Star signs?

format_quote Originally Posted by Al-Zaara

I was referring to an hadith I read lightyears ago

Lightyears is actually a measure of distance, not time. Sorry, but it's true!

I recommend you to read the following book called The Fundamentals of Tawheed by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, particularly Chapter 6, as it explains why astrology is not allowed in Islam and gives a history behind it aswell. You can download the book from here:

http://www.islamhouse.com/p/51847

Below are some extracts from the chapter for the benefit of members, as Tawheed represents the core of Islam and deserves that we study it to avoid falling into major mistakes.

This form of astrology is considered kufr (disbelief) because it destroys Tawhid al-Asma was-Sifat (the unity of Allah's Names and Attributes). Such beliefs give the planets, stars and the galaxies some of God's unique qualities, the most prominent among them being control over destiny (Qadar). Those who practice astrology are also in kufr because they claim knowledge of the future which is only known to Allah. By attributing to themselves some of Allah's divine qualities of knowledge, they falsely offer those who believe in them an opportunity to avoid harm that Allah has destined for them and to gain good that Allah has not destined for them. Astrology is also classified as haram (forbidden) based on the hadith of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) in which the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said,

"Whoever acquires knowledge of any branch of astrology, has acquired knowledge of a branch of magic. The more he increases in that knowledge, the more he increases in sin." (Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah)

[...]


The Islamic Ruling on Horoscopes

Not only is the practice of astrology haram as mentioned earlier, but visiting an astrologist and listening to his predictions, buying books on astrology or reading one's horoscope are also forbidden! Since astrology is mainly used for predicting the future, those who practice it are considered fortunetellers. Consequently, one who seeks his horoscope comes under the ruling contained in the Prophet's statement:

"The Salah of whoever approaches a fortuneteller and asks him about anything will not be accepted for forty days and nights." (Muslim)

As mentioned in the previous chapter, the punishment in this hadith is simply for approaching and asking the astrologist even if one is in doubt about the truth of his statements. If one is in doubt about the truth or falsehood of astrological information, he is in doubt about whether or not others know the unseen and the future besides Allah. This is a form of shirk because Allah has clearly stated:

"With Him are the keys to the unseen and none knows (the unseen) it except Him..." [Qur'an 6:59]

"Say: 'None in the heavens or earth knows the unseen except Allah...' " [Qur'an 27:65]

If, however, one believes in the predictions of his horoscope, whether spoken by an astrologist or written in books of astrology, he falls directly into kufr (disbelief), as stated by the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam):

"Whoever approaches an oracle or fortuneteller and believes in what he says, has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad." (Ahmad and Abu Dawud)

Like the previous hadith, this literally refers to the fortuneteller, but it is just as applicable to the astrologist. Both claim knowledge of the future. The astrologist's claim is just as opposed to Tawhid as the ordinary fortuneteller. He claims that people's personalities are determined by the stars, and their future actions and the events of their lives are written in the stars [...]

True Muslims are therefore obliged to stay far away from these areas. Thus, rings, chains and the like that have the signs of the Zodiac on them should not be worn, even if one does not believe in them. They are part and parcel of a fabricated system which propagates kufr and should be done away with entirely. No believing Muslim should ask another what his sign is, or attempt to guess his sign. Nor should he or she read horoscope columns in newspapers or listen to them read. And, any Muslim who allows astrological predictions to determine his actions, should seek Allah's forgiveness and renew his Islam.

May Allaah (swt) protect us from falling into such mistakes and guide us to be true Muslims, Aameen

Astronomy, the study of stars and planets is a legitimate science. Long ago developed by Arab Muslims primarily for navigation purposes. The names of nearly 80% of the visible stars and constellations are Arabic names.

Astrology can best be called stupidity. I doubt if even one astrologer even understands that the locations of the stars are not where we see them. the stars are so far distant that we are just now seeing the light that left them hundreds and even thousands of years ago. Some of the configurations probably never even existed as some of the distan stars may have been destroyed long before the light from it came into a visible configuration with closer stars.

format_quote Originally Posted by Osman

Lightyears is actually a measure of distance, not time. Sorry, but it's true!

