Question
Sometimes, I have a difficult test at school in a subject that I am not prepared for, and I feel almost certain that I will do poorly on that test. Is such a pessimistic attitude wrong for a Muslim to have? Is it sinful to be pessimistic about something, even when the chance of success seems remote? Is this any different that a belief in bad omens? If not, then what is the difference?
Answer
Bad omens stem from a belief that certain things one sees or hears are to be taken as signs that something bad is going to befall. Omens are irrational. They are not to be confused with practical scientific predictions based on considerations of natural cause-and effect that Allah has placed in creation. Rather, an omen is a superstition. It is a superstition that is often connected with embarking upon some enterprise or journey, and the "sign" that appears makes the superstitious person refrain from undertaking it. The pagans of Mecca saw bad omens in certain birds.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "There are no such things as omens." [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (5754) and Sahîh Muslim (2223)]
He also said: "Omens are polytheism." [Sunan Abî Dâwûd (3411)]
Such superstitions are sinful, and belief in them is forbidden by Islam. Only Allah determines what will befall in the future, not the stars, nor flights of birds, nor any other arbitrary happening that has no observable cause-and effect relationship with the matter at hand.
Pessimism, on the other hand, is simply a negative attitude. It is the prevalence of belief that the outcome will not be as one desires it to be or will not meet with one's expectations. All of us experience this at one time or another. At times, there may be rather sensible reasons for feeling this way. For instance, a student might be pessimistic about test results after taking a difficult test where the questions appeared confusing (or even before taking a difficult test the student did not properly prepare for).
This is merely a natural fear of a bad outcome - nothing more, nothing less. Such pessimism does not compromise our faith in Allah and His power, unless it causes us to entertain negative thoughts about Allah. Under all circumstances, we must believe that Allah has power over the outcome and that what He wills must come to pass. If He wills, He can prevent the bad outcome.
A Muslim believes that everything that takes place in Creation occurs according to Allah's will and decree. Whatever befalls us would not have passed us by, and whatever we miss out on in our lives would not have been for us. This is something we should remind ourselves of whenever the gloominess of our circumstances gives us a sense of fear or foreboding. We should turn our hearts to Allah and remind ourselves that His decree will prevail. Our fears will not prevent a bad outcome from taking place, if that is what Allah has decreed. This will steady our hearts and encourage us to beseech Allah more often in prayer, for He is indeed Almighty and Most-Merciful.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "There are no such things as omens." [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (5754) and Sahîh Muslim (2223)]
He also said: "Omens are polytheism." [Sunan Abî Dâwûd (3411)]
Such superstitions are sinful, and belief in them is forbidden by Islam. Only Allah determines what will befall in the future, not the stars, nor flights of birds, nor any other arbitrary happening that has no observable cause-and effect relationship with the matter at hand.
Pessimism, on the other hand, is simply a negative attitude. It is the prevalence of belief that the outcome will not be as one desires it to be or will not meet with one's expectations. All of us experience this at one time or another. At times, there may be rather sensible reasons for feeling this way. For instance, a student might be pessimistic about test results after taking a difficult test where the questions appeared confusing (or even before taking a difficult test the student did not properly prepare for).
This is merely a natural fear of a bad outcome - nothing more, nothing less. Such pessimism does not compromise our faith in Allah and His power, unless it causes us to entertain negative thoughts about Allah. Under all circumstances, we must believe that Allah has power over the outcome and that what He wills must come to pass. If He wills, He can prevent the bad outcome.
A Muslim believes that everything that takes place in Creation occurs according to Allah's will and decree. Whatever befalls us would not have passed us by, and whatever we miss out on in our lives would not have been for us. This is something we should remind ourselves of whenever the gloominess of our circumstances gives us a sense of fear or foreboding. We should turn our hearts to Allah and remind ourselves that His decree will prevail. Our fears will not prevent a bad outcome from taking place, if that is what Allah has decreed. This will steady our hearts and encourage us to beseech Allah more often in prayer, for He is indeed Almighty and Most-Merciful.
-islamtoday.net
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