Last updated on June 21, 2022
A non-Ahmadi Arab woman wrote to Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vah[…] and asked for guidance regarding astrological signs and asked if it was appropriate for someone to say that such and such is their zodiac symbol. She also asked what the reality was of the effects of the sun and other stars as mentioned by the Promised Messiahif. In his letter dated March 13, 2021, Huzoorahreplied as follows:
“[…] Heavenlyconstellationwere mentioned in various places in the Holy Qur'an. It says, for example:
And We have placed constellations in the sky
"'And indeed We have made mansions of (stars) in the sky.' (Surah al-Hijr, Ch. 15:v. 17)
"It goes on to say:
Blessed be the one who made constellations in the sky
"'Blessed is He who established mansions in heaven.' (Surat al-Furqan, Ch. 25: V. 62)
"Then it means:
And the name of the zodiac
"'By the sky which has abodes (of stars).' (Surat al-Buruj, Ch. 85:v. 2)
“Also, Allah Almighty has extensively mentioned celestial objects like the sun, the moon and the planets in the Holy Quran.
"ImAhadithof the Holy ProphetAnThese celestial bodies are also mentioned with different connotations. TheAhadithMention, for example, that the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius (who was a great expert in the study of the stars) inferred the coming of the Holy Prophet from the movement of the starsAnhad taken place or that the time of its appearance was near (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Bad' al-Wahy). Then [a statement of Qatada] is also mentioned in aHadiththat the stars were created to adorn the heavens to smite the satans and as a sign to aid in navigation, and that whoever tried to find a different interpretation erred and engaged in what was beyond his knowledge . (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Bad’ al-Khalq, Bab Fin-Nujum)
“Similarly [the Holy ProphetAn] said whoever learned from stars attained a share of magic (His name is Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Tibb, Bab Fin-Nuyum). Then the Holy ProphetAnalso said that the solar or lunar eclipse had nothing to do with the birth or death of anyone (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Jumu'ah, Bab al-Salat fi Kusuf al-Shams). However, the solar and lunar eclipses were described by the Holy ProphetAnas two singular signs of the coming of his Mahdi, fulfilled in full splendor in their time and putting their stamp of approval on the authenticity of the Mohammedan Messiah. (The name of al-Daraqutni, Kitab al-Eidain, Bab Sifati Salat al-Khusufi wa al-Kusuf wa Hai’atihima)
"In view of these teachings of the Qur'an and Hadith, the scholars ofummaregard belief in the effects of celestial bodies on terrestrial events without divine will as equivalentrevoke. They also call divination, the idea of gaining knowledge of the unseen from the movements of these celestial bodies, evil and a grave sin. However, they believe in determining time or an era and the changing of the seasons by the speed and movement of celestial bodies.
"The promised Messiahif, who was the most ardent follower of the Holy ProphetAn, has given the most insightful and insightful view of celestial objects in his writings. In response to an objection from his opponents, HuzoorifConditions:
"We do not believe that either the sun, the moon, or any of the stars is self-governing and independent in their actions, or exerts any influence themselves, or has any willful authority over any effects such as transmitting the light, or causing the rain, or growth of bodies or organisms or of fruits […] And at the same time we believe that the properties of things are a reality and that they have effects, by the permission of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, who created nothing in vain […] And the truth is that the effects of the sun, the moon and the stars are things that people observe all the time and every moment and there is no room for them but to deny them, for example, the changing of the seasons and their circumstances and each season associated with certain diseases, well-known plants and famous insects is something you know very well […] And you know that when the sun rises and spreads brightly, there is no doubt that it has a special effect on plants, inanimate objects and animals […] Then when the sun sets at dusk there are others at that time types of effects. The bottom line is that the distance from the sun or its proximity has a significant and powerful effect on trees, fruits, rocks and people's temperament [...] And there are so many properties of the moon that farmers and farmers know [...] And theRelationshiphave come to a consensus that the best-built peoples are made up of those living along the equator, and such a special effect is the reason for their perfect health and heightened understanding and wisdom.” (Hamamat-ul-Bushra [Urdu translation][…])
“The Mention of the HeavenlyconstellationHuzoorifConditions:
„‘“Rahman”is that being, the source of abundant blessings and the fountainhead of eternal good, who established mansions in heaven, and placed in those mansions the sun and moon, giving light to all creatures, without distinguishing between believers and unbelievers.” (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Part IV, footnote number 11, p. 211)
"Then Huzoorifsays about the effect of these celestial bodies:
"'These stars are not merely ornamental, as is commonly supposed, but have certain effects, as can be gathered from the Word"hifzan' mentioned in the verse:
And We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and protection
"'["And We adorned the lowest heaven with lamps (for light) and for protection." (Surat Ha Mim al-Sajdah, Ch. 41:v.13)].
