Question: Is it really true that, when someone departs from that place, such a thing will occur? And does holding such a belief affect a Muslim’s creed?

Answer: This is nothing but tatayyur—pessimistic omen-taking on account of the hoot of an owl or some other bird, and imagining or fearing that it causes, or points to, some harm, illness, or death. Tatayyur is what Allah, Exalted is He, has forbidden and is a practice of the unbelievers. Pharaoh’s people took Moses—peace be upon him—and those with him as a bad omen; the people of Ṣāliḥ—peace be upon him—did the same with him and his followers; and the polytheists did likewise with Muḥammad ﷺ.

The Prophet ﷺ made it clear that ṭiyarah (omen-taking) is associationism. He said: “There is no contagious disease in and of itself, no ṭiyarah, no hāmah, and no ṣafar,” and he also said: “Ṭiyarah is associationism, Ṭiyarah is associationism, Ṭiyarah is associationism.” Thus, if a person believes that this bird—this owl—portends evil and therefore becomes pessimistic, that is the very condemned omen-taking about which the prohibition was revealed. These creatures have been created by Allah, Glorified be He, for wise purposes and benefits; they possess no power to bring benefit or cause harm. All of that lies exclusively in Allah’s arranging and decreeing.

What is incumbent upon a Muslim, if he encounters something of this sort and a misgiving enters his heart, is to repel it with faith and firm certainty and to say: “O Allah, there is no bird except the one You create, no good except the good that comes from You, and there is no deity besides You.” He should also say: “O Allah, none brings good deeds except You and none wards off evil deeds except You. There is no power and no might except through You.”