Owls and turtles are not good or bad omens
Fatwa No: 10538

Question

Is it true that owls bring bad luck and turtles bring good luck?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

 

Claiming that owls bring bad luck and turtles bring good luck is unfounded in Islam. This is mere superstition and deviance in belief, which may lead to associating partners with Allaah - may Allaah protect us all.

Ibn Mas‘ood narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that belief in evil omens is Shirk. [Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa'i, At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah]

Such beliefs were one of the corrupt practices of the pre-Islamic era of ignorance. All matters are decided by Allaah The Almighty. Owls and turtles have nothing to do with this.

Allaah Knows best.

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