Nowadays some satellite channels receive astrologists as guests. The viewers call them and give them information about themselves, such as their birth dates, so that the astrologists, using computers, predict the future events that may occur to them. What is the viewpoint of Islam on astrology?
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear questioner, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.
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.”
buhat sari baatian clear ho gayee!!!
