are there? - Islam Center

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What is the ruling concerning witchcraft? Witchcraft exists, and it is some
sort of illusion as Allah said: “And suddenly their ropes and staffs were made to
seem to him as if they were moving.” [20:66].
However, the Qur’an and Sunnah have reported that sorcery does have an effect on
things. Witchcraft is forbidden, and it is considered a major sin about which the
Prophet () said: “Avoid the seven sins which doom a person to Hell.”
They asked, “What are they?” He replied, “Committing Shirk with Allah (shirk)
and witchcraft…” (al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Also, Allah () said: “We are only a trial so do not disbelieve…” [2:102]
As for the narration, “Learn witchcraft but do not practice it”, this and its likes
are a fabricated lie and have no basis of validity whatsoever.
What is the ruling about going to a soothsayer or diviner? It is forbidden
to go to soothsayers and diviners, and if one goes to them, knowing that they do not
know the unseen but seeking to benefit from what the jinns inform them, his prayer
will not be accepted for forty days, as the Prophet () has said: “Whoever goes to
a diviner and asks him about something, will not have his prayer accepted for
forty days.” (Muslim)
If a person goes to a diviner believing in his claim of knowing the unseen, he has
disbelieved in the religion of Muhammad (), due to his saying: “Whoever goes
to a soothsayer or diviner and believes in what he says, he has indeed disbelieved
in what has been revealed to Muhammad.” (Abu Dawud)
When can seeking rain by the stars become a form of shirk, whether
greater or lesser? Whoever believes that the stars have an effect without the will
of Allah and ascribes the sole reason of rain to the stars has committed greater
shirk. If someone believes the stars have an effect by the will of Allah, and that
Allah has made them a reason for the coming of rain, and that Allah made it
customary that rain falls when a certain star appears, he has committed lesser shirk.
This is due to the fact that the person has made them a cause for something without
any tangible, logical or religious evidence. (Astrology)
However, it is allowed to study the stars to determine the seasons and thus the
times of the year that are likely to be rainy. (Astronomy)
How many kinds of sins are there? There are two kinds of sin: major sins
and minor sins. 1) Major sins (Kaba’ir), include every sin for which either a
prescribed punishment has been legislated in this life, a punishment has been
associated with it in the Hereafter, it is mentioned to be a reason of earning the
anger or curse of Allah, or it is mentioned to negate faith.
2) Minor sins (Sagha’ir) are all types of sins other than the above.
1 Any impermissible vow is not to be fulfilled, since the Prophet () said: “Whoever vows to obey
Allah then he should obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Allah then he should not disobey
him.” (al-Bukhari)
He also said: “Vows are two: for Allah, the expiation of which is to fulfill it, and for Satan,
which is not allowed to be fulfilled, and the expiation of its sin is the expiation of breaking an
oath.” (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmdhi and an-Nasa ì)