Islam & Astology, Astronomy, Palmistry and the Knowledge of Unseen

The following sub-topics have been discussed in this compilation:

• 1 – Islam & Astrology

• 2 – Did Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) know the Unseen?

• 3 – Why does Islam forbid prediction of the future through astrology and other sources like these? If we use these methods to find out what a person’s true personality is, is it haram?

 

1 – Islam & Astrology

 

There are two related terms that are often confused with one another, astronomy and astrology. Astronomy refers to the science that is concerned with the observation of the motions of heavenly bodies and reducing these observations to mathematical order, while astrology refers to the study of the supposed effects the movements of these celestial bodies have on human affairs.

According to jurists, it is lawful to study astronomy, for it is useful in predicting the beginning of months and seasons, determining the direction of Prayer, and navigating. They agree that this branch of science be used in determining the beginning and end of the month of Ramadan.

As for astrology, this is haram (unlawful) and nothing but lies. The Unseen is known only by Almighty Allah.

Responding to the question, Dr. Husam al-Din Ibn Musa `Afana, a Professor of the Principles of Fiqh at Al-Quds University, Palestine, states the following:

“First of all, it is worth noting that the Arabs knew astronomy a long time ago. They would predict time through observing the movements of stars.

According to the scholars of Shar`iah, there are two terms confused in many people’s minds when it comes to dealing with the question in hand. These terms are astronomy and astrology. Astronomy is the science that deals with studying the movements of the celestial bodies and reducing observations to mathematical order. That science is useful in determining time, seasons, the direction of Prayer, etc.

Astrology, on the other hand, is concerned with studying the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs.

Astrologists believe that the movements of stars have an influence on people’s lives. Both Muslim astronomers and [religious] scholars refuse the prophecies of astrologists. (excerpted from a lecture given by Dr. Yusuf Marwah under the title “Astronomy and the Beginning of the Lunar Months”)

According to scholars of Shari`ah, it is lawful to study astronomy; they accept that it is used in determining the beginning and end of the month of Ramadan.

The late renowned scholar Sheikh Ibn Raslan said: “The science of astronomy through which the movement of the sun and thus the direction of Prayer is detected is not prohibited in Islam.”

On the other hand, scholars agree that astrology is a prohibited field to deal with. Imam Ibn Taymiyah said: “Astrology that is concerned with studying the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs is prohibited by Almighty Allah’s Book, the Sunnah, and the unanimous agreement of the Muslim scholars. Furthermore, astrology was considered forbidden by all Messengers of Almighty Allah.”

The great Saudi scholar, Ibn `Uthaymeen, said: “Astrology is a kind of sorcery and fortune-telling. It is forbidden because it is based on illusions, not on concrete facts. There is no relation between the movements of celestial bodies and what takes place on the Earth.”

Before the advent of Islam, people would think that the sun and moon might eclipse when a great figure died. During the Prophet’s lifetime, it happened that the sun eclipsed on the same day when the Prophet’s son Ibrahim died. The people then thought that it had eclipsed because of the Prophet’s son’s death. On knowing this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led them in the Eclipse Prayer and then delivered them a speech saying: “The sun and moon are but signs of Allah; they do not eclipse because so-and-so died or was born.”

This hadith indicates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) denied all relation between the movements of the heavenly bodies and events on the Earth. Besides, people who believe in the prophecies of astrologists are easily exposed to a labyrinth of illusions, pessimism, and psychological problems.

There is much evidence from the Sunnah that prohibits resort to or belief in astrology.

Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that Almighty Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who has acquired some knowledge of astrology has acquired some knowledge of sorcery; the more he acquires of the former the more he acquires of the latter.” (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah)

Commenting on this hadith, Ash-Shawkani, a great scholar, said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) compared between astrology and sorcery because sorcery was known to be forbidden; and so, he who would get some knowledge of astrology would do something forbidden and would be sinful. (Nayl Al-Awtar, vol.7, p.207)

It was also reported by Ibn `Abbas that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who uses astronomy for something other than what Almighty Allah has made lawful would be practicing sorcery. Astrologists predict knowledge of the future, and he who does so is a sorcerer, and sorcerers are disbelievers.” (See Meshkat Al-Masabeeh, vol. 2, p. 1296)

Also, Ibn Mihjan reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I fear on account of my nation three things after my death: (I fear that) their imams (leaders) would oppress them, (that) they would believe in astrology, and (that) they would disbelieve predestination.” (Reported by Ibn `Asakir and Ibn `Abdul-Barr)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who goes to a fortune-teller to ask him about something, his Prayer will not be accepted for forty days.” (Reported by Muslim)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who goes to a soothsayer or a fortuneteller and believes what he says exhibits disbelief in what has been sent down to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) (from Almighty Allah).” (Al-Albani said in Sahih At-Targhib wa At-Tarhib, vol. 3, p. 172, that this is an authentic hadith.)

Contemplating the last two hadiths reported by Abu Hurayrah, it is to be noted that mere going to fortune-tellers is a sin that incurs upon a Muslim who commits it that his prayer is not accepted for forty days, and that believing what fortunetellers say renders a Muslim a disbeliever in what has been sent down to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). This is because Allah Almighty says:

“Say (O Muhammad): None in the heavens and the earth knoweth the Unseen save Allah; and they know not when they will be raised (again).” (An-Naml: 65)

Allah Almighty also says:

“(He is) the knower of the Unseen, and He revealeth unto none His secret, save unto every messenger whom he hath chosen, and then He maketh a guard to go before him and a guard behind him That He may know that they have indeed conveyed the messages of their Lord. He surroundeth all their doings, and He keepeth count of all things.” (Al-Jinn: 26-28)

To sum up, astrology is based on lies and deceit; it has no scientific basis. The astrologists’ usage of computers to convince people that what they do is technological and scientific is nothing but deceit. There is no scientific proof that there is a relationship between the appearance of a star in a specific time and the character and behavior of someone born at that time.

