Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his Companions. To proceed:
The permissible good omen (Fa’l) does not mean that people, names, or faces create good or have an independent influence on destiny. Everything occurs by Allah’s decree and predestination, and benefit and harm are in His hands alone, Glorified and Exalted is He.
Rather, a good omen means that a person sees or hears something pleasant, feels optimistic because of it, thinks well of Allah, and hopes that Allah will make it a sign of something good.
For example:
A sick person hears a name meaning “healthy” or “recovered” and hopes for recovery.
A merchant begins a new business and meets a righteous person with a pleasant appearance, so he feels reassured and hopes for success.
A distressed person hears a kind word, which strengthens his spirit and increases his good expectations of Allah.
All of this falls under thinking well of Allah, not believing that the person himself possesses any power to influence events.
For this reason, the Prophet ﷺ loved good omens and appreciated good names and pleasant appearances, as mentioned in authentic hadiths.
Can a Person Be a Means of Good?
A person may be one of the means through which Allah decrees that good occurs, such as through:
The supplication of a righteous person.
Good advice.
The blessings and benefits of righteous companionship.
Bringing happiness and optimism to others.
However, this does not mean that a person possesses some hidden power that independently brings provision or repels harm. It is not permissible to hold such a belief.
For example, if someone says:
“Since you came, my business has increased.”
If what he means is:
Simply optimism, feeling encouraged, and thinking well of Allah, then there is nothing wrong with that.
But if he believes:
That this person independently brings provision or repels harm by himself, then this is a false and corrupt belief.
The Difference Between Fa’l and Tiyarah
Fa’l (good omen): Thinking well of Allah and feeling encouraged by something pleasant.
Tiyarah (superstitious pessimism): The heart becoming attached to things and believing that they bring evil or prevent good.
For this reason, scholars have said:
Fa’l is part of thinking well of Allah, while tiyarah is part of thinking badly of Allah.
Conclusion
A good omen does not change destiny by itself.
Neither people nor names create good or independently influence events.
What is permissible is optimism and thinking well of Allah upon seeing or hearing something pleasant.
It is permissible to say, “Your face is a face of good,” if what is intended is optimism and not a false belief.
All good comes from Allah alone, and causes and means bring benefit only by His permission, Glorified and Exalted is He.
And Allah knows best.