What is the correct belief regarding stars and planets, and do they have any influence on anything?

Stars and planets are part of God's creation, subservient to His command. What is forbidden is the belief that they influence independently of God (major shirk), or that they are an influencing cause by God's decree for something for which God has not made them a cause (minor shirk). Denying any influence of stars and planets is a mistake, for they do have an influence in what God has made them a cause for. Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned that God informed of the benefits of stars for guidance, for adorning the sky, and for pelting devils. Ibn Taymiyyah also denied some people's denial of the causes of planetary movements, citing texts such as the Prophet's (peace be upon him) seeking refuge from the evil of the moon and the eclipse hadith.