History proved that astrologists are liars in many situations. For example, when the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mu`tasim wanted to conquer `Amurayah, the astrologists then advised him not to do so at the time he had chosen, but he disregarded what they said. He marched with his army towards `Amurayah and won a great victory.

In this age also, many prophecies of the astrologists were proved to be false. For example, some had foretold that the world would come to an end by the year 1986 A.D., and nothing of the kind took place. Likewise, some had foretold that there would be earthquakes and wars at certain times, and when such times came, nothing happened.

To conclude, celestial bodies are signs of Allah’s Omnipotence and ultimate capability. They have no influence at all on the happiness or misery of people. True is the saying that astrologists are liars even if what they have foretold proves to be true.”

You can also read:

• Islamic View of Palmistry

• Going to Fortunetellers

Source: IslamCity

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2 – Did Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) know the Unseen?

 

First, we would like to stress that the unseen or ghaib is defined as everything that cannot be perceived by man’s senses, including those things that remain secret from man and are only known by Allah the All-Aware, as well as those things that man has knowledge of due to his being informed of them by Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).

In an attempt to furnish you with an answer to your question, we would like to cite for you the following fatwa issued by Dr. Ahmad Yusuf Sulaiman, professor of Shari`ah, Faculty of Darul-`Uloom, Cairo Univ., in which he states the following:

First of all, we would like to stress the fact that Allah Almighty is the Only One Who possesses the absolute Omniscience of the Unseen. This fact is explained by the Qur’an when it refers to the five main categories of the Unseen. Allah Almighty says: (Lo! Allah! With Him is knowledge of the Hour. He sendeth down the rain, and knoweth that which is in the wombs. No soul knoweth what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knoweth in what land it will die. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.) (Luqman 31: 34)

Focusing more on the question in point, we would like to cite for you the following:

The issue of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) having the ability to know the Unseen or `Ilm Al-Ghayb is a broad and lengthy subject that even Muslim scholars have divergent opinions about it.

In brief, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) has the ability to know only certain aspects of the Unseen that Allah wishes him and reveals to him.

However, there are other aspects that Allah Almighty doesn’t show to the Prophet such as the date of the Day of Resurrection, Death, etc.

Source: IslamCity

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3 – Why does Islam forbid prediction of the future through astrology and other sources like these? If we use these methods to find out what a person’s true personality is, is it haram?

 

Not only is the practice of astrology Haraam , but also visiting an astrologist and listening to his predictions, buying books on astrology or reading one’s horoscope are also forbidden! Since astrology is mainly used for predicting the future, those who practice it are considered fortune-tellers. Consequently, one who seeks his horoscope comes under the ruling contained in the Prophet’s statement:

“The Salaah (daily prayer) of whoever approaches a fortune-teller and asks him about anything will not be accepted for forty days and nights.” [Reported by Hafsah and collected by Muslim (Sahih Muslim (English Trans.), vol. 4, p. 1211, no. 5440).]

The punishment in this Hadeeth is simply for approaching and asking the astrologist, even if one is in doubt about the truth of his statements. If one is in doubt about the truth or falsehood of astrological information, he is in doubt about whether or not others know the unseen and the future besides Allah. This is a form of Shirk because Allah has clearly stated:

“With Him are the keys to the unseen and none knows it except Him” [Soorah al-An'aa,m 6:59]

“Say: None in the heavens or earth knows the unseen except Allah.” [Soorah an-Naml 27:65]

If, however, one believes in the predictions of their horoscope, whether spoken by an astrologist or written in books of astrology, he falls directly into Kufr (disbelief) as stated by the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam):

“Whoever approaches an oracle or fortune-teller and believes in what he says, has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad.” [Reported by Abu Hurayrah and collected by Ahmad and Abu Daawood (Sunan Abu Dawud (English Trans.), vol. 3, p. 1095, no. 3895).]

Like the previous Hadeeth, this Hadeeth literally refers to the fortune-teller but it is just as applicable to the astrologist. Both claim knowledge of the future. The astrologist’s claim is just as opposed to Tawheed as the ordinary fortune-teller. He claims that people’s personalities are determined by the stars, and their future actions and the events of their lives are written in the stars. The ordinary fortune-teller claims that the formation of tea leaves at the bottom of a cup, or lines in a palm tell him the same thing. In both cases individuals claim the ability to read in the physical formation of created objects knowledge of the unseen.

Belief in astrology and the casting of horoscopes are in clear opposition to the letter and spirit of Islam. It is really the empty soul, which has not tasted real Eemaan (belief) that seeks out these paths. Essentially these paths, represent a vain attempt to escape Qadar (fate). The ignorant believe that if they know what is in store for them tomorrow, they can prepare from today. In that way they may avoid the bad and ensure the good. Yet, Allah’s messenger was told by Allah to say:

“If I knew the unseen, I would surely have only sought the good. But, I am only a warner and a bearer of glad tidings for believers.” [Al-Qur'an Soorah al-A'raaf 7:188]

True Muslims are therefore obliged to stay far away from these areas. Thus, rings, chains, etc., which have the signs of the Zodiac on them should not be worn, even if one does not believe in them. They are part and parcel of a fabricated system which propagates Kufr and should be done away with entirely. No believing Muslim should ask another what his sign is, or attempt to guess his sign. Nor should he or she read horoscope columns in newspapers or listen to them read. And, any Muslim who allows astrological predictions to determine his actions, should seek Allah’s forgiveness and renew his Islam.

Source: AllExperts

Source (Respectively): IslamCity, IslamCity, AllExperts

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