Superstitions have been the bane (a cause of great distress or annoyance) of nations throughout the ages.

They are almost as bad as idolatry as they involve false beliefs in things that have no real power. Although some superstitions seem innocuous (not harmful or offensive), they can also become exceedingly dangerous, especially when put into the minds of ignoramuses who take it as Bible Truth. This is especially so among certain people who are very firm on their cultures.

There superstitious people can do some really terrible things like believing that seeing widows or blind people will bring them bad luck. Some people even go to the extent where they will kill their own offspring if they happen to be born under the ‘wrong star’.

Islam prohibits all types of superstitious beliefs, because it attributes to people or things that which is rightly Allah’s. Take for instance astrology which is widespread in many parts of the world and even in the West. It supposes that the stars influence people’s future. In some parts of the world, people believe very firmly in auspicious times to embark on a venture. Even politicians take astrology very seriously, especially when elections draw near, doing everything within their means to stay in line with the positions of the planets, with which their personal fortunes are believed to ebb and rise.

Not only does one’s mental and physical health suffer, but also one’s spiritual life. Why? Because superstitions can open the door to polytheism. Shaytaan preys on the fear of people who always fear for their future. Why, because man’s knowledge is limited. He does not know what will happen to him that night let alone tomorrow. As we are told in the Quraan:
وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدً
”No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow” [Luqman 31: 34].

So Shaytaan has a field day playing around with superstitious folk, making them fear things which need not be feared and keeping them away from striving for the good things in life, and worst of all preventing them from placing their trust in Allah and Allah alone.

This is why Islam regards belief in superstitions as a sign of disbelief in Allah. In fact superstition itself arises out of a lack of faith in Allah. If a person were to fear Allah, will he fear other things? Certainly not! But if a man fears not Allah, then he will certainly fear other things. That is the nature of man. Superstition also goes against the Islamic view that knowledge of the future is the preserve of Allah alone. Not a leaf falls from a tree or a raindrop from the sky but He has full knowledge of it. While the eye of the Muslim is ever on the look-out for signs of Allah’s Grace in the realm of Nature, we do not take these signs themselves as our deities or destinies portending good or evil. As Muslims we hold that whatever befalls us comes from Allah. That is why we always say Insha Allah (God Willing) when we express a desire for the future. It is Allah alone who can bring about good or prevent harm.

Following the Sunnah (the teachings and instructions of Islam) are the greatest guide that dispel the clouds of ignorance and darkness hovering over mankind, give them light, and show them the way to Almighty Allah, away from the snares of the Shaytaan, disbelief, idolatry, innovations, whims, superstitions, ignorance, fear and grief. They set mankind on the Straight Path; guide them to worship Allah Alone, the One and True Allah. The teachings of Allah’s Prophet and Messenger ﷺ can never be a cause of evil or suffering or disunity, because they are sent for the purpose of bringing goodness to this world and the hereafter.