In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

 

"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"

 

   Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

          As-Salaam Alaykum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakaatuh

 

1) Islam & Astrology

 

There are two related terms that are often confused with one another, astronomy and astrology. Astronomy refers to the science that is concerned with the observation of the motions of heavenly bodies and reducing these observations to mathematical order, while astrology refers to the study of the supposed effects the movements of these celestial bodies have on human affairs.

According to jurists, it is lawful to study astronomy, for it is useful in predicting the beginning of months and seasons, determining the direction of Prayer, and navigating.

As for astrology, this is haram (unlawful) and nothing but lies. The Unseen is known only by Almighty Allah.

Responding to the question, Dr. Husam al-Din Ibn Musa `Afana, a Professor of the Principles of Fiqh at Al-Quds University, Palestine, states the following:

“First of all, it is worth noting that the Arabs knew astronomy a long time ago. They would predict time through observing the movements of stars.

According to the scholars of Shar`iah, there are two terms confused in many people’s minds when it comes to dealing with the question in hand. These terms are astronomy and astrology. Astronomy is the science that deals with studying the movements of the celestial bodies and reducing observations to mathematical order. That science is useful in determining time, seasons, the direction of Prayer, etc.

Astrology, on the other hand, is concerned with studying the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs.

Scholars agree that astrology is a prohibited field to deal with. Imam Ibn Taymiyah said: “Astrology that is concerned with studying the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs is prohibited by Almighty Allah’s Book, the Sunnah, and the unanimous agreement of the Muslim scholars. Furthermore, astrology was considered forbidden by all Messengers of Almighty Allah.”

The great Saudi scholar, Ibn `Uthaymeen, said: “Astrology is a kind of sorcery and fortune-telling. It is forbidden because it is based on illusions, not on concrete facts. There is no relation between the movements of celestial bodies and what takes place on the Earth.”

Before the advent of Islam, people would think that the sun and moon might eclipse when a great figure died. During the Prophet’s lifetime, it happened that the sun eclipsed on the same day when the Prophet’s son Ibrahim died. The people then thought that it had eclipsed because of the Prophet’s son’s death. On knowing this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led them in the Eclipse Prayer and then delivered them a speech saying: “The sun and moon are but signs of Allah; they do not eclipse because so-and-so died or was born.”

This hadith indicates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) denied all relation between the movements of the heavenly bodies and events on the Earth. Besides, people who believe in the prophecies of astrologists are easily exposed to a labyrinth of illusions, pessimism, and psychological problems.

There is much evidence from the Sunnah that prohibits resort to or belief in astrology.

Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that Almighty Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who has acquired some knowledge of astrology has acquired some knowledge of sorcery; the more he acquires of the former the more he acquires of the latter.” (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah)

Commenting on this hadith, Ash-Shawkani, a great scholar, said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) compared between astrology and sorcery because sorcery was known to be forbidden; and so, he who would get some knowledge of astrology would do something forbidden and would be sinful. (Nayl Al-Awtar, vol.7, p.207)

It was also reported by Ibn `Abbas that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who uses astronomy for something other than what Almighty Allah has made lawful would be practicing sorcery. Astrologists predict knowledge of the future, and he who does so is a sorcerer, and sorcerers are disbelievers.” (See Meshkat Al-Masabeeh, vol. 2, p. 1296)

Also, Ibn Mihjan reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I fear on account of my nation three things after my death: (I fear that) their imams (leaders) would oppress them, (that) they would believe in astrology, and (that) they would disbelieve predestination.” (Reported by Ibn `Asakir and Ibn `Abdul-Barr)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who goes to a fortune-teller to ask him about something, his Prayer will not be accepted for forty days.” (Reported by Muslim)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who goes to a soothsayer or a fortuneteller and believes what he says exhibits disbelief in what has been sent down to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) (from Almighty Allah).” (Al-Albani said in Sahih At-Targhib wa At-Tarhib, vol. 3, p. 172, that this is an authentic hadith.)

