Islam and Astrology

    Within this post I will discuss the reasons why astrology is largely rejected within Islam.

    Even though astrology was often practiced within early Islamic societies, according to David Cook, Muslim scholars began to doubt the religious acceptability of astrology during the tenth century (p. 76-77). Occasionally, astrologers made incorrect predictions, for example, the prediction of a deluge of fire and water which the Ghaznavid historian al-‘Utbi predicted on August 17, 1186. Cook suggests that this prediction was recorded all over the Muslim world, as well as in Europe, and when the prediction did not occur it caused a large number of treatises attacking astrology. Therefore, due to ridicule by religious leaders, astrology was largely rejected within Islam - other than within some Sufi groups, particularly those based on the thought of Muhyi al-Din Ibn al-‘Arabi.

    One of the reasons why horoscopes and astrology are largely unpopular within Islam is because within the Qur’an it suggests that predicting the future is forbidden: 

    ‘Prohibited to you... that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave disobedience. This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me.’ (Qur'an 5:3)

    It is important to note that according to divining arrows were kept at the Ka’bah to make supernatural inquiries about courses of action. Therefore, they were used to make predictions about future events. It can also be suggested that those who claim to ‘see into the future’ are claiming that they have knowledge of the unseen. The Qur’an teaches that ‘None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah…’ (Qur'an 27:65)  Abdurrahman suggests that ‘… anyone who believes that he possesses such knowledge is certainly claiming the acquisition of a Divine attribute that Allah (alone) possesses.’ Within Islam only Allah has knowledge of the unseen, consequently, astrology is largely rejected by Muslims today.

Part Two: Christianity and Predestination

     Within my last post I began to discuss Christian views regarding astrology, with reference to the Bible and my findings from Glendinning and Bruce. However, within this post I will discuss astrology and the Christian understanding of predestination

    John Dool suggests that many Christians are uncomfortable with the theory of predestination: ‘Ultimate destiny of the human person is foreordained… [therefore] it seems to call into question both human freedom and the justice of God.’ Christians may be uncomfortable with the notion of predestination because if our lives are predetermined why does God allow us to suffer? If astrology implies that our future is already determined then we have no freewill.

    In my opinion, this is one of the problems with astrology and horoscopes. If my 2012 astrological prediction said that I was destined to start a new and highly paid job, it would not matter how many qualifications I’d gained or how much experience I had had completed, because it is destined. I believe that horoscopes may give people false hope. There is also a danger when people start living their lives based on what they’ve read in a magazine or on an Internet site. Horoscopes may give people false hope that something may happen in their life when in fact, the horoscope is a general prediction which can apply to virtually anyone.

Part One: Christianity and Astrology

                                                                                      

    Many Christians reject astrology – which began as a form of fortune telling - because particular verses within the Bible suggest that it is from the occult. Within 2 Kings 21:6 for example, practices associated with divination are said to anger God: ‘He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced divination sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.’ Also, within Isaiah 47:13 the predictions of astrologers are not to be believed. 

    Within their study (which I discussed in my last post) Glendinning and Bruce found that committed weekly Church-goers largely rejected alternative spirituality such as horoscopes, fortune telling, tarot cards and astrology. Participants who attended Church regularly were not likely to use divination by means of horoscopes or astrology or view them as important because these practices could be seen as irreligious or heretical. Therefore, those who have ‘increased sympathy’ for alternative spirituality are less likely to be regular Church-goers.

    It is also evident within Christian websites online what many Christians are against astrology and divination. Some interesting examples are christiananswers.net and catholic.com, which provide information on why Christians should not practice or use astrology. Similarly, there is a Facebook group entitled 'Christians Coming Against Astrology, Horoscopes, or any Spirit of Divination' where people can discuss the reasons why Christians should not practice astrology. There are also posts online from people who are concerned that astrology or other ways of predicting the future is against their religion, for example, 'Is reading horoscopes against the Catholic religion?' 

    It is clear that within Christianity the negativity towards astrology – and possibly horoscopes – has originated from the Biblical verses such as those above; but why is this? Why do many Christians today reject astrological/horoscope predictions?