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What is wrong with those people who believe in superstitions?

sovietchild

Well-Known Member
What is wrong with those people who believe in superstitions?

A very large number of people strongly believe in the bad luck that comes after breaking a mirror, encountering a black cat, choosing the numbers or pointing a finger at the rainbow.

Some people believe that passing below a ladder can bring bad luck, others believe that four leaved clovers can bring
good luck while a third group believe that carrying a rabbit's foot can bring good luck.

The Prophet Muhammad clarified that there was no concept of ill omens in Islam and that belief in ill omens would lead individuals to polytheism (shirk). He stated that the cry of a bird or the way it flew could not be interpreted as ill omens, and he advised that unusual objects and events be interpreted in a positive way. He also mentioned that casting spells or carrying amulets would harm the belief in tawhid (the Unity of God).
 

McBell

Resident Sourpuss
What is wrong with those people who believe in superstitions?

A very large number of people strongly believe in the bad luck that comes after breaking a mirror, encountering a black cat, choosing the numbers or pointing a finger at the rainbow.

Some people believe that passing below a ladder can bring bad luck, others believe that four leaved clovers can bring
good luck while a third group believe that carrying a rabbit's foot can bring good luck.

The Prophet Muhammad clarified that there was no concept of ill omens in Islam and that belief in ill omens would lead individuals to polytheism (shirk). He stated that the cry of a bird or the way it flew could not be interpreted as ill omens, and he advised that unusual objects and events be interpreted in a positive way. He also mentioned that casting spells or carrying amulets would harm the belief in tawhid (the Unity of God).
It is interesting that you put such limitations on "superstition"....
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
What is wrong with those people who believe in superstitions?

A very large number of people strongly believe in the bad luck that comes after breaking a mirror, encountering a black cat, choosing the numbers or pointing a finger at the rainbow.

Some people believe that passing below a ladder can bring bad luck, others believe that four leaved clovers can bring
good luck while a third group believe that carrying a rabbit's foot can bring good luck.

The Prophet Muhammad clarified that there was no concept of ill omens in Islam and that belief in ill omens would lead individuals to polytheism (shirk). He stated that the cry of a bird or the way it flew could not be interpreted as ill omens, and he advised that unusual objects and events be interpreted in a positive way. He also mentioned that casting spells or carrying amulets would harm the belief in tawhid (the Unity of God).

We dont see them as superstitions. I dont know about black cats and mirrors but a lot of superstitions are related to keeping a person safe, healing and health, family and blessings, and active prayer.

An outsider may think praying five times a day in specific postrations looking up at the sky or ceiling facing Mecca is supersition given prayer is not a "whats seen is whats true" action.

I wouldnt call them superstitions if they are related to religion. Active prayers, rituals, folk traditions, traditions, family practices, and passed down morals and practices are more respectful.
 

The Emperor of Mankind

Currently the galaxy's spookiest paraplegic
What is wrong with those people who believe in superstitions?

A very large number of people strongly believe in the bad luck that comes after breaking a mirror, encountering a black cat, choosing the numbers or pointing a finger at the rainbow.

Some people believe that passing below a ladder can bring bad luck, others believe that four leaved clovers can bring
good luck while a third group believe that carrying a rabbit's foot can bring good luck.

The Prophet Muhammad clarified that there was no concept of ill omens in Islam and that belief in ill omens would lead individuals to polytheism (shirk). He stated that the cry of a bird or the way it flew could not be interpreted as ill omens, and he advised that unusual objects and events be interpreted in a positive way. He also mentioned that casting spells or carrying amulets would harm the belief in tawhid (the Unity of God).

What's wrong with those people who believe a 7th Century barbarian demagogue had an opinion of worth on anything?
 

Animore

Active Member
I could throw the same question at you. What is wrong with you for believing in a superstition? Anything that could be considered extraordinary but is without evidence is considered a superstition. And I find anything, including breaking mirrors and black cats having bad luck, a system of numbers you happen to glance at as being a sign, and a deity who chose to pick on a race of Middle Eastern,
7th Century barbarians
who knew next to nothing about the natural world as the nation that represents Him are all superstitious.
 

