Post by Salam on Jul 7, 2005 14:43:03 GMT -5
The Islamic Ruling on Fortune-telling
Because of the sacrilege and heresy involved in fortune telling,
Islam has taken a very strong stance towards it. Islam opposes any
form of association with those who practice fortune-telling, except
to advise them to give up their forbidden practices.
Visitation of Fortune-tellers
The Prophet (pbuh) laid down principles, which clearly forbade any
form of visitation of fortune-tellers. Safiyyah reported from Hafsah
(wife of the Prophet) that the Prophet (pbuh) said, "The Salaah of
whoever approaches a fortune-teller and asks him about anything will
not be accepted for 40 days and nights."(Muslim) The punishment in
this Hadeeth is for simply approaching a fortune-teller and asking
him questions out of curiosity. This prohibition is further supported
by Mu'aawiyah Ibn al-Hakam asSalamee's Hadeeth in which he said, "O
Messenger of Allaah, verily there are some people among us who visit
oracles. " The Prophet (pbuh) replied, "Do not go to them". Such a
severe punishment has been assigned for only visitation because it is
the first step to belief in fortune-telling. If one went there
doubtful about its reality, and some of the fortune-teller's
predictions come true, one will surely become a true devotee of the
fortune-teller and an ardent believer in fortune-telling. The
individual who approaches a fortune-teller is still obliged to make
his compulsory Salaah throughout the 40 day period, even though he
gets no reward from his prayers. If he abandons the Salaah all
together, he has committed another major sin. This is similar to the
Islamic ruling in the case of Salaah on or in stolen property,
according to the majority of Jurists. They hold that whenever
obligatory Salaah is performed, it produces two results under normal
circumstances:
1. It removes the obligation of that prayer from the individual.
2. It earns him a reward.
If Salaah is performed on or in stolen property it removes the
obligation of Salaah, but it is devoid of reward. Consequently, the
Prophet forbade praying the same obligatory prayers twice.
Belief in Fortune-tellers
The Islamic ruling with regard to anyone who visits a fortune-teller
believing that he knows the unseen and the future is that of Kufr
(disbelief). Abu Hurayrah and al-Hasan both reported from the Prophet
(pbuh) that he said, "Whosoever approaches a fortune-teller and
believes what he says, has disbelieved in what was revealed to
Muhammad. Such a belief assigns to creation some of Allaah's
attributes with regard to the knowledge of the unseen and the future.
Consequently, it destroys Tawheed alAsmaa was-Sifaat, and represents
a form of Shirk in this aspect of Tawheed.
The ruling of Kufr includes, by analogy (Qiyaas), those who read the
books and writings of fortune-tellers, listen to them on the radio or
watch them on the T. V., as, these are the most common means used by
20th century fortune-tellers to spread their predictions.
Allaah clearly states in al-Qur'an that no one knows the unseen
besides Him. Not even the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Allaah said: With
Him are the keys to the unseen and none knows it except Him alone."
Then he told the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), "Say! I have no power to
bring good to myself nor avert harm but it is only as Allah wills. If
it were that I knew the unseen, I would have multiplied the good and
no evil would have touched me."
And he also said: "Say! None in the heavens nor the earth knows
the 'unseen except Allah'."
Therefore, all the various methods used around the world by oracles,
fortune-tellers, and the likes, are forbidden to Muslims.
Palm-reading, I-Ching, fortune cookies, tea leaves as well as
Zodiacal signs and Bio-rhythm computer programs, all claim to inform
those who believe in them about their future. However, Allaah has
stated in no uncertain terms that He alone knows the future: ''Verily
the knowledge of the Hour is with Allaah alone. It is He who sends
down the rain and knows the contents of the wombs. No one knows what
he will earn tomorrow nor in which land he will die, but Allaah is
all-knowing and aware."(Surah Luqmaan 31:34)
Therefore, Muslims must take utmost care in dealing with books,
magazines, newspapers as well as individuals who, in one way or
another, claim knowledge of the future or the unseen. For example,
when a Muslim weather-man predicts rain, snow, or other climatic
conditions for tomorrow he should add the phrase, "In ShaaAllaah (If
Allaah so wishes)". Likewise, when the Muslim doctor informs her
patient that she will deliver a child in 9 months or on such and such
a day, she should take care to add the phrase "In ShaaAllaah", as
such statements are only estimations based on statistical
information.
