Can a House or Woman Bring Bad Luck in Islam? Understanding the Hadith on Misfortune
Answered by Mufti Naved Akhtar ·
Question
Is it true that certain houses, women, or possessions can bring bad luck? If someone experiences illness, financial losses, or other difficulties after moving into a house or getting married, can they consider the house or spouse unlucky? How should we understand the Hadith that mentions misfortune in three things?
Response
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Islam does not permit believing that a particular person, house, or possession is inherently unlucky or possesses some mysterious power to bring misfortune. Such superstitious beliefs (Tiyarah) have been expressly prohibited by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who said:
لَا طِيَرَةَ
“There is no evil omen.”
However, an authentic Hadith mentions misfortune in three things: a woman, a house, and a horse. Another authentic narration states: “If misfortune were in anything, it would be in the house, the woman, and the horse.”
It is important to note that this Hadith has been narrated with different wordings. While one narration states, “Misfortune is in three things: a woman, a house, and a horse,” another authentic narration states, “If misfortune were in anything, it would be in the house, the woman, and the horse.” The latter wording is conditional and does not categorically affirm that misfortune actually resides in these things. Hafiz Ibn Hajar also draws attention to this distinction, noting that the conditional narration does not establish the matter with certainty.
The scholars have offered different explanations of these narrations. Imam al-Tahawi and Allamah al-Ayni explained them in light of the pre-Islamic beliefs concerning evil omens, while other scholars understood them as referring to difficulties that may arise from particular circumstances or relationships, without attributing independent powers to them.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (رحمه الله) offers a particularly relevant explanation. He states that if someone continually associates a particular house with misfortune, it may be preferable for them to leave it, lest their continued residence strengthen their belief in superstition. Such a change is intended to protect one's faith from a false belief, not to establish that the house is actually unlucky.
Accordingly, a person may move from a house because of genuine difficulties or persistent distress. However, merely experiencing illness, financial losses, or other misfortunes after moving there does not establish that the house caused them.
The same applies to marriage. A wife or husband must not be blamed for unrelated misfortunes. Genuine marital problems should be addressed on their own merits, rather than attributing them to bad luck.
If such apprehensions occasionally arise in one's mind, they should not be allowed to influence one's decisions. The Prophet ﷺ taught that such feelings should not prevent a person from proceeding with their affairs.
One should therefore avoid unnecessary suspicion, place trust in Allah Ta'ala, and remember that whatever occurs is ultimately subject to His decree.
And Allah Ta'ala knows best.