Islam and fortune telling

There are among mankind peoplewho claim knowledge of the unseen and
the future. They are known by various names, among which are:
fortune-tellers, soothsayers, foreseers, augurs, magicians,
prognosticators, oracles, astrologers, palmists, etc. Fortune-tellers
use various methods and mediums from which they claim to extract their
information, among which are: reading tea-leaves, drawing
lines,writing numbers, palm-reading, casting horoscopes, crystal ball
gazing, rattling bones, throwing sticks, etc. Practitioners of occult
arts, who claim to reveal the unseen and predict the future, can be
divided into two main categories:
1. Those who have no real knowledge or secrets but dependon telling
their customers about general incidences which happen to most people.
They often go through a series of meaningless rituals, and then make
calculated general guesses. Some of their guesses, due to their
generality, may come true. Most people tendto remember the few
predictionsthat come true and quickly forgetthe many which do not.
This tendency is a result of the fact that after some time, all the
predictions tend to become half-forgotten thoughts in the subconscious
until something happens to trigger their recall. For example, it has
become common practice in North America to publish, at the beginning
of each year, the various predictions of famous fortune-tellers. When
a survey was taken of the various predictions for the year 1980CE, it
was found that the most accurate fortune-teller among them was only
twenty-four percent (24%) accurate in her predictions!
2. The second group are those who have made contact with the Jinn.
This group is of most importance because it usually involves the grave
sin of Shirk (associating others with Allaah), and those involved
often tend to be fairly accurate in their information and thus present
a real Fitnah (trial and temptation) for both Muslims and non-Muslims
alike. Not only is thepractice of astrology Haraam (forbidden by
Islamic Law), but so are visiting an astrologist and listening to his
predictions, buying books on astrology and reading one's horoscope.
Since astrology is mainly used for predicting the future, those who
practice it are considered fortune-tellers. Consequently, onewho seeks
his horoscope comes under the ruling contained in the Prophet's
statement: " The daily prayers of whoever approaches a fortune-teller
and asks him aboutanything will not be accepted for forty days and
nights." [Muslim]
The punishment in this Hadeeth is simply for approaching and asking
the astrologist, even if oneis in doubt about the truth of his
statements. When one is in doubt about the truth or falsehood of
astrological information, this entails that he is in doubt about
whether or not others know the unseen and the future besides Allaah.
This is a form of Shirk, because Allaah has clearly stated (what
means): "Andwith Him [i.e., Allaah] are the keysof the unseen; none
knows them except Him." [Quran 6:59] As well as (what means): "Say (O
Muhammad): 'None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except
Allaah…'" [Quran: 27:65]
If, however, one believes in the predictions of their horoscopes,
whether spoken by an astrologistor written in books of astrology, he
falls directly into Kufr (disbelief) as stated by the Prophet :
"Whoever approaches an oracle or fortune-teller and believes in what
he says, has disbelieved in what wasrevealed to Muhammad." [Ahmad& Abu
Daawood]
Like the previous narration, this one literally refers to the
fortune-teller and it is just as applicable to the astrologist. Both
claim knowledge of the future. The astrologist's claim is just as
opposed to Tawheed (Islamic Monotheism) as the ordinary
fortune-teller. He claims that people's personalities are determined
by the stars, and their future actions and the events of their lives
are written inthe stars. The ordinary fortune-teller claims that the
formation of tea leaves at the bottom of a cup, or lines in a palm,
tell him the same thing. In both cases, individuals claim the ability
to read in the physical formation of created objects, knowledge of the
unseen.
Belief in astrology and the casting of horoscopes are in
clearopposition to the letter and spiritof Islam. It is really the
empty soul, which has not tasted real Eemaan (belief) that seeks out
these paths. Essentially these paths represent a vain attempt toescape
Qadar (fate).
These ignorant believe that if they know what is in store for them
tomorrow, they can prepare from today. In that way, they may avoid the
bad and ensure the good. Yet, Allaah's Messenger was told by Allaah to
say (what means): "…If I knew the unseen, I could have acquiredmuch
wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am notexcept a warner and
a bringer of glad tidings to a people who believe." [Quran 7:188]
True Muslims are, therefore, obliged to stay far away from these
areas. Thus, rings, chains, etc., which have the signs of the Zodiac
on them should not be worn, even if one does not believe in them. They
are part and parcel of a fabricated system which propagates Kufr and
should be done away with entirely. No believing Muslim should ask
another what his star-sign is, or attempt to guess what it is. Nor
should he or she read horoscope columns in newspapers or listen to
them being read. Any Muslim who allows astrological predictions
todetermine his actions should seek Allaah's forgiveness and