This hadith is very clear in its import. It describes bad omens as forms of idolatry, or polytheism. The very idea that success was associated in ancient Arabian society with the direction a bird flies is indicative of its absurdity. How could a bird know future events? What does the direction of its flight signify in human language? How could it relate its knowledge to the actions of human beings, or to the people around?

If the bird were to know all that, it would be much superior to man in knowledge, when not even the people who attached their omen to its direction of flight could have credited it with that.

A report by `Ikrimah, a learned scholar of the generation that followed the Prophet’s companions, mentions that `Ikrimah was attending to his teacher, `Abdullah ibn `Abbas, the Prophet’s cousin and learned companion, when a bird passed by and made some sound. A man in attendance said, “Good! Good!” Ibn `Abbas said to him, “This bird has neither good nor evil to offer.”

Despite this, people often experience some thoughts of bad omens when they hear something or see an event or an action taking place. Should this happen, believers must not entertain such thoughts for long. They should be quick to place their trust in God and rely on Him in all situations.

When believers do this, all thoughts of bad omens are dispelled because they know that whatever befalls them comes from God. When we place our trust in Him, Allah is sure to enable us to overcome difficulties and to reward us for our patience when we meet adversity.

We may recall the hadith in which the Prophet wonders at a believer’s lot:

I wonder at a believer’s affairs, as they all end up into what is good. This applies to none other than a believer. If something good comes his way, he expresses his gratitude to God, and it will be good for him; and if he experiences an adversity, he shows patience, and that will again be good for him.

So, we have to differentiate between a temporary thought which we try to dispel by placing our trust in God, and giving in to bad omens. In the latter case, people change their plans, restrict their movement, and do different things to avoid what they think bodes ill for them. This is the sort of things the Prophet warns against. The first type is often unavoidable.

A man called Mu`awiyah ibn Hakam said to the Prophet, “I have only recently abandoned ignorant beliefs, and now God has favored us with Islam. Some of our people visit fortune-tellers.”

The Prophet said, “Do not visit them. ”

The man added, “And some of us associate bad omens with certain things.”

The Prophet replied, “That is something which they find in their breasts. Let them not be deterred from their purpose” (Muslim).