and because the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said: ‘This morning, some of My servants believe in Me and others disbelieve in Me. Whoever says, “We have been given rain by Allah’s grace and mercy,” believes in Me and disbelieves in the stars. Whoever says, “We have been given rain because of such-and-such a star,” disbelieves in Me and believes in the stars.’” Another view is that he should be invited to repent: if he repents, he is spared; otherwise, he is executed. This was reported from Ashhab. Yet another view is that he should be rebuked and disciplined for this. This is Mālik’s position in Ibn al-Qāsim’s transmission in the Book of Governance in al-‘Utbiyya.

My position is that these are not conflicting opinions concerning the same circumstances. Rather, the rulings differ according to the circumstances. If the astrologer claims that the stars and their differing risings and settings themselves bring about all these things, conceals this belief, and evidence is established against him, he is executed without being invited to repent, because he is an unbeliever who conceals his unbelief. If, however, he openly professes this belief rather than concealing it, proclaiming it and arguing in its defence, he is invited to repent. If he repents, he is spared; otherwise, he is executed, just like an apostate.

If he believes in Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and acknowledges that the stars and their differing risings and settings have no influence over anything that happens in the world, and that Allah, Mighty and Majestic, brings about all of it, but maintains that Allah has made them indications of what He will do, then he must be rebuked for this belief and repeatedly disciplined until he abandons it, renounces it, and repents of it. This is because it is an innovation that impugns his integrity, disqualifying him from serving as an imam and from giving testimony, as Sahnūn stated in his rulings in the Book of Testimonies in al-‘Utbiyya. No Muslim may believe anything he says. Believing him cannot coexist in a Muslim’s heart with belief in the words of Allah, Mighty and Majestic:

“Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen except Allah.” [al-Naml: 65]

And His words:

“He is the Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His unseen to anyone” [al-Jinn: 26] “except a messenger whom He has chosen.” [al-Jinn: 27]

And His words:

“Indeed, Allah has knowledge of the Hour, sends down the rain, and knows what is in the wombs.” [Luqmān: 34]—to the end of the verse.

It is reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Whoever believes a soothsayer or an astrologer has disbelieved in what was revealed to the heart of Muhammad.” It is possible that