"'This means that these stars play a role in protecting and maintaining the order of the universe, the same role that medicine and food play in human health. However, [her role] has no part in divine omnipotence; rather, all these things are dead before the Supreme Power of God. These things cannot do anything except by Allah's command. Their effects are in the hands of Almighty God. Therefore, the real truth is that stars have effects that manifest on earth. Therefore, no one in the world is more ignorant than someone who appreciates the effects of violets and lilies and turbit and scammoniesCassia-Fistelbut denies the workings of the stars, which are the most important place of manifestation of the splendor and wonder of the hand of nature, and of which God Himself used the word: "hifzan“.
“'These people, totally immersed in ignorance, regard this intellectual dispensation asrevoke. They do not know that the law of Almighty God in the world is that He has not created anything in vain, useless or ineffective. Since he explained that everything was created for mankind, please explain, what is the use of mankind that the lowest heaven is filled with millions of stars? Therefore, God's statement that all these things were created for mankind certainly draws our attention to the fact that these objects have special effects that are manifested in human life and civilization, such as what the classical thinkers wrote 'that the earth was very uneven in the beginning, and God leveled it with the influence of the stars.' (Tohfah-e-Golarviyyah, Spiritual Treasurer Vol. 17, footnote, pp. 282-283)
"Therefore it can be concluded from the above excerpts that the moon, the sun and other stars and planets in the sky are mentioned, as well as their various states and positionsconstellationcreated by Allah Most High are not without purpose. Where, on the one hand, the movements of these celestial bodies cause the change of day and night on our earth, years, months and days are formed and the seasons change, there, on the other hand, these objects also influence the earth and its inhabitants in many other ways. We observe some of its implications in our daily lives, and there are many of its new implications that science is discovering every day and many that it may never discover at all.
"Astronomers and astrologers calculated the path of the sun between the constellations and the orbit of the earth around the sun and - corresponding to 12 months - they divided the year into 12 periods and called them the 12 astrological signs [constellation]. There does not appear to be anything wrong with believing that a person has a particular astrological sign according to their date of birth, but the claims of gaining insights into the unseen from these imaginary and hypothetical astrological signs or next life predictions are all wild guesses and pure guesses. It has nothing to do with reality or pure knowledge of the unseen.”
FAQs
What does Quran say about the stars? ›
The stars are mentioned thirteen times in the Holy Quran, likened to the role of the sun as a light, due to their illuminating nature in the night sky and often associated with the moon, as a symbol of the Ottoman Empire and then Islam. The stars are seen as guides. stars are seen as guides.
What star sign was Prophet Muhammad? ›Which zodiac sign is Prophet Muhammad? Prophet Muhammad is a Cancer zodiac sign, which belongs to the Water element of astrology, along with Pisces and Scorpio. The symbol of Cancer is a crab, which represents a protective nature. As a Cancer zodiac sign, Prophet Muhammad is loyal.
Why did Muslims study astrology? ›Some medieval Muslims took a keen interest in the study of astrology, despite the Islamic prohibitions partly because they considered the celestial bodies to be essential, partly because the dwellers of desert-regions often travelled at night, and relied upon knowledge of the constellations for guidance in their ...
What are the zodiac signs in Arabic? ›| Aries 20 March – 20 April | برج الحمل |
|---|---|
| Sagittarius 21 Nov – 21 Dec | برج القوس |
| Capricorn 21 Dec – 20 Jan | برج الجدي |
| Aquarius 21 Jan – 19 Feb | برج الدلو |
| Pisces19 Feb – 20 March | برج الحوت |
Astrology in the Hadith
Narrated by Abu Dawud, it is suggested that Muhammad stated "Whoever seeks knowledge from the stars is seeking one of the branches of witchcraft…”; that of which is inherently forbidden in Islam.
Sirius (al-shiʿrā) is the only star mentioned by its proper name in the Qurʾān — q 53, al-Najm, “the star,” verse 49 says: “and he who is the lord of al-shiʿrā.” There are, in fact, two al-shiʿrās, Sirius and Procyon, which are, in Arabic star-lore, both sisters of Suhayl (Canopus), and resided in the northern sky.
