Let’s come to the point of this question today: do astrologers claim knowledge of the unseen? Older people will remember that until thirty, forty years ago, the modern era’s rural clerics made this claim. They said that what meteorology departments predict as rain on such and such date in such and such area, these are claims of the unseen.
And the clerics would say this because they neither looked at weather radars nor took pictures from satellites, nor did they have those panoramic views of air pressure that appear on meteorological screens. If the clerics had seen those, they would have known that the meteorology department doesn’t make claims of the unseen; rather, it states its ‘observation.’ And this observation, though limited, the clerics themselves describe in such a way that if they saw clouds forming on the horizon, they would call to their wives, ‘God! Bring in the laundry from the courtyard, it’s going to rain.’
So, did the clerics need to clear their claim to knowledge of the unseen? No, they were simply telling their wives to collect the laundry based on their observations and experiences. The difference is that the meteorology department has a ‘bigger eye’ than the clerics. The cleric only sees clouds, whereas the meteorology department also observes the system that forms clouds. Thus, they estimate the strength of this system: whether the rain will be severe, moderate, or just light. After that, they observe the direction of the wind and its speed. Is the speed gradually increasing? If so, at what rate? Then they determine the distance of this rain system moving towards which area. After these calculations, they predict how much rain is possible at a certain date and place. Now tell me, where did the clerics’ claim of the unseen come from? It’s all present knowledge and clear vision.
It’s essentially about astrology. Take away a chart from any astrologer and ask them, ‘Tell me how next week will be?’ They will say, ‘Without looking, how can I tell you? Bring back the chart, I’ll tell you after looking.’
We are not discussing hearsay about astronomy, numerology, or palmistry. It’s not our mood to just narrate after stirring the chest. Until about twenty years ago, we became aware of these sciences for the sole purpose of understanding them. If ever we had to express an opinion about them, we took the time to understand them properly. Therefore, we understood them to the extent of conducting systematic experiments. So that practically, we could see whether these astrological claims are accurate or not. And if they are accurate, what is their average accuracy?
So, we conducted an experiment like this: every eclipse, a celestial phenomenon according to astronomy, brings us trouble for some constellations while mercy for others, forming a ‘system.’ So, there was a lunar eclipse coming that according to astronomy was bringing us two types of trouble simultaneously. One, we would be affected by water, and second, we would become a target of fire. Generally, we read the optional prayers of the lunar and solar eclipses. But on this occasion, we deliberately didn’t use that shield. The coincidence was that we were going to Lahore with the family through Shalimar Express and had to travel from there to Islamabad. When Shalimar entered Punjab, there was heavy rain, and the drops began dripping right above our heads. And there was no solution either because the parlour car of Shalimar’s three bogies was full.
Not only that, but when we reached Lahore, there was heavy rain there too. Now how do we get on the bus? So, we decided to travel between Rawalpindi and Islamabad by parlour car. Tickets were also available. In a clear, straight bogie, we sat on our seat, and a little later, the waiter came and asked, ‘Tea or coffee?’ And also told that there is a machine to make tea coffee in this bogie, so it will be available hot and good quality. So we ordered tea. When the opening tea was brought, we opened a small tray-shaped table in the back of the next seat and put the cup of tea in it. Just a few seconds would have passed that the tray was in our lap. Do not ask what the open tea has created in our “area non”. Just understand that after that, we never left the optional of eclipse or penance. We are just sharing an experiment to understand.
Of these sciences, astrology is the science we have learned a little more from understanding. Many years ago, our late friend Saadullah Mingal returned with higher education from England, his brother, so it seemed that they had brought the sentence by learning it the most “I don’t believe in these things.” We met our brother Qari Hameedullah at Mingal’s house. A school was running on TV, talking about an astrologer, and our “highly educated” Mingal friend didn’t give his proof. We said, show your hand. We made a simple claim.
“It happens mostly with people, what’s the big deal in it?”
We said:
“We had done this to hear only from you. Now we started to knock on your senses.”
And saying this, we told them that his wife is pregnant these days. On this, he pointed towards our brother and said
“Maybe Bhabi has told him, and he has told you and….”
We cut off his talk:
“The seventh month is going on.”
Just listening to this, the belief of not believing in him became a complete obsession, and started scratching the head.
Now come to the most important question. Should people know the state of their destiny from these sciences? We will say with full intensity never. And the reason for this is that these sciences are not such that by understanding it in a book, you can claim that take it sir! The entire knowledge of this has been done. Just read this book, understand, tomorrow the science came to you and nothing is left out of it. Our opinion is that this science is still half or somewhat lesser. Particularly there are some stars that man has not been able to access so far. So, it is our personal experience that astrology in astrology, it is difficult to claim forty percent claims correctly. Do you know what is the result of this? You climb repeatedly on the stair of misunderstanding, which results in first psychological patients and then complete madness. From these sciences, know only that the coming time is good or bad? Avoid delving into further details.
Good and challenging days come in the life of every person, every tribe, and every country. Seeking foreknowledge is not a bad thing. Therefore, Allah also alerts His servants through dreams that difficult times lie ahead. A striking example of this is mentioned in the story of Prophet Joseph, where the interpretation of Aziz of Egypt’s dream, as narrated by Prophet Joseph (Peace Be Upon Him), forewarned of seven years of drought. Consequently, the government planned ahead for the difficult times, as detailed in the interpretations.
In contrast to these sciences, another important point is that knowledge of the unseen is not with humans but with Allah. This is often illustrated when a meteorological department predicts a coastal storm heading towards a particular city, only to have breaking news suddenly announce a change in its direction. The department’s observation and experience indicated it would affect that area, but it did not know the hidden secret that the Almighty might suddenly change the course of the winds.
Similarly, consider an astrology forecast warning that those born under a certain constellation will suffer from a specific calamity during an eclipse. But if half of them recite the optional prayers for an eclipse, will they still be affected? Such questions are not easily answered. Likewise, if you are told that a certain person will drown in debt, but that person regularly gives charity, then charity wards off calamity. Therefore, merely a fifty-rupee note of charity is sufficient to escape the entire science of astrology.
Furthermore, it is crucial to understand that these sciences are flawed to the extent that if you provide an astrologer with someone’s name, mother’s name, date of birth, birthplace, and birth time, and ask them to make a chart, they will also tell you how their 2024 will be. They will even make a chart for you and tell you how their 2024 will be. Whereas, in reality, that person passed away in 2014. In summary, saying that these sciences are nonsense is not true. It is merely self-nonsense, claim, and naked ignorance. These sciences are a reality. However, it is also a great ignorance to assume that one’s entire life can be mapped out on a micro level in the light of these sciences. Just because an astrologer made a chart and said, “This will happen like this,” does not mean it will happen like that. Have you ever heard from an astrologer to this day that he claimed on the beginning of the year for a change
