What is Sunan Abu Dawud 3920 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Divination and Omens (Kitab Al-Kahanah Wa Al-Tatayyur)), narrated by Narrated Urwah ibn Amir al-Qurashi:, states: "When taking omens was mentioned in the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ), he said: The best type is the good omen, and it does not turn back a Muslim. If one of you sees anything he dislikes, he should say:…"

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 3920 in the Book of Divination and Omens (Kitab Al-Kahanah Wa Al-Tatayyur).

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

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#3919

#3920

Sunan Abu Dawud

#3921

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Sunan Abu Dawud #3920

Divination and Omens (Kitab Al-Kahanah Wa Al-Tatayyur)

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ الْمَعْنَى قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، - قَالَ أَحْمَدُ الْقُرَشِيُّ - قَالَ ذُكِرَتِ الطِّيَرَةُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ أَحْسَنُهَا الْفَأْلُ وَلاَ تَرُدُّ مُسْلِمًا فَإِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمْ مَا يَكْرَهُ فَلْيَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ لاَ يَأْتِي بِالْحَسَنَاتِ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ وَلاَ يَدْفَعُ السَّيِّئَاتِ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

When taking omens was mentioned in the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ), he said: The best type is the good omen, and it does not turn back a Muslim. If one of you sees anything he dislikes, he should say: O Allah, no one brings good things except Thee, and no one averts evil things except Thee and there is no might and power but in Allah.

Narrated by Narrated Urwah ibn Amir al-Qurashi:

Context

In this narration by Urwah ibn Amir al-Qurashi, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) addresses the topic of taking omens. He emphasizes that the best form of omen is a good one and encourages Muslims not to let negative omens deter them. Instead, he advises believers to turn to Allah in supplication, seeking His help in bringing good and averting evil. This reflects the Prophet's guidance on maintaining a positive outlook and reliance on divine support.

Modern Application

In our daily lives, this hadith encourages us to focus on positivity and to seek Allah's guidance when faced with challenges. It serves as a reminder to turn to prayer and supplication, reinforcing the idea that our faith can help us navigate difficult situations.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Supplication because it emphasizes the importance of turning to Allah in prayer, especially when faced with unfavorable circumstances.

Supplication