What star do Muslims pray to? ›Muslim sailors called it al-Qiblah and it is found in the constellation they named al-Rakabah. We know it as the North Star, found in the Little Dipper. Once you do this a few times, it becomes really easy to spot the north star and know the qiblah.
What are the big signs in Islam? ›- "Constantinople will be conquered by Muslims";
- "the Antichrist will appear and travel to Jerusalem";
- "a messianic figure (in some instances Jesus, and in some instances the Mahdi) will come to earth",
- "kill the Antichrist", and.
- "convert the masses to Islam";
With the story of the birth of Christ coinciding with this date, many Christian symbols for Christ use the astrological symbol for Pisces, the fishes. The figure Christ himself bears many of the temperaments and personality traits of a Pisces, and is thus considered an archetype of the Piscean.
How important is astronomy for Muslims? ›Astronomy has thus had a central place in Islamic culture. Astronomers have contributed to the construction and running of mosques, taught in madrasas, and advised rulers. In addition, they have also contributed to global science through planetary models and calculation.
What did the Muslims learn about astronomy? ›
The heliocentric model eventually proposed by Copernicus in the 16th century was built on this body of work. The math required for astronomy was also advanced in large part by Islamic scholars. They developed spherical trigonometry and algebra, two forms of math fundamental to precise calculations of the stars.
What does shooting star mean in Islam? ›The Shooting Stars represent the good that have to deal with the evil. In many areas where the Quran mentioned the Stars, it is illustrated as a beautiful creature that adds life to the art of life. A Shooting Star of course acts as missiles that drive away evil.
Does Egypt have a zodiac? ›Like western zodiac, Egyptian zodiac consists of 12 signs. However, Egyptian astrology assigns certain days of the month to each sign. As it was previously mentioned, ancient Egyptians named their zodiac signs after their gods and goddesses, except for the Nile.
Who named the 12 zodiac signs? ›On the basis of their observations and calculations, the Babylonians divided the sky into twelve areas, each of which was assigned a figure, a name, and a specific meaning. This became the zodiac with its twelve zodiac signs such as Aries, Gemini, Virgo, or Leo.
What does astrology mean in Arabic? ›عِلْم التَّنْجيم (Translation of astrology from the Cambridge English-Arabic Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
Are zodiac signs accurate? ›Astrology has not demonstrated its effectiveness in controlled studies and has no scientific validity, and is thus regarded as pseudoscience.
Are zodiac signs true to your personality? ›Astrology is founded on understanding the positions of the stars, which seems like a scientific enough pursuit in itself. But is there any science to back up whether astrology impacts our personality and our lives? Here's the short Answer: No. None whatsoever.
What is Prophet Muhammad birth date? › How many planets are there according to Islam? ›Cosmography. Islamic historian Michael Cook states that the "basic structure" of the Islamic universe according to scholars interpretation of the verses of the Quran and Islamic traditions was of seven heavens above seven earths.
What is 53 in Islam? ›An-Najm (Arabic: النجم, an-najm; meaning: The Star) is the 53rd chapter (surah) of the Quran, with 62 verses (āyāt). The surah opens with the oath of the Divine One swearing by every one of the stars, as they descend and disappear beneath the horizon, that Muhammad is indeed God's awaited Messenger.
What stars did Muslims name? ›
The three central stars were collectively known as the String of Pearls (an-nazm or an-nizam), the Belt of al-Jawza' (nitaq al-jawza') or the Jeweled Belt of al-Jawza' (mintaqat al-jawza').
What is the North Star in Islam? ›One you may know as Polaris, our current North Star; in Arabia, this was called the Goat Kid (al-jady الجدي) . The others were a pair of stars called the Two Wild Cow Calves (al-farqadān الفرقدان); today these are known as Pherkad (from al-farqadān) and Kochab (from kawkab, meaning “star”).
What does Orion mean in Islam? ›In medieval Muslim astronomy, Orion was known as al-jabbar, "the giant". Orion's sixth brightest star, Saiph, is named from the Arabic, saif al-jabbar, meaning "sword of the giant".
What does Islam say about multiverse? ›According to a principle championed by the 11th-century Muslim theologian Al-Ghazali, the world is re-created every instant in a continuous act of divine intervention.
