Part 3

Ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 8, p. 414; and ibn ‘Abdu’l-Barr #1478 also record this without mention of the letters of Abi Jad and it is sahih.

2.2 Genealogy and Astronomy

earth, the former being totally false and prohibited.*'

There is a hadith concerning this in which the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said, “Whoever acquires knowledge from the stars has acquired a branch of magic.” Recorded by Abit Dawad on the authority of ibn ‘Abbas. He also records the hadith of Qabisah that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said, “Taking good omens from the flight of birds after frightening them (‘%yafah), taking evil omens in things (fyarah), and geomancy (arg) are all forms of magic.” “* Lyafah refers to the practice of divination through frightening birds and farg refers to

“ Baghawi, Sbarb al-Sunnah, vol. 12, p. 183, said, The prohibited form of knowledge of the stars is that knowledge that leads its proponent to predict future events such as the occurrence of strong wind, the onset of rain, snow, cold and hot weather, the fluctuation in prices of commodities etc., thinking that they can come to know this through the motions of the stars. However this is knowledge that Allah has kept to Himself and none knows it save Him, “Truly Allah has knowledge of the Hour and sends down abundant rain and knows what is in the womb. No self knows what it will earn tomorrow and no self knows in what land it will die” |Lugmén (31): 34]. As for that knowledge that comes about through studying the stars, through which one can know matters such as the direction of the Qiblah, this is not prohibited. Allah, Glorious is He, says, “It és He Who has appointed the stars for you so you might be guided by them in the darkness of the land and sea” (al-An‘am (6): 97

* Refer to‘ Adhim’abadi, vol. 10, p. 403, for an explanation of the terms in this hadith.

‘The hadith was declared da‘if by Albani, Ghayaty’/-Mardm #301; and Arna’at,

THE EXCELLENCE OF KNOWLEDGE

the practice of divination through drawing lines on the earth. Therefore astrology is false and prohibited, and enacting those actions that lead on from it such as seeking to draw close to stars or offering sacrifices to them constitute disbelief.

As for learning such knowledge as would allow one to navigate through the earth, know the direction of the Qiblah, and know the routes leading to various places, this is permissible in the view of the majority. There is no need to learn any mote of this science than this amount and to do so would serve to preoccupy one from learning more important things. It is possible that studying this science in minute detail would lead one to start doubting the directions of the Qiblah that have been set up by the Muslims in their lands, indeed this has actually happened to many astronomers, past and present.** This then leads to the belief that the Companions and Tabi‘in prayed in the wrong direction in many of the lands they settled in, and this is a false, invalid belief. This is why Imam Ahmad rejected the use of the North Star [for determining the direction of the Qiblah], instead saying, ‘All that is reported is, “What is between the east and the west is the Qiblah.”*’’ Meaning that there is no hadith stating that the North Star or any other star should be given consideration in such matters.

Ibn Mas‘iid rejected the words of Ka‘b when he said, ‘The heav-

* Or equally the practice of throwing gravel onto the ground and divination by the shapes subsequently formed therein. Refer to Abi Dawid #3907

It was declared sahih by Hakim #741 with Dhahabi agreeing; Suyati #7858 and Albani, Inva’ #292; Sabih al-]ami' #5584.

2.2 Genealogy and Astronomy

enly spheres are subject to determined movement’ and likewise such matters were rejected by Malik and others. Imam Ahmad even rejected the statement of some astronomers that noon (xawal) occurs at different times in different lands. It is possible that their reasoning behind rejecting this, or at least the reasoning of some of them, was the fact that the Messengers had never spoken about such issues - this despite the fact that the astronomers declare this fact with certainty. It is well possible that devoting oneself to the minutiae of such sciences may lead to severe problems and widespread friction.

