1668/1 - ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: “Some people asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) about soothsayers and he said: ‘They are of no account.’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, but they sometimes make true predictions.’ Thereupon, he said: ‘That is a word pertaining to the truth which a jinn snatches (from the angels) and whispers into the ears of his friend, who will then mix more than a hundred lies with it.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Another narration by Al-Bukhāri reads: ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that she heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “The angels descend to the clouds and mention matters which have been decreed in the heaven. The devil then listens to it stealthily and communicates it to the soothsayers who tell along with it a hundred lies of their own.”
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1) It is prohibited to go to soothsayers. In an authentic Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who goes to a soothsayer or a diviner and believes what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad.”
2) If soothsayers say something true, they still mix it with a hundred lies. They are liars, as stated by the truthful Prophet. So, why do many people still go to them?!
1669/2 - Safiyyah bint Abu ‘Ubayd (may Allah be pleased with her) related that one of the Prophet’s wives reported that he said: “Whoever goes to a soothsayer and asks him about something and then believes him, his prayers will not be accepted for forty days.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) It gives firm prohibition and stern warning against going to soothsayers and diviners. Believing them is an unlawful act that entails the rejection of one’s prayers for forty days, as a punishment.
2) It is prohibited to go to soothsayers at all, whether the person believes them or not. An exception is when someone goes to them for the purpose of exposing them.
1670/3 - Qabīsah ibn al-Mukhāriq (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “The practice of ‘Iyāfah (drawing lines on the ground), considering the sight of certain things as a bad omen, and the practice of Tarq (taking omen by birds) are all practices of Al-Jibt (idolatry or sorcery).” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd with a sound Isnād] [1] Tarq: taking omen by making birds fly, and if a bird flies towards the right side, it would be a good omen; and if it goes towards the left it will be a bad one. ‘Iyāfah: drawing lines on the ground as mentioned by Abu Dāwūd.
In Al-Sihāh, Al-Jawhari said: Jibt is a term that refers to idols, soothsayers, magicians, and the like.
1) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) forbade these acts, lest people should get attached to other than Allah Almighty.
2) These acts are prohibited for they are means leading to associating partners with Allah Almighty and they run counter to the fundamental principles of monotheism.
As the Shariah prohibits the above-mentioned acts, it directs the Muslim to the proper guidance when certain matters become confusing to him. This includes the Istikhārah (guidance-seeking) prayer, which is a non-obligatory prayer that consists of two Rak‘ahs (unit of prayer). After offering this prayer, a person turns to Allah Almighty and recites the reported supplication: “Allāhumma innī astakhīruka bi‘ilmika (O Allah, I consult You by Your knowledge)...” to the end of it.
The Shariah also instructs the Muslim to consult people of piety, wisdom and experience, and to think carefully before making any decision or choice. Whoever does so will be the farthest from regret.
1671/4 - Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever acquires a branch of the knowledge of astrology learns a branch of sorcery of which he acquires more as long as he continues to do so.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd with an authentic Isnād]
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1) Magic is prohibited because it is one of the grave and destructive sins, and it leads to polytheism.
2) It is prohibited to practice astrology in all its different forms or to believe astrologers, for they are polytheistic magicians.
Astrology differs from astronomy, which is a useful branch of knowledge. Astronomy tells us about the movement of planets and stars, the alternation of day and night, the emergence of the crescent, solar and lunar eclipse, and other phases and phenomena that are of great significance for many Shariah rulings and for people’s interests in everyday life.
Astrology, on the other hand, is claiming to have knowledge of the unseen and the effects of stars on earth. It involves cooperation between devils from the humans and jinn. This is the type of knowledge and practice prohibited in the relevant Hadīths.
1672/5 - Mu‘āwiyah ibn al-Hakam (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have recently emerged from ignorance and Allah Almighty has brought Islam. There are still some men among us who go to soothsayers.’ He said: ‘Do not go to them.’ I said: ‘There are some men who seek guidance by omens.’ He said: ‘These are ideas which come up in their minds, but they should not be prevented by them.’ I said: ‘There are some men who practice divination by drawing lines on the ground.’ He said: ‘There was a prophet who used to draw lines. So, the line which agrees with the line drawn by that prophet is correct.’” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) It is prohibited to go to soothsayers and ask them about unseen and future matters that are only known to Allah Almighty.
2) Omens should not prevent a Muslim from pursuing the work he has intended to do. If he sets out to do something, after offering the Istikhārah prayer and consulting competent people, let him rely upon Allah Almighty and pursue the proper means of success.
1673/6 - Abu Mas‘ūd al-Badri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited the price of a dog, the earning of a prostitute, and the money paid to a soothsayer.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
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1) It is prohibited to give a soothsayer a wage for his soothsaying. Any act that is forbidden, it is also forbidden to pay for it.
2) Any person who causes corruption among the Muslim community, such as soothsayers and jugglers, they should be insulted and not treated honorably.
If a person repents from these acts, then the money he has earned therefrom is to be reconsidered. If he still knows those from whom this money was taken, he should give it back to them so as to get rid of such unjustly devoured wealth.
However, if he does not know them, he should give this money in charity, by way of getting rid of it, or spend it on lowly purposes, like improving degraded public facilities and feeding animals. Muhayyisah reported that his father sought permission from the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) to take the wages for cupping but he forbade him from it. He continued asking him and seeking his permission until he said: “Use it to give fodder to your water-carrying camels and to feed your slaves.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd] -- In another narration by Ahmad: “He forbade him from that earning. Thereupon, he asked: ‘May I use it to feed orphans I have?’ He replied in the negative. He further asked: ‘May I give it in charity?’ He replied in the negative and allowed him to use it to give fodder to his water-carrying camels.”