Timothy Bryce

Active Member
I sometimes get superstitious about sports and gambling.

I've also had some of my trippier friends convince me of certain New Age style principles that seem to have some merit in them. A lot of them are hippy cliches, I'll admit, but in times of desperation, I think the human mind turns to things that are beyond the realm of rationality.

Sudden thought: if religion is a form of superstition, are religious people living in a state of desperation that goes far beyond those who are non-religious/spiritual? Might explain why the Middle East & Africa have so much religion pervading through them.
 

The Emperor of Mankind

Currently the galaxy's spookiest paraplegic
I could throw the same question at you. What is wrong with you for believing in a superstition? Anything that could be considered extraordinary but is without evidence is considered a superstition. And I find anything, including breaking mirrors and black cats having bad luck, a system of numbers you happen to glance at as being a sign, and a deity who chose to pick on a race of Middle Eastern,

7th Century barbarians

who knew next to nothing about the natural world as the nation that represents Him are all superstitious.

That last bit especially sounds awfully close to the sort of 'racism' Muslims accuse Jews of all the time, doesn't it?
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
A very large number of people strongly believe in the bad luck that comes after breaking a mirror, encountering a black cat, choosing the numbers or pointing a finger at the rainbow.


I just want to say that I very much want to see the data and statistics proving a "very large number of people strongly believe" these things. While I'm not confident about how reliable this source is, a quick search found a data portal demonstrating a measly 14% of Americans believe bad luck comes after breaking a mirror, 13% believed black cats were bad, and frankly that last one I have never even heard of (and thus no surprise it wasn't asked in the survey). The data aren't broken down to "believe" versus "strongly believe," but any way you slice it, that fraction really isn't a "very large number" relative to the general population.


The Prophet Muhammad clarified that there was no concept of ill omens in Islam and that belief in ill omens would lead individuals to polytheism (shirk).

Oh no! Polytheism! Run away, run away!

Seriously, though - I get the connections the monotheisms made between divination and historical Paganisms. The whole story of everything is, as one might expect, rather complicated, but a lesson that comes out of any of the tellings is one of politics. If you want to wipe out religions that are your competitors, you have to demonize them and what they do. Since divination was indeed an important practice for historical Paganisms in that region of the world, it had to be smeared and stomped on. Politics. Classic politics.

But all this is more than a bit of a reach with respect to the topic, considering the omens you are talking about are not (and were not) part of religious divinatory systems. Frankly, I'm not quite sure how you got from folkloric superstitions (which for the most part are not religious) to the concept of omens (a type of divination). :shrug:
 

sovietchild

Well-Known Member

I just want to say that I very much want to see the data and statistics proving a "very large number of people strongly believe" these things. While I'm not confident about how reliable this source is, a quick search found a data portal demonstrating a measly 14% of Americans believe bad luck comes after breaking a mirror, 13% believed black cats were bad, and frankly that last one I have never even heard of (and thus no surprise it wasn't asked in the survey). The data aren't broken down to "believe" versus "strongly believe," but any way you slice it, that fraction really isn't a "very large number" relative to the general population.




Oh no! Polytheism! Run away, run away!

Seriously, though - I get the connections the monotheisms made between divination and historical Paganisms. The whole story of everything is, as one might expect, rather complicated, but a lesson that comes out of any of the tellings is one of politics. If you want to wipe out religions that are your competitors, you have to demonize them and what they do. Since divination was indeed an important practice for historical Paganisms in that region of the world, it had to be smeared and stomped on. Politics. Classic politics.

But all this is more than a bit of a reach with respect to the topic, considering the omens you are talking about are not (and were not) part of religious divinatory systems. Frankly, I'm not quite sure how you got from folkloric superstitions (which for the most part are not religious) to the concept of omens (a type of divination). :shrug:

According to this website 25%. What percentage of people believe in superstitions?
 

psychoslice

Veteran Member
This verse from the Quran sound a bit superstitious ?.