Contemplating the last two hadiths reported by Abu Hurayrah, it is to be noted that mere going to fortune-tellers is a sin that incurs upon a Muslim who commits it that his prayer is not accepted for forty days, and that believing what fortunetellers say renders a Muslim a disbeliever in what has been sent down to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). This is because Allah Almighty says:

Say: "None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (unseen) except Allâh, nor can they perceive when they shall be resurrected." (An-Naml 27:65)

Allah Almighty also says:

"(He Alone) the All-Knower of the Ghâ'ib (unseen), and He reveals to none His Ghâ'ib (unseen)." Except to a Messenger (from mankind) whom He has chosen (He informs him of unseen as much as He likes), and then He makes a band of watching guards (angels) to march before him and behind him. [He (Allâh) protects them (the Messengers)], till He sees that they (the Messengers) have conveyed the Messages of their Lord (Allâh). And He (Allâh) surrounds all that which is with them, and He (Allâh) keeps count of all things (i.e. He knows the exact number of everything). (Al-Jinn 72:26-28)

To sum up, astrology is based on lies and deceit; it has no scientific basis. The astrologists’ usage of computers to convince people that what they do is technological and scientific is nothing but deceit. There is no scientific proof that there is a relationship between the appearance of a star in a specific time and the character and behavior of someone born at that time.

History proved that astrologists are liars in many situations. For example, when the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mu`tasim wanted to conquer `Amurayah, the astrologists then advised him not to do so at the time he had chosen, but he disregarded what they said. He marched with his army towards `Amurayah and won a great victory.

In this age also, many prophecies of the astrologists were proved to be false. For example, some had foretold that the world would come to an end by the year 1986 A.D., and nothing of the kind took place. Likewise, some had foretold that there would be earthquakes and wars at certain times, and when such times came, nothing happened.

7 Daily Spiritual Productive Habits to Develop

 You should aim to develop the following 7 Spiritually Productive activities into habits so that you can hopefully continue benefitting from them throughout your life. I consider these activities as the spiritual `bread and butter' of any Productive Muslim. To develop them as habits is the essence of embarking on your journey towards the love of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) and constantly increasing in your eman, inshaAllah:
1) Pray the Sunnah Prayers before and/or after Prayer:
I know it's easier to just pray the obligatory prayers and rush out of the mosque! However, when we realise the rewards we're missing from not praying these Sunnah prayers we won't leave them. Over the years I have learnt there's only ONE way of getting yourself to pray these Sunnah prayers constantly: Get into the habit of praying them! They'll soon become part and parcel of your Salah and your Salah will feel incomplete without performing these acts.
2) Remembrance of Allah after Salah:
Again, it's easy to rush out after Salah due to our busy lives, though if we are honest, how long does it take to recite the supplications after Salah? (The Answer: 5-7 minutes!). If you're not sure what I'm referring to, you may find the supplications here. Nowadays you'll find pocket notebooks/or phone applications with these supplications. Get into the habit of reciting them daily after each Salah to enrich your Salah experience.
3) Morning/Evening Remembrance of Allah:
Step 2 is also included in this habit. There exists a beautiful set of duas/remembrances from the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which he used to say before sunrise and after sunset. They are true stress relievers and energy boosters which never fail to make my days and evenings feel blessed. [You can find the duas here]
4) Night Prayer:
Hamdulillah, during Ramadan we have the wonderful Taraweeh prayers to attend. However, outside of Ramadan there are many opportunities to still obtain the reward of the night prayer. If you're new to night prayer or you don't pray it constantly during the year, make sure you try to attend prayers each and every night in congregation at the mosque (particularly brothers), and give yourself a `no-excuse' policy. Develop a habit of praying Tahajjud and continuing to pray them for an entire 30 days; this will set you on better footing to continue with the Night Prayer for the rest of the year inshaAllah.
5) Duha Prayer:
Here's a Productive Muslim's top secret to a productive day: 2 rak'ahs known as the Duha prayer which you may pray at anytime after sunrise till before the sun reaches it's zenith (around 30 minutes before Dhuhr). The reward of this prayer is similar to giving charity on behalf of every bone in your body, and the energy and buzz you feel during the day is amazing.
6) Supplications before you Sleep:
You've just had a long day and you're super tired. You climb into bed and you want to hit the sack… but wait! Before you do, can you give yourself just 10 more minutes to recite the supplications before sleeping? That's all. Try them and find yourself experiencing the most beautiful sleep ever and waking up for Fajr easily, inshaAllah. Supplications on MakeDua.com
7) Reciting one hour of Quran each day:
Notice: I said here recite one hour of Quran each day and not one juz' or one Surah. The amount of Quran you read is not as important as the quality of your understanding. If you spend one hour reciting one verse but understand it fully, that's more important and beneficial then reciting lots of Quran at break-neck speed yet not understanding a word.
So there you go, 7 spiritually productive habits you can develop throughout the year starting from TODAY!
courtesy of: ProductiveMuslim.com

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May Allah allow us to SEE things as they TRULY are

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