QUESTION
My question is that should we believe in horoscopes and signs, because sometimes I read things about my sign and the prediction that is written for my sign upsets me, if it is something scary. I want to know whether this information is true or useless. Please clarify this.
May Allah bless you.
REPLY
Bismihi Ta’ala
Respected Sister in Islam,
Wa-alaykumus Salaam wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatum
1.) It is Haraam to believe in horoscopes. You should not even look at it in newspapers, etc. Make sincere Taubah. It is all useless information but very dangerous for a person’s Imaan.
2.) Fortune tellers are disbelievers because they are claiming having knowledge of the Unseen; knowledge which is exclusive to Allah Ta’ala. It is a money-making industry which millions have become easy prey to. Reading palms, looking into crystal balls, reading tarot cards, etc. are all Haraam.
3.) Moreover, a person who believes in such fortune telling, that is, that the fortune teller has the knowledge of the Unseen, loses his Imaan. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) has said : “Whoever goes to a fortune teller or a soothsayer and believes in what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) .”
4.) If one reads or visits such people out of curiosity but does not believe, then too the person has committed a serious sin. It is mentioned in a Hadeeth : “Whoever goes to a fortune teller and asks him about something, his prayers will not be accepted for forty nights.” (Of course, the person will have to pray, as well as repent for the sin).
5.) All in all, this is a very grave sin which many Muslims take lightly, spending a lot of time and money in having their futures being read. Na-uzu Billahi min zaalik.
Was-Salaamu alaykum wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatuhu
Yunus Patel (Maulana)