الطيرة عند العرب قبل الإسلام و عصر الرسالة

Abstract EN

Foreboding is an umbrella term which includes the two contradicted meanings of both good omen and pessimism.

The second meaning prevailed since it carried this indication when occurred in the Quranic text as describing the case of the polytheists and rejecters of the Prophets ( AS ) on one hand, and also for the frequent historical texts and proverbs and verses functioning the second meaning among the Arabs before Islam on the other hand.

The prophetic Hadiths had mentioned foreboding as a predominant tradition and their attitudes were determined by two directions; the first one rejects and forbids superstition to the extent that it is made equal to Polytheism as the Prophet (PBUH) said " foreboding is polytheism " if it means pessimism because it is regarded a dangerous social disease leads to doctrine deviation and fosters a spirit of despair and frustration, and then inaction, and this is contrary to the Islam's call and urge to work and perseverance.

The second direction blesses and urges foreboding if it means optimism , as the Prophet said " I like Optimism", they replied " what is Optimism ? " ; he said " the good word ( call ) " which means that our prophet (PBUH) urged us to work and forbade pessimism that causes inaction for the superstitions people had that some phenomenon are ominous signs.

This call is complementary to the rejection of foreboding meaning pessimism.

Foreboding was associated with birds considering their voices, shapes, and birthplaces.

This case developed to include animals, plants, and names in general.

Many people had specialized with such arts and their names were associated with these arts which are many; among them are restraining, slitting, ground charting , knocking stones, Intuitions, revelation and many other things.

Arabs' belief in these concepts had widened and such concepts started to overlap with their religious beliefs and their social behaviors.

Such concepts started to form a kind of worshipping , hence they were considered polytheism.