The crescent moon is hidden from view at the end of the month for either one night or two, as on the twenty-ninth and thirtieth nights. A solar eclipse occurs only while the moon is hidden. Solar and lunar eclipses have their customary nights; whoever knows these knows when the eclipses occur. Similarly, someone who knows how much of the month has passed knows that the crescent moon will appear on a particular night or the night before it. However, knowledge of the crescent moon’s regular pattern is common knowledge shared by everyone, whereas knowledge of the regular pattern of solar and lunar eclipses belongs only to those who know how to calculate the movements of the sun and moon. A calculator’s prediction of an eclipse is neither knowledge of the unseen nor one of the astrological predictions in which he is wrong more often than he is right. Such astrological predictions are assertions made without established knowledge and rest on no sound foundation.

In Sunan Abī Dāwūd, it is reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever acquires a branch of astrology has acquired a branch of magic; the more he acquires of the former, the more he acquires of the latter.”

In Sahīh Muslim, it is reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever goes to a fortune-teller, asks him about something and believes him, Allah will not accept his prayer for forty days.”

Soothsayers have greater knowledge of what they say than astrologers have of their predictions. Yet it is authentically reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade visiting and questioning them. How much more, then, does this apply to an astrologer? We have discussed this at length elsewhere, outside this response.