Fatwa ID: 06146
Answered by: Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain
Question:
If on the dining table, my family member is watching an astrology show, and I sit there but don’t pay attention to what the astrologer is saying, and I keep in mind that he’s either telling through Jinn or just that astrological knowledge which is based on assumptions etc, do I become a kafir by sitting there with this intention? Please consider that I didn’t sit there intentionally, it was Sunday and everyone sat together for breakfast. I couldn’t go sit separately.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
There is a common misconception amongst people that Astrology and Astronomy are synonymous with one another. Thus, they are very easily confused and mixed together. One is a science which has religious backing whereas the other has no scientific basis whatsoever nor any religious significance.
Astronomy is a science that studies everything outside of the earth’s atmosphere, such as planets, stars, asteroids, galaxies; and the properties and relationships of those celestial bodies. Astronomers base their studies on research and observation. Astrology, on the other hand, is the belief that the positioning of the stars and planets affects the way events occur on earth. [1]
Astronomy and astrology are two distinct subjects: one is a science, and one is a parlour game. However, the two topics are frequently confused.
Astronomy, as well as the related field of astrophysics, covers the science of stargazing and the physics that explains how stars and galaxies work. Astrology is a non-scientific practice that draws connections between star positions to make predictions about the future.
The work of ancient astrologers formed the basis for the star and navigational charts used by the ancients, as well as some of the constellations we know today. However, there is no scientific basis in today’s practice of astrology.
- Astronomy is the scientific study of the stars, planets, and galaxies, and their motions.
- Astrophysics uses principles and laws of physics to explain how stars, planets, and galaxies form and function.
- Astrology is a non-scientific form of entertainment that draws connections between human behaviour and the alignment of the stars and planets. [2]
Astronomers do not believe in astrology. It is considered to be a ludicrous scam. There is no evidence that it works, and plenty of evidence to the contrary. There is also no mechanism by which distant planets could possibly influence personalities. [3]
Allāh Ta’ālā has given us some indications about Astronomy, whereby stating, “The sun and the moon are (bound) by a (fixed) calculation.” [Surah Al-Rahman; 55:5] [4]
However, the field of astrology has been clearly prohibited in numerous Hadiths of the Prophet ﷺ. A few are listed below;
Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ regarded illegal the price of a dog, the earnings of a prostitute, and the charges taken by a soothsayer. [Sahih Al-Bukhari; Hadith 2282] [5]
Some people asked the Prophet ﷺ regarding the soothsayers. He ﷺ said, “They are nothing.” They said, “O Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ! Some of their talks come true.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “That word which happens to be true is what a Jinn snatches away by stealth (from the Heavens) and pours it in the ears of his friend (the fortune teller) with a sound like the cackling of a hen. The soothsayers then mix with that word, one hundred lies.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari; Hadith 7561] [6]
The Prophet ﷺ said, “While the angels talk amidst the clouds about things that are going to happen on earth, the devils hear a word of what they say and pour it in the ears of a soothsayer just as one pours something in a bottle, and they add one hundred lies to that (one word). [Sahih Al-Bukhari; Hadith 3288] [7]
There are still some people among us who go to consult soothsayers.” He ﷺ said, “Do not consult them.” Then I said: “There are some of us who are guided by omens.” He ﷺ said, “These things which come to their minds. They should not be influenced by them.” [Extract from a longer narration from Sunan Abi Dawood; Hadith 930] [8]
From everything above, we clearly understand that astrology has no religious or scientific merits and should be disregarded completely. One should not give them the time of day to hear what they have to say nor must we ever believe in anything that they do say. One should not watch such programs and should advise those who do watch them avoid them completely as they could be detrimental to one’s own Imaan.
If the situation is as you have described then it should have no impact on your Imaan as you clearly have demonstrated that you knew it to be wrong.
Only through sincere repentance and Taubah can one truly atone for their sins.
There are three conditions for repenting;
- Stop committing the sin;
- Feel remorse for the sin which has have been committed;
- Make a sincere vow to never return back to the sin.
Only Allāh knows best.
Written by Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[2] https://www.thoughtco.com/astronomy-vs-astrology-3072251
[4]ٱلشَّمۡسُ وَٱلۡقَمَرُ بِحُسۡبَان{
[5]حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنْ ثَمَنِ الْكَلْبِ وَمَهْرِ الْبَغِيِّ وَحُلْوَانِ الْكَاهِنِ.