Chapter 25: EXCELLENCE OF THE DATES OF MEDINA

Book 023, Number 5080:
Amir b. Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas, on the authority of his father, reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having said: He who ate seven dates (of the land situated) between these two lava plains in the morning, no poison will harm him until it is evening.

Growing up in a Muslim family I was informed about a great deal of priceless superstitions. The ones that I remember are:

  • Close your mouth when you yawn or the devil will enter your body. Then the devil will make you want to do bad things like gay sex.
  • Enter the bathroom with your left foot and exit with your right, or else the devil will enter your body.
  • Say salam when entering your house after a night out, or else the devils will not leave the house and enter your body. You will then proceed to fantasize about vaginas.
  • Eat from your side of the plate, if you reach out to other sides the devil will enter your body.
  • Eat with your right hand, or else the devil will enter your body.
  • Don't talk or sing in the shower, or else the devil will enter your body.
  • Don't sleep on your back or belly or else, you guessed it, the devil will enter your body. Then you will start thinking about drenching your genitals in alchohol and twerking to Miley Cyrus music.
  • Gay sex causes earthquakes. (LOL)
  • Too many people having haraam sex also causes earthquakes. (LOL x100)
  • If you masturbate, the devil will help you.
  • Watching porn will cause your penis to fall off because the devil chopped it off.
  • Tampons make you lose your virginity and you will be pregnant with demon children because tampons are actually the devil's penis.
  • If you insult the Quran you will turn into a pig.
  • Speaking of pigs, they are actually all Jews.
  • Stop looking at your muslim brother like that! If you have sex with him the devil will rape you in your sleep!
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Something more to say on this....

Some people believe that passing below a ladder can bring bad luck, others believe that four leaved clovers can bring good luck while a third group believe that carrying a rabbit's foot can bring good luck.

These aren't omens.

The Prophet Muhammad clarified that there was no concept of ill omens in Islam

Why would we take Muhammad's words into consideration of what he feels is right and wrong?

and that belief in ill omens would lead individuals to polytheism (shirk)

There are a lot of polytheists (people who believe in more than one god) that do not believe in omens. I think you mean pagans. There are a lot of pagans that do not believe in omens. I don't do divination techniques; and, I am a pagan and a polytheist. Explain how one has to do with the other?

He stated that the cry of a bird or the way it flew could not be interpreted as ill omens, and he advised that unusual objects and events be interpreted in a positive way.

Omens are usually seen in a positive way. I think you'd have to show more interest in people who belief in them than to accuse their beliefs as negative.

That is like my telling you that praying to god by prostrations is a negative way because it goes against how I pray to my grandmothers and ancestors. Does that make sense? If it's wrong, why wouldn't you think it's wrong for the other person as well?

He also mentioned that casting spells or carrying amulets would harm the belief in tawhid (the Unity of God).

I don't remember hurting people when I "cast a spell" if you like. I actually don't know what that means from the Muslim point of view. I just know I talk with my grandmothers in different ways and as a result, I come to know more of my living family that I thought I would not this Christmas.

I also find this clear quartz around my chest gives me a light feeling. Unusual, the actual object, has yet to do anything negative just by my wearing it and what I believe about it. Muhammad has some interesting ways of interpreting other people's beliefs and practices without him asking us how they affect us and why we use them.

:fallenleaf:

Not all superstitions are omens. Omens are closer to what some people see as coincidences while others blessings from Allah given by a specific prayer and thought of action.

Divination techniques sometimes relate to Omens. When you pray to Allah and a prayer is answered, that prayer and "answer" is considered an positive omen.

If you asked Allah to help a loved one in sick health in prayer, and miraculously she gets better, that's an omen and your prayer is a form of divination that you believe in. In other words, prayer can be a divination act and many people associate prayers with omens since they both relate to each other.

Superstition would be like broken mirrors. Usually defined by myths and unproven beliefs about something that may or may not be true. It has nothing to do with omens and divination.

