The Meaning of the Hadith: “The Astrologers Have Lied, Even If They Told the Truth”
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Q299: The questioner asks: What is the authenticity of these two hadiths from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), , and the hadith: Sunan Abi Dawud 3909Sahih (Al-Albani) , and what is the legal ruling regarding sand divination and astrology? Do the hadiths of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibit these actions?
A299: As for the issue of astrology, if it is intended to mean using the stars to infer future events, and that the stars have an influence on creatures, on the descent of rain, or the descent of diseases, or otherwise; then this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah), and it is a belief of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah). Astrology in this manner is forbidden to the utmost degree. As for the hadith you asked about, I do not know of any basis for it from the perspective of the chain of narration, and I have not come across it,
and as for its meaning, it is correct, for the astrologers act and lie about Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), because the stars have no connection to the management of the universe. Rather, the Manager is Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and He is the One who created the stars, and created everything else. Allah the Exalted created the stars for three purposes: as adornment for the heavens, as missiles for the devils, and as signs by which guidance is found. This is what the Noble Qur'an indicates. Whoever seeks from them anything other than this has erred and wasted his share. This is what pertains to astrology and the stars, as well as the remaining matters that are among superstitions and sorcery, such as drawing in the sand, and matters used to claim knowledge of the unseen, or to inform about what will happen, or to cure diseases, or otherwise. All of this falls under the ruling of astrology, and the ruling of fortune-telling, and in polytheistic matters; because hearts must be attached to Allah, their Creator and Manager, in Whose hand is harm and benefit, good and evil, and He is capable of all things. As for these beings and these creations, they are managed and compelled, they
have no share in the matter. Allah the Exalted said:[Fussilat 41:37] , and He the Exalted said: [Al-A'raf 7:54] , so they are all managed beings and created for benefits, and their Lord is Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and they perform their functions in obedience to Allah and by His direction (Glorified and Exalted is He). As for attaching oneself to them, and seeking from them the repelling of harm, or the bringing of good; this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah), and a belief of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah). As for the hadith: Sunan Abi Dawud 3909Sahih (Al-Albani) this is an authentic hadith narrated by Imam Muslim and Imam Ahmad.
The scholars said: And its meaning is that it is specific to that Prophet, and one of his miracles, and that no one can match him; because this is among his specific attributes and his miracles. So his intent from this is: denying that sand divination has any connection to any matter; because this is among the specific attributes of that Prophet, and the specific attributes and miracles of the Prophets are not shared by others with them, (peace and blessings be upon them). So the intent of this is: denying that the drawers or sand diviners have any of the truths they claim; because it is not possible for anyone to match that Prophet in his drawing. And Allah the Exalted knows best.
The astrologers have lied, even if they tell the truth
كذب المنجمون ولو صدقواThere was a Prophet who drew lines, so if anyone does it as he drew lines, that is right.
كان نبي من الأنبياء يخط، فمن وافق خطه فذاكA299: As for the issue of astrology, if it is intended to mean using the stars to infer future events, and that the stars have an influence on creatures, on the descent of rain, or the descent of diseases, or otherwise; then this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah), and it is a belief of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah). Astrology in this manner is forbidden to the utmost degree. As for the hadith you asked about,
The astrologers have lied, even if they tell the truth
كذب المنجمون ولو صدقواand as for its meaning, it is correct, for the astrologers act and lie about Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), because the stars have no connection to the management of the universe. Rather, the Manager is Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and He is the One who created the stars, and created everything else. Allah the Exalted created the stars for three purposes: as adornment for the heavens, as missiles for the devils, and as signs by which guidance is found. This is what the Noble Qur'an indicates. Whoever seeks from them anything other than this has erred and wasted his share. This is what pertains to astrology and the stars, as well as the remaining matters that are among superstitions and sorcery, such as drawing in the sand, and matters used to claim knowledge of the unseen, or to inform about what will happen, or to cure diseases, or otherwise. All of this falls under the ruling of astrology, and the ruling of fortune-telling, and in polytheistic matters; because hearts must be attached to Allah, their Creator and Manager, in Whose hand is harm and benefit, good and evil, and He is capable of all things. As for these beings and these creations, they are managed and compelled, they
have no share in the matter. Allah the Exalted said:
And of His signs are the night and day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostate to Allah, who created them, if it should be Him that you worship.
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لاَ تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلاَ لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَIndeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ أَلاَ لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَThere was a Prophet who drew lines, so if anyone does it as he drew lines, that is right.
كان نبي من الأنبياء يخط فمن وافق خطه فذاكThe scholars said: And its meaning is that it is specific to that Prophet, and one of his miracles, and that no one can match him; because this is among his specific attributes and his miracles. So his intent from this is: denying that sand divination has any connection to any matter; because this is among the specific attributes of that Prophet, and the specific attributes and miracles of the Prophets are not shared by others with them, (peace and blessings be upon them). So the intent of this is: denying that the drawers or sand diviners have any of the truths they claim; because it is not possible for anyone to match that Prophet in his drawing. And Allah the Exalted knows best.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.