Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. Is it forbidden in Islam to visit a palm reader? I intend to visit Ketut Liyer, a palm reader, in Bali. I do not believe in palmistry, nor do I even have a curiosity to know what he might tell me. The purpose of that visit will be to meet Ketut Liyer, who appeared in the movie "Eat, Pray and Love". Will the visit be considered haram?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Palm reading is a kind of sorcery, and it is forbidden to go to and ask a person who does it. If someone believes in what the sorcerer says, then the matter is graver, as has been highlighted in the Sunnah of the Prophet . For more benefit, please refer to fataawa 85187, 85039 and 89807.

You should not go to this charlatan except for a legitimate reason, especially given that his place may not be free of Islamic prohibitions like quackery and fortune telling.

Being present in a place where evil is taking place is forbidden except for a valid purpose, such as denying this evil and admonishing the evildoer, as Allaah says (what means): {And when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversation. And if Satan should cause you to forget, then do not remain after the reminder with the wrongdoing people.} [Quran 6:68]

In addition to this, the time of a Muslim is too precious to be wasted in something that does not benefit him. Ibn 'Abbaas narrated that the Prophet said, "There are two blessings in which many people incur loss: health and free time." [Al-Bukhari]

Allaah knows best.