Source: Islamway
Because of the sacrilege and heresy involved in fortune telling,
Islam has taken a very strong stance towards it. Islam opposes any
form of association with those who practice fortune-telling, except
to advise them to give up their forbidden practices.
Visitation of Fortune-tellers
The Prophet (pbuh) laid down principles, which clearly forbade any
form of visitation of fortune-tellers. Safiyyah reported from Hafsah
(wife of the Prophet) that the Prophet (pbuh) said, "The Salaah of
whoever approaches a fortune-teller and asks him about anything will
not be accepted for 40 days and nights."(Muslim) The punishment in
this Hadeeth is for simply approaching a fortune-teller and asking
him questions out of curiosity. This prohibition is further supported
by Mu'aawiyah Ibn al-Hakam asSalamee's Hadeeth in which he said, "O
Messenger of Allaah, verily there are some people among us who visit
oracles. " The Prophet (pbuh) replied, "Do not go to them". Such a
severe punishment has been assigned for only visitation because it is
the first step to belief in fortune-telling. If one went there
doubtful about its reality, and some of the fortune-teller's
predictions come true, one will surely become a true devotee of the
fortune-teller and an ardent believer in fortune-telling. The
individual who approaches a fortune-teller is still obliged to make
his compulsory Salaah throughout the 40 day period, even though he
gets no reward from his prayers. If he abandons the Salaah all
together, he has committed another major sin. This is similar to the
Islamic ruling in the case of Salaah on or in stolen property,
according to the majority of Jurists. They hold that whenever
obligatory Salaah is performed, it produces two results under normal
circumstances:
1. It removes the obligation of that prayer from the individual.
2. It earns him a reward.
If Salaah is performed on or in stolen property it removes the
obligation of Salaah, but it is devoid of reward. Consequently, the
Prophet forbade praying the same obligatory prayers twice.
Belief in Fortune-tellers
The Islamic ruling with regard to anyone who visits a fortune-teller
believing that he knows the unseen and the future is that of Kufr
(disbelief). Abu Hurayrah and al-Hasan both reported from the Prophet
(pbuh) that he said, "Whosoever approaches a fortune-teller and
believes what he says, has disbelieved in what was revealed to
Muhammad. Such a belief assigns to creation some of Allaah's
attributes with regard to the knowledge of the unseen and the future.
Consequently, it destroys Tawheed alAsmaa was-Sifaat, and represents
a form of Shirk in this aspect of Tawheed.
The ruling of Kufr includes, by analogy (Qiyaas), those who read the
books and writings of fortune-tellers, listen to them on the radio or
watch them on the T. V., as, these are the most common means used by
20th century fortune-tellers to spread their predictions.
Allaah clearly states in al-Qur'an that no one knows the unseen
besides Him. Not even the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Allaah said: With
Him are the keys to the unseen and none knows it except Him alone."
Then he told the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), "Say! I have no power to
bring good to myself nor avert harm but it is only as Allah wills. If
it were that I knew the unseen, I would have multiplied the good and
no evil would have touched me."
And he also said: "Say! None in the heavens nor the earth knows
the 'unseen except Allah'."
Therefore, all the various methods used around the world by oracles,
fortune-tellers, and the likes, are forbidden to Muslims.
Palm-reading, I-Ching, fortune cookies, tea leaves as well as
Zodiacal signs and Bio-rhythm computer programs, all claim to inform
those who believe in them about their future. However, Allaah has
stated in no uncertain terms that He alone knows the future: ''Verily
the knowledge of the Hour is with Allaah alone. It is He who sends
down the rain and knows the contents of the wombs. No one knows what
he will earn tomorrow nor in which land he will die, but Allaah is
all-knowing and aware."(Surah Luqmaan 31:34)
Therefore, Muslims must take utmost care in dealing with books,
magazines, newspapers as well as individuals who, in one way or
another, claim knowledge of the future or the unseen. For example,
when a Muslim weather-man predicts rain, snow, or other climatic
conditions for tomorrow he should add the phrase, "In ShaaAllaah (If
Allaah so wishes)". Likewise, when the Muslim doctor informs her
patient that she will deliver a child in 9 months or on such and such
a day, she should take care to add the phrase "In ShaaAllaah", as
such statements are only estimations based on statistical
information.
Source: Islamway