Islamic Online University

Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies

Aqeedah 101 Assignment

Full Name: Agus Rahman

Question:

Explore the concept of horoscopes from an Islamic perspective. Explain

the origin of this practice and elaborate on a view that is in line with the
teachings of authentic mainstream scholars. Include references to
appropriate literature to support your arguments.

Answer:
Allah has created the universe and stand to guard and manage it
properly. This universe is divided into seen and unseen dimension.
Allah also has gifted and equipped human being with intelligence and
knowledge to explore, by the guide of divine revelation, the hidden
facts in this world for the benefit of his life and for the sake of Allahs
pleasure. With the development of human knowledge and science they
can even travel to the space, curing diseases with invented medicine,
growing plants faster, etc. Nevertheless, there are some people who
claim to know about the future by arguing that he has visions that
others cannot see even without the help of scientific study. Horoscope,
fortuneteller are the common term for those who has the visions and

tell other people about their good and bad in the near future. Where
does this claim originally from and what does Islam say about this
practice will be discussed below;
The origin of horoscope
Horoscope, according to Britannica Encyclopedia Online, is in
astrology, a chart of the heavens, showing the relative position of the
sun, the moon, the planet and the ascendant and midheaven signs of
the zodiac at specific moment in time. A horoscope is used to provide
information about the present and to predict events to come 1. It is
well known since 3rd millennium BC to understand human behavior
through the study of planets and celestial objects. In Islamic world,
horoscope or astrology was known since the collapse of Alexandria in
7th century and the early beginning of Abbasid era. Caliph Al Mansur
also founded a library devoted for astrology study and translating
astrological text from other sources and languages. From this library
also, Europe taken its astrological knowledge since 12 th century2
(Wikipedia, 2016). The practice of this astrological prediction is now
widespread all over the world. It can be found in magazine, newspaper,
television and radio broadcasting that telling the good and bad events
to happen in the future.
Islamic view about horoscope
Islam considers horoscope as a haram practice in all of its form
as no one can cross the unseen dimension including knowing what will
happen in the future. Allah said in Surah An-Naml verse 65 say none
in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah, and they do
not perceive when they will be resurrected 3. Not only practicing
horoscope is forbidden, visiting and listening to what astrologer says,
also asking about the future is also prohibited even not to believe it as
Prophet Muhammad said the Salah (daily prayer) of whoever

approaches a fortune teller and asks him about anything will not be
accepted for forty days and nights. Moreover, if someone believe and
convinced by what the astrologer prediction about him then (s)he fall
into disbelief (kufr) as Prophet Muhammad PBUH said whoever
approaches an oracle or fortune teller has disbelief in what was
revealed to Muhammad4.
Muslim scholar like Sholeh Alu Syaikh said that if someone read
one page of newspaper which contain horoscope or zodiac that agree
with his/her date of birth or matching the zodiac to him/her, then it is
the same for him/her like visiting astrologer. Consequently, only by
reading this zodiac his/her Salah will not be accepted for forty days.
And if (s)he believe about the prediction then (s)he become disbelief
with the Quran that revealed to Prophet Muhammad PBUH. Moreover,
imam Sholeh gave an advice we have to deny whoever read this kind
of zodiac and we should remind them so that they wont fall into sins.
We ought to forbid them to take magazines containing zodiac
prediction into their houses because it is the same like enter astrologer
in their houses. This kind of action is a great sin. ... Thus, it is a must
for every students to remind their brothers and sisters about the
negative impacts of reading zodiac. It is highly expect to tell them in
every occasion like preacher or in daily communication because this is
a disaster for the Muslim. However, there are few who rejected this and
try to remind other about this mistake (Tausyikal, 2012)5.
It is also reported that Imam Ibnu Taimiyah was having debate
with a group of astrologer. Imam explain their errors about zodiac with
evidence from Quran and hadiths. The astrologers then admitted it.
One of the astrologers said to Imam by Allah, indeed we made
hundreds of falsehood with an expectation that there will be one right
of those falsehood (Mukhtar, 2011)6.
Hence, zodiac or horoscope is not allowed in Islam and it is highly
desirable for every Muslim not to waste their time to search and read

future prediction according to their zodiac through internet, television,

radio or messages. Because even they do not mean to believe that
they are considered to commit a sin unless they read the prediction to
refute it.
Conclusion
It is clearly stated either in Quran and Hadiths that no one can
grasp the future because human intelligence and knowledge are
unable to reach the unseen dimension, only Allah who knows it. Zodiac
or horoscope is prohibited in Islam because it tells something that only
known by Allah, it is just a falsehood. A Muslim should avoid it either
believe in zodiac or merely read it because it will make him sinful.

References

Britannica.
___.
Horoscope.
Retrieved
https://www.britannica.com/topic/horoscope
1

on

02

July

2016,

from

Wikipedia. (2016, 6 May). History of Astrology. Retrieved on 02 July 2016, from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_astrology
2

Quran. ___. ___. Retrieved on 02 July 2016, from http://quran.com/27/62

SunnahOnline. ___. The Islamic Ruling on Horoscope. Retrieved on 02 July 2016,

from
http://sunnahonline.com/library/beliefs-and-methodology/70-the-islamicruling-on-horoscopes
4

Tausyika, Muhammad Abduh. (2012, 3 January). Hukum Membaca Ramalan

Bintang,
Zodiak
dan
Shio.
Retrieved
on
02
July
2016,
from
https://muslim.or.id/7970-hukum-membaca-ramalan-bintang-zodiak-dan-shio.html
5

Mukhtar, Abu Nasim (2011, 19 November). Menyoroti Ilmu Nujum. Retrieved on

02 July 2016, from http://asysyariah.com/menyorot-ilmu-nujum/
6