What is Islamic astrology? Understand with a story from the heart
Brother, tell me one thing… have you ever felt that the stars know something about you? Meaning, as soon as something bad happens, someone definitely says – “Brother, your stars are bad.” Now I myself have been a victim of this. Once, my first love in college broke up. My heart was so broken that I lost sleep at night. Now friends said – “Your Mars is heavy.”
I started thinking – who is this Mars brother? And how did it become heavy? Then someone told me, “There is mention of some stars in Islam too.”
Now I had a lot of fun. I thought let me see what Islamic astrology is.
Let’s talk – what is Islamic astrology?
Now look, Islamic astrology is not such astrology as the pandits sitting on TV tell the horoscope – “Today, Saturn is heavy in your Kundali. Eat curd and sugar while leaving the house.” No brother, Islam does not believe in all this.
Islamic astrology is actually that in which the movements of the sky, stars, moon and sun are observed – but not just to tell a person’s fate, but to decide the calendar, the month of Ramzan, the date of Eid, and the direction of the Qibla.
Is astrology allowed in Islam?
Oh, this is a very complicated question. But to put it simply – no, brother!
Astrology that “predicts events” is strictly prohibited in Islam. Why? Because Allah knows everything. It is clearly written in the Quran, “Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, except Allah.”
Now think – if we say that my marriage is not happening because of Mars, then this is like doubting Allah’s plan, isn’t it?
But yes, observing the movements of stars – like when to offer namaaz, whether the moon is visible or not, the time of Hajj – all this comes under Islamic astronomy. And it is completely correct and acceptable.
Funny story – When Abbu made me wear a talisman
My father is a simple person, but when I was not getting a job, one day he said – “Come son, let’s meet Maulvi sahab.” I too went quietly. As soon as I reached there, Maulvi sahab took out a talisman and gave it to me – “786 is written on this, wear it all the time.”
Abbu said – “Now son, you will see, you will get a job!”
I was thinking – is this Islamic astrology or talisman-witchcraft?
Later I understood, all these things are related to society and culture. Not religion.
So what all is included in Islamic astrology?
Let us explain clearly now:
Islamic Calendar (Hijri Calendar): The whole calendar is based on the moon. When the moon is visible, a new month begins. The science of astrology is based on the movement of the moon.
Times of prayer: They are decided by looking at the position of the sun – morning, afternoon, evening. All this is done by astronomical calculations.
Eid and Ramzan: Decided only when the moon is visible.
Qibla direction: Stars and astronomy are also used to determine the direction towards Mecca.
Looking at all these things, we can say that Islamic astrology is a kind of religious astronomy. No predictions, no “lucky numbers”, no “Mangal Dosh”.
Then why do people believe in Islamic astrology?
Simple – humans like to believe. When the situation is bad, we want to hold on to something – some hope, some solace. And that’s when we get entangled in fate, astrology, maps, planets, constellations.
Some people sell such things by giving Islamic names – “Islamic horoscope“, “Quranic taweez”, “Marriage with Maqbool Dua” – brother, all this is business.
Basically, Islam says – work hard, pray, and trust Allah.
Do stars tell our fate?
No friend, stars just shine. They can show the way – like travelers in the olden days used to find their way by looking at them – but they are not the reason for your love betrayal, your boss scolding you, or a breakup in life.
The Islamic perspective holds that Allah controls fate. It is a person’s hard work and intention that takes him to great heights.
Is there any mention of astrology in the Quran?
Now this is a very interesting question. Planets and stars are mentioned numerous times in the Quran. But nowhere does it say that these planets determine the fate of a person. Rather, these planets are mentioned to show how wonderful and well-planned this universe created by Allah is.
One verse says:
“And We made the stars beautify those who gaze upon them by placing them in the sky.”
(Surah Al-Hijr, 16)
Meaning? The stars are for decoration, to show the way – not to predict your future of your job, marriage or promotion.
Now think, if the Quran does not support astrology as a predictor, then why do we fall for it?
Islamic astrology vs traditional astrology – what is the difference?
There is a huge difference brother. Take a look at this table:
Points Islamic Astrology (Astronomy) Traditional Astrology (Hindu/Western)
Base Astronomical calculations, Scientific data Planetary-star based predictions
Time setting, Qibla, and a purpose calendar Marriage, health advice, and predictions
Religion Limited use for religious purposes Deeply religious, linked to karmic principles
Islamic belief Acceptable (in limited form) Forbidden
Now think for yourself – when there is no place for predictions in Islamic astrology, then why do you read “Islamic horoscopes” every week?
Is prediction a sin in Islam?
Yes, absolutely! And this is no joke.
It is clearly mentioned in the Hadiths that if a person goes to a ‘Kahin’ (prophet) and believes in him, his prayers of 40 days will not be accepted.
Now tell me, your prayers will also not be effective if you just believe in one prediction. And think, just to entertain ourselves we put our entire faith at stake.
What to do when we don’t find a way out in life?
Many people ask this question – “Brother, what to do when everything is going wrong?”
So look, I was also standing there once. I was neither getting a job nor was my relationship working. “Is my luck bad?” I used to ask myself.
