Correspondence of Hazrat Moulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahimahullah)
Letter:
Assalaamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh
Respected Moulana
Should we believe in horoscopes and signs? Sometimes I read things about my sign and the prediction that is written for my sign upsets me if there is something scary. I want to know whether this information is true or baseless. Please clarify this.
May Allah bless you.
Reply:
Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Respected Sister
Wa ‘alaikumus salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh
1. It is haraam (forbidden) to believe in horoscopes. You should not even look at it in newspapers, etc. Make sincere taubah. It is all baseless information but very dangerous for one’s imaan.
2. Fortune tellers are disbelievers because they are claiming to have knowledge of the unseen, 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 i.e. that the fortune teller has the knowledge of the unseen, loses his imaan. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Whoever goes to a fortune teller or a soothsayer and believes in what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).” (Musnad Ahmad #9536)
4. If one reads horoscopes 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.” (Saheeh Muslim # 5821) (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. We seek Allah Ta‘ala’s protection.
Was salaamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh
Yunus Patel (Moulana)