Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) conveyed a warning against the pursuit of astrology, linking it to the practice of magic.
Here's a breakdown of his statement and its implications:
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The Hadith: The most commonly cited hadith (saying of the Prophet Muhammad) related to astrology states: "If 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."
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Interpretation: This hadith highlights the Prophet's (peace be upon him) concern about astrology. The key takeaway is the connection made between astrology and magic (specifically, sihr in Arabic). Magic, in this context, is generally understood to involve practices that attempt to manipulate events or access hidden knowledge through means other than those sanctioned by Islamic teachings.
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The Problem with Astrology (from an Islamic perspective):
- Claiming Knowledge of the Unseen (Ghaib): Islamic teachings emphasize that only Allah (God) has complete knowledge of the unseen (future events, hidden realities, etc.). Astrology, which often involves predicting future events based on celestial movements, can be seen as a challenge to this fundamental principle.
- Dependence on Created Things (Stars/Planets): Islam encourages reliance on Allah alone. Astrology, by attributing influence to celestial bodies, can lead to dependence on created things rather than the Creator.
- Speculation and Conjecture: Many astrological claims are based on speculation and lack empirical evidence.
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Distinction Between Astrology and Astronomy: It's important to distinguish between astrology (predicting the future based on celestial bodies) and astronomy (the scientific study of celestial objects and phenomena). Astronomy, when used for practical purposes such as determining prayer times, the direction of the Qibla (direction of prayer), or understanding the calendar, is not considered problematic. The objection is specifically to the predictive and fortune-telling aspects of astrology.
In conclusion, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) discouraged the practice of astrology, associating it with the acquisition of magic and highlighting its potential to lead away from reliance on Allah and towards unfounded claims about the future.
