How should a questioner deal with his father who communicates with soothsayers and diviners and believes them, and wishes for the questioner to go with him to one of them? And what is the authenticity of the hadith: "Whoever comes to a soothsayer and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty days." Is it days or nights?

The Hadith: "Whoever comes to a diviner and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights" was narrated by Muslim. Its meaning is the absence or reduction of reward for prayer, not its invalidation. And the Hadith: "Whoever comes to a soothsayer or a diviner and believes what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad" was narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah, and authenticated by Al-Albani. The disbelief mentioned therein may be major or minor, depending on the state of the one who believes.

It is obligatory to treat parents kindly and accompany them with goodness, even if they command something objectionable, such as visiting a diviner. However, obedience to them is not obligatory in such matters, and they should be advised gently and respectfully. It is not advisable to go to a diviner with the intention of refuting him, except for someone who has the ability to clarify the truth and establish proof against him, while also fortifying oneself with righteous deeds and the remembrance of Allah.