At a glance
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Summary
The hama is one of the beliefs of the Jahiliyya that The Sealed Nectar lists together with omen-taking (tiyara) and contagion. They believed that a slain man would not be at rest until his blood was avenged, and that his soul would become a hama, an owl, which flies over the wilderness crying "Sada, sada" or "Give me to drink, give me to drink". Once he was avenged, it would settle and rest 1 2.
Not covered here
The hadith "There is no contagion, no omen-taking, and no hama" and its commentaries will be presented under their own entries.
For young visitors
They thought the soul of the slain became a bird that demands revenge. Islam abolished this belief.
People and things also explored
The abjad letters named for Madyan's kings· Intellectual invasion (al-ghazw al-fikri) in the Sheikh's view· Islamic management· Media and the responsibility of its producers· al-Anwāʾ (Star Rains)· Jahiliyya names of days and months· The ill-omened days· Divining Arrows
Sources
- al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p.38
- Sahih al-Bukhari , 2/851-857
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “al-Hāma (Vengeful Owl)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/hama/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-21.