Is It Possible for Muslims to Have Intuition and Should It Be Followed?
Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
Can believers sometimes have intuition about things? Alhamdulilah I have had a few dreams that came true, but I wanted to know if there is such a thing as instinct where a particular situation doesn’t or doesn’t feel right. For example, sometimes, straight from the outset, it feels as if a particular person isn’t right for you for marriage despite not knowing them. How does one know the difference between a feeling from one’s nafs (ego), Shaytan, or Allah Most High?
Answer
Thank you for your question. Yes, intuition does exist among believers and disbelievers and it has been called Fitra (innate nature or disposition). Kashf (unveiling) also exists when one receives an opening about unseen things. I have witnessed a pious man walk into a room and meet someone he instantly felt was very dark and dangerous and turned out to be correct.
Please see more about Kashf here:
Can a Person Have Regular Kashf (Unveiling) with the Prophet (Allah Bless Him and Give Him Peace)?
Fitra
`Abdullah ibn Masud (Allah be pleased with him) reported, that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Verily, Satan influences with the son of Adam and the angel has influence. As for the influence of Satan, he promises evil and denies the truth. As for the influence of the angel, he promises goodness and affirms the truth. Whoever finds this goodness, let him know that it is from Allah and let him praise Allah. Whoever finds something else, let him seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.” Then, the Prophet recited the verse, “Satan threatens you with poverty and commands evil, but Allah promises you forgiveness and grace from Him.” [Quran, 2:268][Tirmidhi]
The critical thing about intuition is that you don’t follow it blindly. If you have a feeling about someone, you don’t know where it is coming from, so you should confirm it with evidence or ignore it. The best thing is to pray istikhara and make istishara (consult others). If you choose not to meet a suitor based on your intuition, it would be best to keep it to yourself instead of blaming him or making others feel bad about him.
Dua
Please make this dua regularly:
اللهُمّ أقِمْ وَجْهي لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفاً.
O Allah, make me steadfast in faith in all uprightness.
Please see these links as well:
The Fitra Lessons 1/4 – Dr Umar Faruq Abd Allah
The Fitra Lessons 2/4 – Dr Umar Faruq Abd Allah
The Fitra Lessons 3/4 – Dr Umar Faruq Abd Allah
The Fitra Lessons 4/4 – Dr Umar Faruq Abd Allah
How to Overcome the Delusional Intuition of Leaving the Prayer?
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