Aleykum selam,

Aha, you are back. It is how the expression goes nonetheless. Go and fix the common phrase then, if you like.

format_quote Originally Posted by logic

Assalamu Aleikum

Scientifically speaking, much like the moon has an attraction effect on the earth's water body (sea) thus causing tides, it can be inferred that the stars also have an effect on it (although to a significantly lesser extent).

Since humans are 70% water, is it not reasonable to assume there is a possibility however small of influence from the stars? Since the earth is surrounded by stars and planets, surely there must be some sort of influence?

Lots of people have thought that. The vast distances are inconceivable to even imagine. When we look at the stars we are not seeing the stars, we are seeing the light that left them years ago or even millions of years ago. We are so far from the closest star (after the sun) that each person on earth receives more gravitational pull from a grain of sand in Fiji then we get from the nearest star (after the sun).

format_quote Originally Posted by logic

Fact or fiction?

could very well be a fact!

Physics 152: Gravity



more on tides

format_quote Originally Posted by logic

Fact or fiction?

Stars are a WHOLE lot more dense than grains of sand

Fact

although it is possible to calculate the gravitational pull of Alpha Centuri on earth, it is much too small to be detected with any instruments.

“
Originally Posted by Mr. Hamtastic
Are you saying that gravity from Alpha Centauri is having an effect on me, similar to being close to a radio station and far from another on the same frequency? The pull of Earth's gravity is strong enough that Alpha Centauri's gravity, while there, is ignored?
”
Yes. Gravity is an inverse square relation, and G*Mα Cen/(4.37 light years)2 is a tiny, tiny, number: 1.5×10-13 m/s2. The perceived effect is even smaller than that, however, because the Earth is experiencing almost the exact same acceleration toward Alpha Centauri. When you subtract the Earth's acceleration to Alpha Centauri you are left with a paltry 4.810-23 m/s2 (or smaller).

Source: http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=87320

Now for the numbers The star next closest to earth is Alpha Centuri (actually a 3 star system) it's distance from earth is 41,000,000,000,000 kilometres

Going in a straight line through the earth the furthest apart any 2 objects can be is the Earth's greatest diameter
which is: an insignificant (insignificant in terms of astronomical distances) 12,756 kilometers that is the furthest distance any 2 objects can be away from each other on earth (going in a straight line).

The formula for calculating the pull of gravity is:



Using a mass of .01 grams for a small grain of sand and a distance of 13,000 kilometers plugging the figures into the above formula and doing the math you will find the gravitational effect to be many times greater then what we get from Alpha Centuri calculated at 4.810-23 m/s2

somehow astrology accurate in their clairvoyance..but somehow i know we cant believe all in the astrology reading,thus we must believe in Allah taala..

somehow the reading is true when read it in the mags,newspaper and etc...
i understand people calling horoscopes is shirk that against god....
but somehow like something connected between our birthday with others...birthday...whether compatible with anyone or not...

we can read the astrology as knowledge but not to believe the whole chapters of all astrology....but astrology started since muhammad saw time...the thinker of astrology like ibnu sina, and all the genius thinker...are real great in mathematics, sceince and etc...so i think astrology not that serious...we must know Allah taala always in our heart not to believe anything beside of allah...
:coolalien

السلام عليكم Sevgi,
Erzurumlu İbrahim Hakkı Hazretlerinin Marifetname isimli eserinde burçlarla(starsigns) ilgili bir bölüm olduğunu duydum.Bu zat güvenilir bir Islam alimiydi.Sanıyorum burçlara senin gibi bir bakış açısıyla bakmıştı.
wassalam

It is quite true the horoscopes are very generic and anyone can apply to anybody. They are written to be vague but essentially express thoughts and feelings shared by nearly every person.