Newspapers on the Zodiac Signs
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Fatwa No. ( 17727 )
Q: Some Arab newspapers and magazines present us with pages titled "The Zodiac Signs," in which they discuss the signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini... and so on. They state that those born under the appearance of these signs are to be feared for permanent alienation, as their moods change; and this is due to—according to the magazine—the fact that the circle of the celestial bodies is on the verge of colliding due to the intensity of the contradiction... to the end of what is written on this page, which some young Muslims follow, and which is attached to you with this letter. We ask you to clarify the Shari'ah ruling on this practice (the zodiac signs) , and what is your advice to Muslims and to those in charge of such magazines?
A : This is part of astrology, upon which astrologers base their predictions of good fortune and misfortune, optimism and pessimism. It is a pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah) thought and belief, and it is forbidden (haram). It is not permissible to practice it, engage in it, or spread it. Spreading it in newspapers and elsewhere increases deception and corrupts the beliefs of Muslims. It is also a claim to knowledge of the unseen, which is a characteristic of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Allah the Exalted said:[An-Naml 27:65]
And He the Exalted said:[Al-An'am 6:59], and Allah denied, through the tongue of His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the claim to knowledge of the unseen. He the Exalted said: [Al-An'am 6:50], and He the Exalted said: [Hud 11:31], and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 3905Hasan (Al-Albani). The verses and hadiths on this matter are numerous. This ruling is one upon which Muslims have reached scholarly consensus (ijma'), and knowledge of its prohibition is part of the religion by necessity. Therefore, every Muslim who is sincere to himself and his community must stay away from this type of playing with minds and messing with belief, and he should fear Allah regarding himself and his community, and not spread this deception among them. And the rulers, may Allah guide them, must
prevent it and punish its spreader with what he deserves according to the Shari'ah. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q: Some Arab newspapers and magazines present us with pages titled "The Zodiac Signs," in which they discuss the signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini... and so on. They state that those born under the appearance of these signs are to be feared for permanent alienation, as their moods change; and this is due to—according to the magazine—the fact that the circle of the celestial bodies is on the verge of colliding due to the intensity of the contradiction... to the end of what is written on this page, which some young Muslims follow, and which is attached to you with this letter. We ask you to clarify the Shari'ah ruling on this practice (the zodiac signs) , and what is your advice to Muslims and to those in charge of such magazines?
A : This is part of astrology, upon which astrologers base their predictions of good fortune and misfortune, optimism and pessimism. It is a pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah) thought and belief, and it is forbidden (haram). It is not permissible to practice it, engage in it, or spread it. Spreading it in newspapers and elsewhere increases deception and corrupts the beliefs of Muslims. It is also a claim to knowledge of the unseen, which is a characteristic of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Allah the Exalted said:
Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected."
قُلْ لاَ يَعْلَمُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلا اللَّهُ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَAnd He the Exalted said:
And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record.
وَعِنْدَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لاَ يَعْلَمُهَا إِلا هُوَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِنْ وَرَقَةٍ إِلا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلاَ حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الأَرْضِ وَلاَ رَطْبٍ وَلاَ يَابِسٍ إِلا فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍSay, [O Muhammad], "I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me." Say, "Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Then will you not give thought?"
قُلْ لاَ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلاَ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلا مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الأَعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ أَفَلا تَتَفَكَّرُونَAnd I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel, nor do I say of those upon whom your eyes look down that Allah will never grant them any good. Allah is most knowing of what is within their souls. Indeed, I would then be among the wrongdoers."
وَلاَ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلاَ أَقُولُ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ وَلاَ أَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ تَزْدَرِي أَعْيُنُكُمْ لَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ إِنِّي إِذًا لَمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَIf anyone acquires any knowledge of astrology, he acquires a branch of magic of which he gets more as long as he continues to do so.
من اقتبس شعبة من النجوم، فقد اقتبس شعبة من السحر زاد ما زادprevent it and punish its spreader with what he deserves according to the Shari'ah. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.