[6]حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَنْبَسَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عُرْوَةَ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ، قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ سَأَلَ أُنَاسٌ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْكُهَّانِ فَقَالَ ” إِنَّهُمْ لَيْسُوا بِشَىْءٍ ”. فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهُمْ يُحَدِّثُونَ بِالشَّىْءِ يَكُونُ حَقًّا. قَالَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” تِلْكَ الْكَلِمَةُ مِنَ الْحَقِّ يَخْطَفُهَا الْجِنِّيُّ فَيُقَرْقِرُهَا فِي أُذُنِ وَلِيِّهِ كَقَرْقَرَةِ الدَّجَاجَةِ، فَيَخْلِطُونَ فِيهِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ مِائَةِ كَذْبَةٍ ”.
[7]قَالَ وَقَالَ اللَّيْثُ حَدَّثَنِي خَالِدُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِلاَلٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا الأَسْوَدِ، أَخْبَرَهُ عُرْوَةُ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ تَتَحَدَّثُ فِي الْعَنَانِ ـ وَالْعَنَانُ الْغَمَامُ ـ بِالأَمْرِ يَكُونُ فِي الأَرْضِ، فَتَسْمَعُ الشَّيَاطِينُ الْكَلِمَةَ، فَتَقُرُّهَا فِي أُذُنِ الْكَاهِنِ، كَمَا تُقَرُّ الْقَارُورَةُ، فَيَزِيدُونَ مَعَهَا مِائَةَ كَذِبَةٍ ”.
[8]حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، – الْمَعْنَى – عَنْ حَجَّاجٍ الصَّوَّافِ، حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أَبِي مَيْمُونَةَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ السُّلَمِيِّ، قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَعَطَسَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ فَقُلْتُ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ فَرَمَانِي الْقَوْمُ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ فَقُلْتُ وَاثُكْلَ أُمِّيَاهُ مَا شَأْنُكُمْ تَنْظُرُونَ إِلَىَّ فَجَعَلُوا يَضْرِبُونَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ عَلَى أَفْخَاذِهِمْ فَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُمْ يُصَمِّتُونِي – فَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ – فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُمْ يُسَكِّتُونِي لَكِنِّي سَكَتُّ قَالَ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم – بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي – مَا ضَرَبَنِي وَلاَ كَهَرَنِي وَلاَ سَبَّنِي ثُمَّ قَالَ ” إِنَّ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةَ لاَ يَحِلُّ فِيهَا شَىْءٌ مِنْ كَلاَمِ النَّاسِ هَذَا إِنَّمَا هُوَ التَّسْبِيحُ وَالتَّكْبِيرُ وَقِرَاءَةُ الْقُرْآنِ ” . أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا قَوْمٌ حَدِيثُ عَهْدٍ بِجَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَقَدْ جَاءَنَا اللَّهُ بِالإِسْلاَمِ وَمِنَّا رِجَالٌ يَأْتُونَ الْكُهَّانَ . قَالَ ” فَلاَ تَأْتِهِمْ ” . قَالَ قُلْتُ وَمِنَّا رِجَالٌ يَتَطَيَّرُونَ . قَالَ ” ذَاكَ شَىْءٌ يَجِدُونَهُ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ فَلاَ يَصُدُّهُمْ ” . قُلْتُ وَمِنَّا رِجَالٌ يَخُطُّونَ . قَالَ ” كَانَ نَبِيٌّ مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ يَخُطُّ فَمَنْ وَافَقَ خَطَّهُ فَذَاكَ ” . قَالَ قُلْتُ جَارِيَةٌ لِي كَانَتْ تَرْعَى غُنَيْمَاتٍ قِبَلَ أُحُدٍ وَالْجَوَّانِيَّةِ إِذِ اطَّلَعْتُ عَلَيْهَا إِطْلاَعَةً فَإِذَا الذِّئْبُ قَدْ ذَهَبَ بِشَاةٍ مِنْهَا وَأَنَا مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ آسَفُ كَمَا يَأْسَفُونَ لَكِنِّي صَكَكْتُهَا صَكَّةً فَعَظَّمَ ذَاكَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ أَفَلاَ أُعْتِقُهَا قَالَ ” ائْتِنِي بِهَا ” . قَالَ فَجِئْتُهُ بِهَا فَقَالَ ” أَيْنَ اللَّهُ ” . قَالَتْ فِي السَّمَاءِ . قَالَ ” مَنْ أَنَا ” . قَالَتْ أَنْتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ . قَالَ ” أَعْتِقْهَا فَإِنَّهَا مُؤْمِنَةٌ ” .
