How accurate is the claim that the star Suhail affects the earth by bringing cold weather or causing a camel to die upon looking at it, and how accurate is the claim that the Pleiades star cluster causes strong winds and affects the earth?

Allah created the stars for three purposes: as an adornment for the heavens, as missiles against devils, and as signs by which people may be guided. Whoever interprets them otherwise has erred.

The science of stars is divided into two parts:

1. Calculatory: This involves determining the beginnings of months by calculating the movement of stars, and this is permissible by consensus.

2. Deductive: This involves deducing earthly events from astronomical configurations. This part is forbidden if its practitioners claim knowledge of the unseen or that stars inherently influence events, which is disbelief (kufr). However, if events are attributed to a custom (sunnah) established by Allah Almighty at a specific time, there is no sin in that.

The science of astrology is divided into:

1. Science of Influence (Ilm al-Ta'thir): Belief that the star is an active and influential agent in itself: Major disbelief (kufr akbar) by consensus, because it is polytheism (shirk) in Lordship (Rububiyyah). Deducing the unseen from the movements of stars: Disbelief and major polytheism, because it is a claim to knowledge of the unseen. Belief that they are a cause and Allah is the active agent (making them a cause for events that occurred): Forbidden and minor polytheism (shirk asghar).

2. Science of Navigation (Ilm al-Tasyir): Using stars for religious benefits (such as determining the Qiblah, prayer times): A communal obligation (fard kifayah) and recommended for those in need. Using stars for worldly benefits (such as directions, agricultural seasons): There was disagreement among the Salaf regarding learning it, between dislike and permissibility. The preponderant view is permissibility due to the generality of the verse {And by marks; and by the stars they are guided} and the principle of permissibility (al-asl huwa al-ibahah).