According to Merriam-Webster, superstition is defined as a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation. It can also refer to an irrational abject attitude of mind towards the supernatural. Superstitions still persist in today's world despite advances in science and technology. People often hold on to these beliefs out of tradition, culture, or personal conviction.
There are many examples of superstitions that can be found in various parts of the world. Many people consider Friday the 13th to be an unlucky day. Some avoid making major decisions, traveling, or even going out on this day. It is often said that breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck. Some people believe in this superstition and take precautions to avoid breaking mirrors.
Walking under a ladder is considered bad luck in some cultures. This superstition may have originated from the belief that a leaning ladder forms a triangle with the ground and the wall, symbolizing the Holy Trinity. In some cultures, black cats are seen as omens of bad luck or even associated with witches. Crossing paths with a black cat is considered unlucky by some.
People often knock on wood or say "Touch wood" after making a positive statement to prevent jinxing it or tempting fate. Hanging a horseshoe over a doorway is believed to bring good luck and protect against evil spirits in some cultures. Finding a four-leaf clover is considered lucky, as it is rare. Some believe it brings good fortune and wards off bad luck.
Apart from Friday the 13th, the number 13 itself is considered unlucky in some cultures. Buildings often skip the 13th floor, and some people avoid it in various aspects of life. Some people believe that breaking a chain letter will bring bad luck. Chain letters often include threats of misfortune if not followed. Spilling salt is believed to bring bad luck, but tossing a pinch of salt over your left shoulder is said to counteract this superstition.
It's considered bad luck to open an umbrella indoors, with origins possibly linked to the idea that it might offend the spirits dwelling inside. Some people make wishes upon seeing a shooting star, believing it will come true. Blowing out birthday candles and making a wish is a common superstition, especially among children. Crossing one's fingers is often done to wish for good luck or to negate a lie. Many people still consult astrologers and read horoscopes to gain insight into their future and make life decisions based on astrological beliefs.
Such practices haven't popped into existence recently but have been present since the dawn of the era of mankind with various world religions referencing them quite commonly and frequently. Father Bernardino once said, " The common folk raised a cry lifting their voices, shrieking. People of light complexion were slain as sacrifices. It was thus said, the demons will come down and they will eat men."
Furthermore, it is stated in Bhagavata Purana, Canto 5, "Rahu is unfriendly towards both the sun and the moon. The supreme personality of the Godhead, Vishnu, engages His disc to protect them. the intense heat of its splendor is unbearable to Rahu, and he therefore flees in fear of it. During the time Rahu disturbs the sun or moon, there occurs what people commonly know as an eclipse."
The following is stated in the Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 29a:
"The sages taught that on account of four matters, the sun is eclipsed: On account of a president of the court who dies and is not eulogized appropriately, and the eclipse is a type of eulogy by Heaven on account of a betrothed young woman who screamed in the city that she was being raped and there was no one to rescue her; on account of homosexuality; and on account of two brothers whose blood was spilled as one."
The New Testament of the Bible also brings up the topic of superstition in the Gospel of Luke 23:44-46 where it says "It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice said, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' Having said this, he breathed his last."
As Muslims, it is important for us to know our religion's take on the matter as well. Superstitious beliefs are forbidden in Islam. The Quran defines superstition as a weight imposed by the human intellect and soul. Superstition is defined by Islam as all words, attitudes, and ideas that lack a theological or rational foundation and backbone.
Let us examine the flowing verses of the Holy Quran in regard to the matter
And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned. (Holy Quran 17:36)
[He is] Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His [knowledge of the] unseen to anyone (Holy Quran 72:26)
Indeed, Allah [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. (Holy Quran 31:34)
O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah ], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. (Holy Quran 5:90)
Wearing amulets, fortune-telling, and magic are all considered superstitions in Islam. These ideas are founded on ignorance, shirk, and magic, and have nothing to do with one's belief in God. Giving way to superstitious ideas and actions is tantamount to committing the greatest sin, that is, associating partners with God Almighty.
When one of the sons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) became terminally ill and passed away as a result of the illness, the date of his death coincided with that of the eclipse. Superstitious elements were an integral part of the conventional Arab society and many pagans opined that the sun and moon were also saddened at the demise of his son. Hearing this, the following was the reply of the Messenger of Allah (SAW):
"The Sun and the Moon are two of the signs of God and they do not eclipse because of the life or death of someone." (Sahih Bukhari)
That will be all for now. Thank you for your support and stay in touch for the next blog. Keep rocking till then. Assalamalaikum!
Comments