How many years will Islam last? ›In more than 15 ahadith found in the Sahih of Imam Bukhari, Sunnan of Imam Abu Dawwud, Jamii of Imam Tirmidhi and others, the prophet (saws) said Islam has a specific lifespan on earth, these Ahadith state Allah gave Islam 1500 years then relatively soon after this He would establish the Hour, we are now in the year ...
What are the 2 symbols of Islam? ›Crescent and Star: The faith of Islam is symbolized by the Crescent and Star. The Crescent is the early phase of the moon and represents progress. The star signifies illumination with the light of knowledge.
What does the Quran say about signs of Allah? ›In the Qur'an, all these beings that bear witness are designated as “signs,” meaning “tested evidence, absolute knowledge and expression of truth.” Therefore, the signs of God comprise all the beings in the universe in that they disclose and communicate the being and attributes of God.
What is Jesus full name? ›Jesus' name in Hebrew was “Yeshua” which translates to English as Joshua.
Who is God of zodiac? ›Aion (Greek: Αἰών) is a Hellenistic deity associated with time, the orb or circle encompassing the universe, and the zodiac.
What is Jesus last name? ›We often refer to Jesus as Jesus Christ, and some people assume that Christ is Jesus's last name. But Christ is actually a title, not a last name. So if Christ isn't a last name, what was Jesus's last name? The answer is Jesus didn't have a formal last name or surname like we do today.
Is there a connection between astronomy and religion? ›
Astronomy and religion have long been closely intertwined, particularly during the early history of astronomy. Archaeological evidence of many ancient cultures demonstrates that celestial bodies were the subject of worship during the Stone and Bronze Ages.
Which prophet is expert in astronomy? ›Idrees was expert in astronomy. Prophet before Muhammad was Isaac.
What did Muslims contribute to mathematics and astronomy? ›Muslim mathematicians invented the present arithmetical decimal system and the fundamental operations connected with it – addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, raising to a power, and extracting the square root and the cubic root.
What does Islam say about how the universe was created? ›Big Bang? The Qur'an says that "the heavens and the earth were joined together as one unit, before We clove them asunder" (21:30). Following this big explosion, Allah "turned to the sky, and it had been (as) smoke. He said to it and to the earth: 'Come together, willingly or unwillingly.
Who invented astrology? ›It originated in Mesopotamia (c. 3rd millennium bc) and spread to India, but it developed its Western form in Greek civilization during the Hellenistic period. Astrology entered Islamic culture as part of the Greek tradition and was returned to European culture through Arabic learning during the Middle Ages.
What is the difference between astronomy and astrology? ›Astronomy is the study of the universe and its contents outside of Earth's atmosphere. Astronomers examine the positions, motions, and properties of celestial objects. Astrology attempts to study how those positions, motions, and properties affect people and events on Earth.
What is the evil eye called in Islam? ›In Islam, the evil eye, or al-'ayn العين, also عين الحسودة), is a common belief that individuals have the power to cause harm to people, animals or objects, by looking at them in a way that indicates jealousy.
What is the 8 pointed star in Islam? ›The Rub-el-Hizb (Arabic: ربع الحزب, rubʿ al-ḥizb), also known as the Islamic Star, is an Islamic symbol. It is in the shape of an octagram, represented as two overlapping squares. It has been found on a number of emblems and flags. The main purpose of this dividing system is to facilitate the recitation of the Quran.
What does Islam say about meteors? ›Qur'ān 72 records that jinn (beings made of fire) used to sit on shihābs (meteors) and listen to heavenly conversations (cf. also Qur'ān 15: 18, 37: 10). God would periodically throw them down and this action generated the appearance of fireballs (ṭabarī XXIX: 110–111).
What religion believes in the zodiac? ›One of the religions that influenced the zodiac was Taoism. In the Taoist beliefs, they use constellations and space to determine a person's "future." This applies to the zodiac because in Chinese astrology, they believe that the positions of the things in space can affect a person's destiny.
What is the oldest zodiac? ›
Babylonian astrology is the earliest recorded organized system of astrology, arising in the 2nd millennium BC.
What does the Torah say about zodiac signs? ›The Torah contains no references to astrology, and in the Nevi'im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings), only obscure references to Babylonian astrologers exist.
Who is the father of zodiac signs? ›The father of the zodiac, Capricorn is the quintessential father figure who loves responsibility. Taking up responsibility makes them feel worthy and they love to invest time in their loved ones.
