As for those who deny that any movements of celestial bodies or other phenomena can act as causes, this too is a claim made without knowledge. They have no evidence for it, whether from revelation or otherwise. Indeed, the revealed texts indicate the contrary, as in the hadith reported in the Sunan from ‘Ā’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her:
“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, looked at the moon and said: ‘O ‘Ā’ishah, seek refuge in Allah from the evil of this, for this is the darkness when it settles.’”
Likewise, as mentioned earlier, in the hadith concerning eclipses he stated that “Allah uses them both to frighten His servants.” It has already become clear that the Prophet’s statement, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “They are not eclipsed because of anyone’s death or life,” means that death does not cause an eclipse. It thus denies an efficient cause. This is like the other hadith in Sahīh Muslim, reported by Ibn ‘Abbās from some men of the Ansār, who were with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when a shooting star was hurled forth and shone brightly. He said:
“What did you use to say about this in the days of ignorance?”
They replied: “We used to say, ‘A great person has been born tonight, or a great person has died.’”
He said: “They are not hurled because of anyone’s death or life. Rather, when Allah decrees a matter, the bearers of the Throne glorify Him.”
He then related the rest of the hadith concerning those who eavesdrop. Thus, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, denied that these stars are hurled because a great person has been born or has died; rather, they are hurled because of the devils who eavesdrop.
Both hadiths therefore indicate that people’s deaths and lives do not cause eclipses of the sun or moon, or the hurling of shooting stars. Nevertheless, the death of certain people may occasion an event in the heavens, as is established in the authentic hadith collections: “The Throne—the Throne of the Most Merciful—shook at the death of Sa‘d