Accordingly, the Messenger of Allah—may blessings and peace be upon him—prohibited performing the prayer at that time in order to sever every pathway that might lead to imitation. Part of the benefit in this becomes evident when we see that there are, even today, polytheistic Sabians who outwardly present themselves as Muslims while venerating the stars. They claim to address their needs to these heavenly bodies, prostrate to them, and slaughter animals in their name.

Moreover, some who affiliate themselves with Islam have actually written works championing the creed of those idolaters—the Sabians and the Brahmins—promoting the worship of the planets as a supposed means to worldly ambitions such as leadership and other gains. This belongs to the same kind of sorcery practiced by the Canaanites, whose kings were the Nimrods, and against whom Allah sent the Friend, Abraham—peace be upon him—with pure monotheism, dedicating all worship exclusively to Allah.

When such conduct still appears in our own era, the wisdom of the Lawgiver’s prohibition stands confirmed.