Some astronomers used their knowledge to reject the hadith of Descent at the last third of the night by saying, ‘The last third of the night occurs at different times in different countries so it is not possible that this Descent occur at one time.’ The repugnance of this claim is known in the religion by necessity. If the Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him, or the RightlyGuided Khalifs were to have heard such claims, not only would they have not listened to them, but they would have rushed to punish these people or would have considered them amongst the rank and file of the deniers and hypocrites.

“ Bukhari #1145-6321-7494 and Muslim #756/1772-1778 record on the authority of Abi Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessing be upon him, said, “Every night, when the last third of the night remains, our Lord, Blessed and Exalted is He, descends to the lowest heaven and says, ‘Is there anyone who invokes Me that I may respond? Is there anyone asking of Me that I may give it to him? Is there anyone who asking My forgiveness that I may forgive him?”

THE EXCELLENCE OF KNOWLEDGE

2.3 Delving into the Minutiae of Permissible Sciences

The same applies to delving too deeply into the science of genealogies; there is no need for it. The words of ‘Umar and others have preceded concerning its prohibition despite the fact that a group of the Companions and Successors knew this science and studied it.”

The same applies to delving too deeply into the Arabic language and its morphology, indeed to do so serves to distract one from learning more important matters, and to devote oneself to it prevents one from acquiring much beneficial knowledge. alQasim ibn Mukhaymarah disliked Arabic morphology, he said, ‘Its beginning stages is a distraction and its end is transgression,” meaning by delving too deeply into it and its complexities. The same stance was held by Ahmad who disliked studying the Arabic language too deeply and, when he learned of Abit Ubaid doing so, objected by saying, ‘It diverts one from studying more important matters.’*' This is why it is said, ‘The Arabic language is like salt on food,’ meaning that you take of it as much as would correct ones speech and anything additional spoils it.

The same applies to delving too deeply into mathematics even though it be required to carry out duties such as the apportioning of inheritance, wills, and the division of property amongst those

5'Tbn Hani’, Masa’il al-Imam Ahmad, vol. 2, p. 167.

2.3 Delving into the Minutiae of Permissible Sciences

who are due it.** Anything additional to this is merely mental exercise and serves to sharpen the mind, there is no need for it and to delve into it preoccupies one from that which is more important.

As for those sciences that were invented after the time of the Companions, whose proponents claim that they are true knowledge and that whoever is not aware of them is either an ignoramus or misguided, all of them are innovations and are to be counted amongst the newly invented affairs that have been prohibited.

Haythami, vol. 7, p. 202, declared its isnad sahih as did Hakim #93 with Dhahabi agreeing, so too did Albani, a/Sabibah #1515.

THE EXCELLENCE OF KNOWLEDGE

a statement of ibn ‘Abbas only and some declared this to be the stronger case.

Bayhaqi records the hadith of ibn Mas‘id that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said, “When my Companions are mentioned, refrain, and when the stars are mentioned, refrain also.”** This has been reported via a number of routes, all of the isnads being problematic. It is reported that ibn ‘Abbas said to Maymin ibn Mihran, ‘Beware of researching into the stars for they effectuate fortune telling, beware of researching into the divine decree for this effectuates heresy, beware of abusing any of the Companions of Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him, for Allah would throw you face first into the Fire.” Abi Nu‘aym also reports this as a statement of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, but it is not authentic.

The prohibition of delving into the divine decree encompasses a number of matters:

1) Using parts of the Book to contradict other parts such that the one who affirms the divine decree quote a particular verse, while the one who denies it quote another verse and they start quarreling. It is reported that such an event happened during the time of the Messenger of

% Reported by Abi Nu'aym, vol. 4, p. 114 #4953; and Tabarani, a/-Kabir

‘Iraqi, vol. 1, p. 50, declared the isnad hasan; Suyati #615 declared the hadith hasan with Albani, Sabih al-Jami'#545; al-Sabibah #34 ruling it sabih.

itas a hadith of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, on the authority of ibn ‘Abbas with a da‘if isnad.