SOOTHSAYERS; ASTROLOGER; GEOMANCER

Al-Baghawi said:

 Al- ‘ARRAF :

(Soothsayer) is a name for the one who pretends to reach conclusions through premises. He can thus detect stolen objects or lost things. Other scholars hold the view that Al- ‘Arraf is the very same as Al-Kahin (diviner).

 AL-KAHIN:

”Al-Kahin is one who claims to be able to foretell events or predict the future. Some scholars maintain that he is the one who tells about the dictates of one’s conscience.”

Abul-‘Abbas Ibn Taymiyyah said:

“Al-‘Arraf is a common name for the soothsayer, the astrologer, the geomancer and anyone who claims to be able to know unseen events of the future with the aid of different means.”

قُلْ لَّا یَعْلَمُ مَنْ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ الْغَیْبَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “None in the heavens and the earth has knowledge of the unseen except Allah. Nor do they know when they will be resurrected.

[النمل:۶۵]

1. As soothsayers and the like allege their ability to know the unseen or foretell future events, which is an attribute exclusively belonging to Allah, whoever believes them against the severe punishment prepared for them in the Hereafter.

One of the wives of the Prophet (PBUH) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

“He who visits a soothsayer and asks him about anything, his prayers extending to forty days will not be accepted.”

 

(Related by Muslim)

• And the like: Such as astrologers, diviners and geomancers. 

• One of the wives of the Prophet (PBUH) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: It refers to Hafsah (may Allah be pleased with her) who narrated the aforementioned hadith. 

• His prayers extending to forty days will not be accepted: He will not be rewarded for the prayers offered during the period of forty days.

 

General Meaning of the Hadith :

 

The Prophet (PBUH) highlights the punishment inflicted upon those who haunt a soothsayer for acquiring knowledge about future events, which is only encompassed by Allah. According to the hadith, those who haunt soothsayers will not receive rewards for the prayers they offer during a period of forty days. This penalty implies a strict warning and a crystal clear prohibition of such an abominable act, which is one of the gravest sins. A soothsayer is thus, more entitled to receive a severer punishment for his wrongdoing

Relevance of the Hadith to the Chapter:

 This hadith forbids Muslims to go to the soothsayers or the like or believe them, as such an act violates the essence of monotheism. 

Lessons Drawn from the Hadith :

❖ The prohibition of visiting soothsayers and asking them about the unseen, for this is an act of disbelief. 

❖ The prohibition of soothsaying, as it is regarded a major sin. 

❖ If someone visits a soothsayer without believing him, his prayers will not be accepted for forty days. Moreover, the one who believes a soothsayer is regarded as renouncing what was revealed to Muhammad (PBUH)

2. Imam Al-Baghawi and Imam Ibn Taymiyyah explain that the Arabic word Al-Kahin refers to the soothsayer, the astrologer, the geomancer, and whoever claims to have knowledge of the unseen events. Moreover, Al-Kahin is the name of whoever claims to be able to foretell future events with the aid of the devils. These devils eavesdrop on the angels’ talks in the heavens.

وَّلَا يُفۡلِحُ السّٰحِرُ حَيۡثُ اَتٰى‏

“And magicians can never succeed wherever they go.”

[Surah Taahaa: 20: 69]

❖ This hadith stresses the prohibition of claiming the knowledge of the unseen, as it contradicts the concept of monotheism. 

❖ It is similarly prohibited to believe the fables of those who allege their knowledge of the unseen. 

❖ Muslims are duty bound to disprove the soothsayers’ fables and renounce their abominable practices.

 ❖ Muslims are duty bound to adhere to the Divine Revelation sent down to the Prophet (PBUH) and to reject whatever contradicts it.

3. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleasedwith him) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: 

“If anyone visits a soothsayer and believes him in what he says, then he is regarded as disbelieving in what has been revealed to Muhammad (PBUH).”1 

 

(Related by Abu Dawud)

4.  Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “If anyone visits a soothsayer and believes him in what he says, then he will be regarded as disbelieving in what has been revealed to Muhammad (PBUH).”

 (Related by Abu Ddwud, Ibn Mdjah, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasd’i, and Al-Hdkim who judged it as meeting the conditions o f Al-Bukhdri and Muslim) 

5. Abu Ya’la related the same hadith as a saying ascribed to Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) not to the Prophet (PBUH).

1. Abu Dawud (3904) and Ahmad in Al-Musnad (2/408,429 and 476). 

      2.  Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak and Ahmad in Al-Musnad (2/429).

      3.  Abu Ya’ la in his Musnad (Compilation o f Hadiths) (5408), Al-Bazzar in Al-Kashf (2067), and Al-Haythami in Majma’ Az-Zawd’id’ (The Compilation o f Additional Hadiths) (5/118). The hadith is related by Al-Bazzir, and its transmitters are those transmitting the hadiths of Al-Bukhari or Muslim or both save Hubayrah Ibn Yarim, yet, he is a trustworthy transmitter.

 • What has been revealed to Muhammad (PBUH): The Qur’an and Sunnah. 

General Meaning of the Hadith :

The hadith promises a severe punishment for those who visit soothsayers seeking their help to know the unseen. Whoever commits this grave sin is regarded as renouncing what has been revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). 

Relevance of the Hadith to the Chapter:

The hadith stresses the prohibition of visiting soothsayers and threatens those who commit this grave sin.

Lessons Drawn from the Hadith :

> A Muslim is prohibited to visit soothsayers, ask them about future events or believe their fables. Believing a soothsayer is tantamount to renouncing the Muslim belief.

 ❖ It is incumbent upon every Muslim to renounce soothsayers’ allegations. 

❖ Visiting a soothsayer and believing him is tantamount to the renunciation of the Muslim belief.

 ❖ Soothsaying is an act of polytheism since it is an allegation of knowing the unseen.

In his commentary on those who write Abd-Jdd, and those who ponder over celestial bodies (for the sake of practicing astrology), Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said,

“I conceive that anyone involved in such practices will have no share in the Hereafter.”

. ❖  Aba-Jad: It is an Arabic word referring to the Arabic alphabet. .

❖ Write Aba-Jad: Use of the letters of the alphabet as a means of foretelling future events. 

❖ Who ponder over celestial bodies (for the sake of practicing astrology): Those who believe that the celestial bodies have influence on the course of human affairs.

6. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) states that those who use the letters of the alphabet and meditate on the celestial bodies with the aim of foretelling future events will have no reward in the Hereafter, and will suffer the same punishment of the soothsayers.

 Relevance of the Tradition to the Chapter:

 This Tradition indicates that learning how to use the letters of the alphabet with intent to claim the knowledge of the unseen, and meditating on the celestial bodies in the belief that they have influence on the course of human affairs, are acts of divination. Therefore, whoever engages in practicing them will be of those who will have no reward in the Hereafter.

 Lessons Drawn from the Tradition :

❖ It is prohibited to learn Abd-Jdd with intent to claim the knowledge of the unseen, as it contradicts the concept of monotheism. However, learning the alphabet to read or calculate is permissible. 

❖ This hadith stresses the prohibition of practicing astrology, as it results in falling into polytheism.

 ❖ Muslims must not be deluded by the science and knowledge acquired by deviant people, for Allah ultimately leads them to perish.

REFERENCE:

CONCISE COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF TAWHID”

 BY SHAYKH DR. SALIH AL FAWZAN Hafizullah.