Belief in astrology and the casting of horoscopes are in clear opposition to the letter and spirit of Islam. It is really the empty soul, which has not tasted real Iman (belief) that seeks out these paths. Essentially these paths, represent a vain attempt to escape Qadr (predistination). The ignorant believe that if they know what is in store for them tomorrow, they can prepare for them today. In that way, they may avoid the bad and ensure the good. Yet, Allah's messenger was told by Allah to say: " I possess no power over benefit or hurt to myself except as Allah wills."
Now I have no desire to bash someone else's religion, and all scriptures are subject to interpretation. We know that in the 8th and 9th centuries when sacred knowledge was stifled in the West by the Catholic Church, it was the Arabic astrologers who rescued the sacred arts, translating the ancient Greek works into Arabic, and their wisdom,such as the Arabic Parts (including the widely used Part of Fortune), is taught to this very day ..
Astrology is banned by the major religions that seek to put power over individuals into the hands of a priestly class. As we know, astrology has the potential to help us to recognize personality traits and inner conflicts which limit us and keep us from serving the Divinity of our choice in a fully conscious and present way, not to mention living a life of joy and fulfillment.
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Not your version of it, perhaps, but don't you dare tell me "never." You don't know everything. Only Allah knows everything.
I think that we err on occasion in making all Arabic Islam. At the time that the Arabic scholars and astrologers were saving the writings of the sacred arts, the religion of Islam was just on the verge (600 a.d. or thereabouts as its founding)of becoming more than a local tradition. I believe that the Roman Catholics were attempting to wipe out the Muslims as well as the Arabs at the time. Saving any ancient texts became paramount at that time.
I am not disagreeing that it is a shame, I am just distinguishing what was happening at the time from a historic sense that Islam was a virtual infant religion and the Arabs had a deep and rich culture prior to the preaching of Muhammad.
Interesting. The article provided by linkage through paklinks is simply a web comment. There really is limited central authority in Islam like there is in Catholicism, so exactly what is permitted and what is not alters from sect to sect, region to region. But yes, Islam is the most restrictive religion to free thought. But that doesn't mean that there are not Islamic astrologers, or individuals, who believe in astrology, (just like there are gay muslims). They do not advertise themselves obviously. Islamic astrology is a misnomer, however Arabic astrology is not. Karin is correct in her comment that not all Arabic scholarship and writings were Islamic. Many of the medieval, middle eastern astrologers were Jewish, Persian or Zoroastrian. It was Al Biruni, a muslim, who 1st made distinctions between astronomy and astrology in Islamic writings. Yet he wrote 23 books on astrology, and spent a lifetime studying Indian culture and religion. But as Robert Hand deftly chronicles in his compilation
"Chronology of the Astrology of the Middle East and the West by Period", one can follow the growth & development of astrological thought and technique over the centuries from region to region, culture to culture. A living testament to the open scholorship and absorbtive nature of the practice in contrast to restrictive relious practices that must survive by boxed in medieval philosophies, fear and threats.
Thank you all for your interesting comments. Of course back in the 7th century there really wasn't a divergence between astrology and astronomy. Al Biruni was Persian, but all references to him indicate that he was a Muslim and some (Wikipedia) say he was a Shi'ia Muslim. Wikipedia also reports:
Other comparatisons between Islamic theology and Indian theology include the following comparison between the Qur'an and the Indian religious scriptures in the "On the Configuration of the Heavens and the Earth According to [Indian] astrologers" chapter of the Indica:[73]
"[The views of Indian astrologers] have developed in a way which is different from those of our [Muslim] fellows; this is because unlike the scriptures revealed before it, the Qur'an does not articulate on this subject [of astronomy], or any other [field of] necessary [knowledge] any assertion that would require erratic interpretations in order to harmonize it with that which is known by necessity."
"[In contrast, the religious and transmitted books of the Indians do indeed speak] of the configuration of the universe in a way which contradicts the truth which is known to their own astrologers."
i agree with you kieron..islam tell us to search a knowledge..never blame others opinion before you know everything about the problem..therre is a lot of knowledge should be learn and it will never finish..now you can put the word `never` on that sentence khalid..
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