The world is replete with different sorts of thoughts, ideas, feelings and beliefs. These thoughts, ideas and beliefs are basically the endeavors to understand the world or the different phenomena in the world. Since the very beginning of their life on earth human beings have wondered about different things existing in the world and the different incidents and phenomena occurring around. This has led to the formation of different sets of thoughts, ideas and beliefs. The same thoughts, ideas and beliefs have afterwards formed the ideologies, isms and religions. In this particular journey of understanding the world and life human beings have not always been logical and reasonable. Therefore, there have been sets of beliefs and thoughts that are much distant from the logical interpretations and yet they exist in human societies as a major portion of their cultural, traditional and religious beliefs. Superstitions are also the types of beliefs that are not based on logical interpretations. They are based on beliefs which are supernatural and are not necessarily governed by physical laws. They basically try to prognosticate the happenings in daily life on the basis of certain incidents that have already occurred. In this way the result of a particular happening or incident is necessitated by an earlier happening not based on the theory of cause and effect and they, in scientific interpretations, are much apart from each other. The clear example of a superstition is an omen. For example, if a black cat crosses your way it is considered a bad omen and is believed to bring bad luck, though in logical sense both the mentioned incident and its result are not related to each other clearly.

Superstitions exist in most of the cultures of the world. They are able to make their way through the generations as a part of inherited beliefs. Superstitions are also linked with the religions, but they are not the production of religions. However, there are superstitions existing in most of the religions of the world. Further, the religious people are more likely to accept the superstitions than the non-religious people. One of the basic reasons of the transmission of superstitions and their survival is through the sanctity that is preserved for traditional values and the interests that are maintained for the folk stories and legends. In addition, there is a tendency in most of the people not to question the superstitions that are transferred to them. At the same time it must also be kept in mind that most of the superstitions are taught to the people as a part of their nourishment, while they are too small to differentiate between what is logical and what is not. So, they are already inculcated in them by the time they become young. It can also be observed that superstitions are more common in backward societies that are marked with religious fundamentalism and hard-line traditional values. There is no need to utilize energy in proving that superstitions have link with reality. They are totally based on supernatural beliefs and are never linked with reasonable course of happening. On certain occasions superstitions are proved correct accidently or by chance but such occasions do not stand correct on all occasions and do not qualify to be considered as facts. Superstitions may affect people in different ways. First of all the most dominating impact of superstitions is that it keeps the people away from finding out the real cause of a particular happening. Relying on the given interpretations of the happenings they do not strive for the truth and remain unbothered.

This does not guarantee any struggle on their part for the improvement of their ideas and the eradication of false ideas from society. Moreover, the minds that believe in superstitions can be easily utilized by those who have their business based on such superstitious beliefs. Afghan society is a kind of society that is marked with extremist religious beliefs and traditional values. There is great shortage of analytical way of thinking in ordinary life. Most of the Afghan people do not bother to challenge the superstitious ideas that are transferred to them from their ancestors. They believe on them blindly and even suggest others and their next generations to keep them intact.

Afghan women in particular are overwhelmingly influenced by the superstitions. Because of their limited exposure to the external world and modern thinking their sets of beliefs are dominantly marked with the superstitions. The dominating role of superstitions in Afghan society provides a golden chance to those who know how to utilize them to earn money. Traditional Mullahs in this regard play a dominant role. They hijack the superstitious thinking and keep on filling their pockets. We can find a lot of people in our society seeking for the services of Mullahs for making their present problems disappear or guaranteeing a prosperous future.

Mullahs in this regard give them talisman which they have to tie around their necks or keep them in their pockets or even put them in their pillows and they are thought to bring good luck to them. If by chance the wearer of the talisman is gifted in some way or the other, the Mullahs become famous and have lucrative business. No one even dare to question their qualification or understanding regarding religious teachings. Moreover, there are not many people who dare to question whether such acts are religious or not.

Superstitions are undoubtedly illogical and take us away from reality, making us create a world of imaginations where things happen on the basis of false interpretations. Superstitions should be completely neglected and must be questioned seriously, especially in the societies like Afghanistan. Our people need to have proper understanding of the matters concerning their life and society and have to carry out necessary measures to curb them. They have to develop a scientific approach, wherein they have to challenge the superstitious beliefs that are transmitted to them from different sources, most of which are untrustworthy. They also have to keep in mind that superstitions are not appreciated by religion Islam.

Islam has clearly asked human beings to think appropriately before forming a belief. There are three stages in Islam that a Muslim has to go through before establishing firm beliefs. They are Ilm-ul-Yaqin, Ain-ul-Yaqin and Haq-ul-Yaqin. Without going through these three stages a Muslim does not have to establish a belief. Have we been doing it?