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Is it permissible to know only the characteristics of the zodiac signs if speaking about them is forbidden?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The statement that it is permissible to derive characteristics from a person's birth date by determining their zodiac sign is a baseless and erroneous claim. It falls under the forbidden assertion of knowledge of the unseen. It is not permissible to look into these horoscopes or believe in them. The Scientific Committee for Issuing Fatwas in Saudi Arabia stated that horoscopes are forbidden to publish, look into, promote, or believe in, and that this is a branch of disbelief (kufr). "Whoever comes to a diviner or a soothsayer and believes what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad." What is published about horoscopes and the fortunes of those associated with them is called astrology. "Whoever acquires knowledge from the stars has acquired a branch of sorcery." What is forbidden concerning knowledge of the stars is the claim of knowing future events based on the movement of planets, for this is knowledge that Allah alone has. Whoever believes in these horoscopes and thinks that they can harm or benefit without Allah's permission, or that anyone other than Allah knows the unseen, is a disbeliever. Whoever believes that they are conjectural and does not believe that they can harm or benefit is a disobedient believer. Persistently reading these horoscopes may lead to the belief that they are a true insight into the unseen, which is exclusive to Allah Almighty, and this is forbidden.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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