anyone making such a claim can do is base it on the child’s having been born under this ascendant. This alone cannot possibly be the sole influence on the circumstances of this child; at most, it could constitute a very small part of the totality of causes. That much does not entail what has been claimed. Indeed, even factors whose influence on the child is actually known—such as the circumstances of the parents and of the country in which he lives—have an observable effect on his circumstances, yet do not act independently.
Furthermore, it has been said that the early polytheistic Sabian astrologers and their followers would determine a child’s ascendant at birth and give the child a name indicating it. When he grew older and was asked his name, the questioner could infer the configuration of his ascendant. Then these fortune-tellers came along, asking a man his name and his mother’s name, claiming that they could thereby obtain indications of his circumstances. These are layers of darkness, one upon another, contrary to both reason and religion.
As for their selection of auspicious times—determining the ascendant for actions they intend to undertake, such as choosing to travel when the moon is in its exaltation, namely “Cancer,” and not in its fall, namely “Scorpio”—this belongs to the same blameworthy category.
When ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib intended to set out to fight the Khārijites, an astrologer approached him and said: “O Commander of the Faithful, do not set out, for the moon is in Scorpio. If you set out