But then I understood – it wasn’t my luck that was bad, it was my thinking that was wrong. I had lost faith in myself. When I kept hard work and prayer together, things started getting better on their own.
Islam says – “Innallaha ma’asabirin.”
That is, “Allah is with those who are patient.”
Are Islamic astrological concepts like taweez, maps, and wazifas included?
This is a very confusing part. Let’s talk straight – taweez, maps and wazifas are not Islamic astrology. Yes, some people wear amulets with Quranic verses, but that too only when there is no Shirk (believing someone else along with Allah) in it.
The condition in Islam is – every treatment, every solution should be with faith in Allah. Believing any amulet to be more powerful than Allah – is straight up Shirk.
What is the right path from the Islamic point of view?
Work hard, but don’t expect from the stars.
Wear amulets if they have verses of Allah – but don’t make them God.
Pray daily – but the condition is that you should have the same amount of faith.
When the situation worsens – make your Namaaz permanent, increase your friendship with the Quran.
Allah never turns you back empty-handed, he just delays so that he can test your patience.
History of Islamic Astronomy – A Glimpse
Now let’s do a little time travel – this time not to see the stars, but to know the history. Friend, should I tell you one thing? The Muslim scientists of the olden times were experts in this astronomy. Meaning, they made such discoveries that even today’s NASA would salute them.
Al-Biruni, Al-Farghani, Al-Khwarizmi – these names are not just limited to books, they measured the movement of the moon and the sun, set the Islamic calendar, and gave the world a new map for determining direction.
Al-Biruni measured the circumference of the earth in the 11th century itself – and that too without any supercomputer! Just with the help of the stars. Just think, how advanced they used to think.
The purpose of all of them was only one – to determine the right time and direction for prayers. All this comes under Islamic astronomy – and there is no magic, astrology, or key to luck in it.
Where does Islamic astrology stand in today’s era?
Now the question arises – where does Islamic astrology stand in today’s world of social media, WhatsApp universe and online clerics?
So brother, the truth is that there is a lot of confusion on the internet. Some say – “Learn Islamic numerology”, some say – “Know your future from the Quran!” And Google also shows everything.
But remember – just because something has “Islamic” written in front of it, it does not become Islamic. It is necessary to match that thing with the Quran and Hadith.
Anything that interferes with the knowledge of Allah – cannot be Islamic.
Science vs. Faith – Whom to believe?
Now this question is very interesting. Do you consider astronomy as science or a part of faith?
Look, as long as you understand it as Islamic astronomy – that is, calculations related to the moon, sun, namaz, Ramzan – then it is science. And Islam also does not deny it. Rather it accepts it.
But as soon as you add predictions, taweez, lucky numbers, timing of marriage to it – it is no longer science, but an illusion.
Islam explains this difference very well – adopt ilm (knowledge), leave the knowledge of the unseen to Allah alone.
When prayers don’t work, why do we run to astrology?
To be honest? Because we are all in a hurry. We want results right away; for example, Maggi takes two minutes to make.And when we don’t get an answer even after praying in two days, we think – “Maybe I should do something else.”
That’s where our race begins – Pandit, Maulvi, Horoscope, Map, Taweez…
But friend, prayer is not a delivery app. Its answer may take time, and sometimes the answer may be ‘no’. But this doesn’t mean that Allah is not listening.
By believing in astrology, we are saying – “It is not Allah, but the stars who are the masters of my life.” Think about it, is it right to do so?
Can we learn something from Islamic astrology?
Yes, one thing for sure – patience and faith.
When we understand astronomy from the Islamic perspective, we understand one thing very well – everything in this universe is running according to a rule. The sun rises every day, the moon changes every month, and the stars always remain in their place.
Just like that, our life is also running according to the rules made by Allah. Yes, we pray, we work hard, and we have faith. If you keep going with all these, you will definitely find a way.
The result – Islamic astrology is not magic, but a science
So now when someone asks you – “What is Islamic astrology?” – you can smile and say – “Brother, it is the shine of the stars, not the key to luck.”
Sometimes there are stars to see the way, but the destination is only in the hands of Allah.
Conclusion: Look at the stars, but trust only Allah
Friend, whenever there is a new turn in life, we often look for answers – sometimes in the stars, sometimes in the Pandit, sometimes in Google.
But the real answer lies within us – in our hard work, in our prayers, and in our faith in Allah.
So the next time someone says – “Your stars are bad” – then smile, and say, “My Lord has a good plan.”
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Is Islamic astrology really astrology?
No, it is not astrology but astronomy, which is used to help in religious activities – like the beginning of Ramadan, the time of prayer, etc.
- Is wearing amulets okay in Islam?
If the amulet has a Quranic verse and there is no shirk in it, then some Ulema allow it. But relying on it too much is wrong.
- Is horoscope reading haram in Islam?
Yes, because it is like interfering with Allah’s knowledge. Only Allah knows the future.
- Can Islamic astrology decide marriage or career?
Absolutely not. Islamic astrology is not used in marriage or job decisions.
- Were Muslim scientists ahead in astronomy?
Yes, very ahead. They made great contributions to the Islamic calendar, Qibla, and astronomical calculations.