Who named the Zodiac killer? ›The Zodiac coined this name in a series of taunting letters and cards that he mailed to regional newspapers, in which he threatened killing sprees and bombings if they were not printed.
Is zodiac Chinese or Japanese? ›Originating from China, the zodiac and its variations remain popular in many East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, such as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia, and Thailand.
Is zodiac signs allowed in Islam? ›Although astrology is not generally permissible in Islam, early Muslims relied on the sun and moon to determine things important such as the direction of Mecca, fasting times for Ramadan, and the beginning and end of each month.
What is the Arabic name of star? ›| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Scientific star name |
|---|---|---|
| Algenib | al-Janb | Gamma Pegasi |
| Algieba | al-Jab'hah | Gamma Leonis |
| Algol | (Ra'as) al-Ghūl | Beta Persei, the "Demon Star" |
| Algorab | al-Ghurāb | Delta Corvi |
An-Najm (Arabic: النجم, an-najm; meaning: The Star) is the 53rd chapter (surah) of the Quran, with 62 verses (āyāt). The surah opens with the oath of the Divine One swearing by every one of the stars, as they descend and disappear beneath the horizon, that Muhammad is indeed God's awaited Messenger.
Why do Muslims use the moon and stars? ›WHAT is the origin of the crescent moon symbol seen throughout Islamic cultures? ISLAM emerged in Arabia where travel along the desert trade routes was largely by night, and navigation depended upon the position of the moon and stars. The moon thus represents the guidance of God on the path through life.
What is star called in Islam? ›The Rub el Hizb (Islamic Star) is used to facilitate recitation of the Quran. The symbol is also found on a number of emblems and flags especially the state of Fez during the Marinid Sultanate. In Unicode: ( U+06DE ۞ ) Khatim. Khatim symbol (Black Star) is known as the seal of the Prophet Muhammad.
What religion believes in the stars? ›
Astrotheology, astral mysticism, astral religion, astral or stellar theology (also referred to as astral or star worship) is the worship of the stars (individually or together as the night sky), the planets, and other heavenly bodies as deities, or the association of deities with heavenly bodies.
What Quran says about black hole? ›As well as depictions of the Day of Judgment, the verse below may also be pointing to this scientific discovery about black holes: “When the stars are extinguished.” (Qur'an, 77:8) This fact may be referred to in the verse about stars, and this is another important item of information demonstrating that the Qur'an is ...
What does the six pointed star mean in Islam? ›The six-pointed star in the Islamic Middle East is a symbol of the ring or seal of the Prophet Sulayman (the Biblical King Solomon). And, according to Islamic tradition, he was famous for his wisdom and supernatural abilities.
What are the 5 colors of Islam? ›Five of the colours that are mentioned by name are terms of the pre- Islamic vocabulary of Arabic, abyad (white), 'aswad (black), 'ahmar (red), 'aṣfar (yellow) and 'akhḍar (green), while other colours are noticeably rare in the Koran (Devin 1999).
What is the symbol for Muslims? ›Crescent and Star: The faith of Islam is symbolized by the Crescent and Star. The Crescent is the early phase of the moon and represents progress. The star signifies illumination with the light of knowledge.
Why does Islam use the moon calendar? ›The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar used by Muslims around the world to determine the timing of important religious observations such as Ramadan and Hajj.
What is 33 in Islam? ›According to Al-Ghazali the dwellers of Heaven will exist eternally in a state of being age 33. Islamic prayer beads are generally arranged in sets of 33, corresponding to the widespread use of this number in dhikr rituals.
What does the ☪ emoji mean? ›Published August 25, 2021. The Star and Crescent emoji ☪️ portrays a star and crescent moon symbol, which is often used as a symbol of the religion of Islam. It is commonly used to represent Islam, Muslims, and Islamic countries.
What religion doesn't believe in astrology? ›In terms of astrology believing, Christianity is the only religion that stands out. The Bible expressly forbids people from trusting astrology. Despite this, the western world has many astrologers.
What is it called when you believe in God but not religious? ›The religiously unaffiliated now make up just over one quarter of the U.S. population. While the Nones include agnostics and atheists, most people in this category retain a belief in God or some higher power. Many describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious,” or “SBNR,” as researchers refer to them.
What religion believes you get a planet? ›
The popular notion that Mormons believe they will receive their own planet when they die is tackled in the essay, "Becoming Like God". It says Mormons believe humans can become like God in eternity but the "cartoonish image of people receiving their own planets" is not how they see it.