| Not only is the practice of astrology Haraam as | | | | astrologist. Both claim knowledge of the future. The |
| mentioned earlier, but also visiting an astrologist and | | | | astrologist’s claim is just as opposed to Tawheed |
| listening to his predictions, buying books on astrology or | | | | as the ordinary fortune-teller. He claims that |
| reading one’s horoscope are also forbidden! Since | | | | people’s personalities are determined by the stars, |
| astrology is mainly used for predicting the future, those | | | | and their future actions and the events of their lives |
| who practice it are considered fortune-tellers. | | | | are written in the stars. The ordinary fortune-teller |
| Consequently, one who seeks his horoscope comes | | | | claims that the formation of tea leaves at the bottom |
| under the ruling contained in the Prophet’s | | | | of a cup, or lines in a palm tell him the same thing. In |
| statement: “The Salaah (daily prayer) of whoever | | | | both cases individuals claim the ability to read in the |
| approaches a fortune-teller and asks him about | | | | physical formation of created objects knowledge of |
| anything will not be accepted for forty days and | | | | the unseen. |
| nights.” [Reported by Hafsah and collected by | | | | Belief in astrology and the casting of horoscopes are in |
| Muslim (Sahih Muslim (English Trans.), vol. 4, p. 1211, no. | | | | clear opposition to the letter and spirit of Islaam. It is |
| 5440).] | | | | really the empty soul, which has not tasted real |
| As was mentioned in the previous chapter, the | | | | Eemaan (belief) that seeks out these paths. Essentially |
| punishment in this Hadeeth is simply for approaching | | | | these paths, represent a vain attempt to escape |
| and asking the astrologist, even if one is in doubt about | | | | Qadar (fate). The ignorant believe that if they know |
| the truth of his statements. If one is in doubt about the | | | | what is in store for them tomorrow, they can prepare |
| truth or falsehood of astrological information, he is in | | | | from today. In that way they may avoid the bad and |
| doubt about whether or not others know the unseen | | | | ensure the good. Yet, Allaah’s messenger was told |
| and the future besides Allaah. This is a form of Shirk | | | | by Allaah to say: |
| because Allaah has clearly stated: | | | | “If I knew the unseen, I would surely have only |
| “With Him are the keys to the unseen and none | | | | sought the good. But, I am only a warner and a bearer |
| knows it except Him” [Soorah al-An`aa,m 6:59] | | | | of glad tidings for believers.” [Soorah al-A`raaf 7:188] |
| “Say: None in the heavens or earth knows the | | | | True Muslims are therefore obliged to stay far away |
| unseen except Allaah.” [Soorah an-Naml 27:65] | | | | from these areas. Thus, rings, chains, etc., which have |
| If, however, one believes in the predictions of their | | | | the signs of the Zodiac on them should not be worn, |
| horoscope, whether spoken by an astrologist or | | | | even if one does not believe in them. They are part |
| written in books of astrology, he falls directly into Kufr | | | | and parcel of a fabricated system which propagates |
| (disbelief) as stated by the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi | | | | Kufr and should be done away with entirely. No |
| wa sallam) “Whoever approaches an oracle or | | | | believing Muslim should ask another what his sign is, or |
| fortune-teller and believes in what he says, has | | | | attempt to guess his sign. Nor should he or she read |
| disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad.” | | | | horoscope columns in newspapers or listen to them |
| [Reported by Abu Hurayrah and collected by Ahmad | | | | read. And, any Muslim who allows astrological |
| and Abu Daawood (Sunan Abu Dawud (English | | | | predictions to determine his actions, should seek |
| Trans.), vol. 3, p. 1095, no. 3895).] | | | | Allaah’s forgiveness and renew his Islaam. |
| Like the previous Hadeeth, this Hadeeth literally refers | | | | Dr. |
| to the fortune-teller but it is just as applicable to the | | | | |