{Did you not see those who were given a portion of the book? They believe in al-jabt and at-taaghoot and they say about the disbelievers, ‘these are more rightly guided in their path than the believers.’ (51) These are those whom Allah has rejected and whoever Allah rejects, you will never find for him any helper. (52) Or do they have some share in [Allah’s] dominion? If they did, they would not even give the people a date seed. (53) Or do they envy the people over what Allah has given them of His bounty? We have surely given the family of Ibrahim the book and the wisdom and we have given them a great nation. (53)}

al-jabt – witchcraft and fortunetelling

at-taaghoot – shaitaan, human and jinn

The Prophet (sas) said, “Stay away from the seven destroyers”. They said, O Messenger of Allah what are they? He said, “Associating with Allah, sorcery, taking the life which Allah has made forbidden – except with right, consumption of interest, consuming the property of an orphan, fleeing from battle and slandering chaste and innocent believing women.”

The Prophet (sas) said, “Should I not inform you what is the most heinous lie? It is nameema, the carrying of ‘he said, she said’ among the people.” And, he (sas) said, “A man will continue to speak the truth until he is recorded as truthful [or] he will continue to lie until he is recorded as a liar.”

Nameema – carrying words and statements around among people for the purpose of causing discord, conflict and ruining relationships.

The Prophet (sas) said, “No omens! And the best of it is al-fa’l. He (the narrator) said, “What is al-fa’l, Messenger of Allah? He (sas) said, “A good word which one of you hears.”

From the commentary on this hadith:

…And in the hadith of ‘Urwa ibn ‘Aamir reported by Abu Daud: “Omens were mentioned to Allah’s Messenger (sas) and he said, “The best of it is al-fa’l. And let it never turn a Muslim back. Whenever any of you sees something he hates, let him say, “O Allah good cannot come except from You and evil cannot be repelled except by You and there is no change nor any power except by Allah.”

بَاب فِي النُّجُومِ وَقَالَ قَتَادَةُ وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ خَلَقَ هَذِهِ النُّجُومَ لِثَلَاثٍ جَعَلَهَا زِينَةً لِلسَّمَاءِ وَرُجُومًا لِلشَّيَاطِينِ وَعَلَامَاتٍ يُهْتَدَى بِهَا فَمَنْ تَأَوَّلَ فِيهَا بِغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ أَخْطَأَ وَأَضَاعَ نَصِيبَهُ وَتَكَلَّفَ مَا لَا عِلْمَ لَهُ بِهِ

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَى ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ فَإِذَا هُمْ فَرِيقَانِ يَخْتَصِمُونَ(45)قَالَ يَاقَوْمِ لِمَ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ الْحَسَنَةِ لَوْلَا تَسْتَغْفِرُونَ اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ(46)قَالُوا اطَّيَّرْنَا بِكَ وَبِمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ طَائِرُكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ تُفْتَنُونَ(47)

{And we had sent to Thamud their brother Salih [saying], ‘Worship Allah.’ And then they were two divisions, disputing. (45) He said, “O my people, why are you anxious for bad before you are anxious for good? If only you would seek forgiveness from Allah that perchance you could be shown mercy.’ (46) They said, ‘We sense an evil omen in you and those with you.’ He said, ‘Your “omen” is with Allah. No, you are a people [confused and] tested.’ (47)}