Muslim:

Divination: The practice of prayer of asking Allah to help your loved one well

Omen: The actual belief that your loved one would be well by the will of Allah by your prayers

Superstition: To outsiders, these things above: "that a supernatural deity coming to help your loved one from sickness" is considered a superstition.

What is wrong with people like Muslims, Christians, Pagans, Bahai, Hindu, Buddhist, among others who believe in divination and omens?

Most of us above do not consider our prayers, rituals, and worship as divination and omens, and most definitely not superstitions.

They are.

What's wrong with that?
 
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sovietchild

Well-Known Member
and frankly that last one I have never even heard of (and thus no surprise it wasn't asked in the survey). The data aren't broken down to "believe"

I herd something like if you point a finger at a rainbow, then you have to stick that finger your """ hole.
This verse from the Quran sound a bit superstitious ?.

Chapter 25: EXCELLENCE OF THE DATES OF MEDINA

Book 023, Number 5080:
Amir b. Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas, on the authority of his father, reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having said: He who ate seven dates (of the land situated) between these two lava plains in the morning, no poison will harm him until it is evening.

Growing up in a Muslim family I was informed about a great deal of priceless superstitions. The ones that I remember are:

  • Close your mouth when you yawn or the devil will enter your body. Then the devil will make you want to do bad things like gay sex.
  • Enter the bathroom with your left foot and exit with your right, or else the devil will enter your body.
  • Say salam when entering your house after a night out, or else the devils will not leave the house and enter your body. You will then proceed to fantasize about vaginas.
  • Eat from your side of the plate, if you reach out to other sides the devil will enter your body.
  • Eat with your right hand, or else the devil will enter your body.
  • Don't talk or sing in the shower, or else the devil will enter your body.
  • Don't sleep on your back or belly or else, you guessed it, the devil will enter your body. Then you will start thinking about drenching your genitals in alchohol and twerking to Miley Cyrus music.
  • Gay sex causes earthquakes. (LOL)
  • Too many people having haraam sex also causes earthquakes. (LOL x100)
  • If you masturbate, the devil will help you.
  • Watching porn will cause your penis to fall off because the devil chopped it off.
  • Tampons make you lose your virginity and you will be pregnant with demon children because tampons are actually the devil's penis.
  • If you insult the Quran you will turn into a pig.
  • Speaking of pigs, they are actually all Jews.
  • Stop looking at your muslim brother like that! If you have sex with him the devil will rape you in your sleep!

Where did you get this information from?
 

sovietchild

Well-Known Member
The Prophet fought against superstitions in almost all of his actions. For instance, he never approved soothsaying or soothsayers. Moreover, he prohibited fortune telling, which is utilized in almost all nations as a means of predicting the future by supernatural means or to reveal hidden personal characteristics. Such acts were very common among the Arabs. During the Jahiliyyah (the period of ignorance before Islam), the Arabs used to interpret the course of future events names, sounds or the direction in which birds were flying. They used items like pebbles, chickpeas or beans to foretell the future; all of these have been classified under the prohibition of the Prophet.

Prophet Muhammad's Attitude Toward Superstitions - İbrahim Sarıçam, PhD
 

Milton Platt

Well-Known Member
What is wrong with those people who believe in superstitions?

A very large number of people strongly believe in the bad luck that comes after breaking a mirror, encountering a black cat, choosing the numbers or pointing a finger at the rainbow.

Some people believe that passing below a ladder can bring bad luck, others believe that four leaved clovers can bring
good luck while a third group believe that carrying a rabbit's foot can bring good luck.

The Prophet Muhammad clarified that there was no concept of ill omens in Islam and that belief in ill omens would lead individuals to polytheism (shirk). He stated that the cry of a bird or the way it flew could not be interpreted as ill omens, and he advised that unusual objects and events be interpreted in a positive way. He also mentioned that casting spells or carrying amulets would harm the belief in tawhid (the Unity of God).

The same thing that is wrong with those who believe in gods....belief in the supernatural without sufficient evidence.
 
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