge, such beliefs should have ended. Yet people still attribute good or bad luck to numbers, days, birds, animals, and incidents—betraying not only logic but also scientific facts and religious guidelines.
The Cure;The cure for superstition lies in two lights that never contradict each other: authentic knowledge and sincere faith. Science teaches us how the universe functions; Shariah teaches us Who controls it. Between these two, there is no room for fear of Tuesdays, unlucky numbers, twitching eyes, passing cats, or superstitions surrounding funerals and graves.
The Prophet (SAW) provided the perfect supplication to counter such fears:”O Allah, there is no good except Your good, and no omen except Your omen, and no deity except You. “When we truly internalize that Allah alone controls benefit and harm, numbers cease to threaten us. Days lose their power over us. The flight of birds no longer determines our decisions. We become free—truly free—to live purposeful lives governed by faith, reason, and the certain knowledge that our destinies rest in the hands of the Most Merciful.
Home takeaway insights; In an age of artificial intelligence and scientific discovery, it is ironic that many still fear a number, a bird, or a passing animal more than they trust their Creator. Islam came to liberate humanity from such fears. The Qur’an reminds us: “Nothing will ever happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us. He is our Protector.”Whether it is the number thirteen, a Tuesday, an owl on the roof, a black cat crossing the road, or superstitions surrounding funerals and graves, none possess the power to benefit or harm. A believer’s destiny is determined neither by coincidence nor custom, but by the decree of Allah. True freedom lies in replacing superstition with knowledge, Tawheed, and complete trust in Allah.Let us remember that 13 is just a number, Tuesday is just a day, and neither will change our destiny. Only Allah commands what exists and what does not. Only He controls our affairs. And in that knowledge lies our ultimate liberation. ”Say: Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Protector. And in Allah let the believers put their trust.” (Qur’an)
Author is a medical doctor who is also actively engaged in promoting positive awareness and understanding of various ethical and social issues. can be contacted at drfiazfazili@gmail.com and on Twitter/X at @drfiazfazili.
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