Weeping, Broken glass, black cat passing your way, no or little lights
at dusk (sign of sorrow or death) or using a broom at night are called
bad omens by many in Pakistan. Do you truly believe in them?
If you do not believe, but other do, then the least that you can do, is
listen to why they think the omen is a premonition of something even
worse to happen.
All these things in themselves have plain logical reasons for not to be
preferred.
Would you really like broken glass, a black cat, no or little light
around your self in the evening, and who wants to do cleaning by a
broom at night?
Social interaction with people from different cultures shows that one
culture can have some things in it which are hard to accept, as valid
ways of doing things. Perhaps, these omens became omens due to only
chance co-occurrence with
a bad event. And perhaps, that is why people have become cautioned
about them.
As believing Muslims, people should only believe in God and no fears of
anything else – no object in this world and its man-made obstacles.
Take a look at this, from this angle. Why do people celebrate a happy
moment by giving mithai when they get a new job, pass an exam with a
very good grade, or has a new born baby (girl or boy). It is in human
nature to be sharing and caring. Normally, people like to be open-
hearted and allow others to be included in the celebrations.
But, would it be a bad omen, if someone is hurt and is quietly weeping,
glass breaks at a dinner accidentally, or a pet cat walks in front of
oneself (even a stray black cat, outside), lights are dimmed if a child
is sleeping, and a vacuum cleaner needs to be used to clean the floor?
It is only a perception of the bad, and that needs to be modified.
People want to share their successes in life, with people around them,
and happiness is shared only when, people with whom a news of happiness
is shared with, are well-meaning and not subject to superstitions. If
one of these omens are happening without any control of the people,
then how do they become a bad sign?
Real omen is black magic, wrong taweez dhagas which ignorant people
believe in, even the belief in so many saints whose derbar are visited
and offerings are made – that is omenish; and leads to a great error in
becoming ‘mushrik’ having the illusion that in praying at the grave of
someone, making that a way to reach either within or to the Maker for
fulfilling probably some inspired ill-intentioned and wish. What is
that? How is it any Islamic? People who are against the practices of
black magic are aware of the fact that these are wrong behaviors to
curse and manipulate someone else’s life. It is ignorance at its
height.
Perhaps, educated people can carry out a concerted effort to make less
educated people around themselves realize that omens are imagined
obstacles or bad impressions on our minds, merely because that they
have been believed to be omens.
The only belief and fear that people should have is the fear of doing
the ultimate wrong, fear of not believing in God Almighty and becoming
accustomed to believing in world-focused fears.
any thoughts?
Dushwari