What is the ruling of Islam on listening to someone who claims to have knowledge of zodiac astrology through which he can know all about people’s personalities and attributes? Is it true that this is not charlatanism but rather a science that is based on scientific knowledge without claiming to know the Unseen?

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.

Astrologers and astrology are equivalent to charlatans and charlatanism. Indeed the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , mentioned that whoever acquires any knowledge from the stars is but a magician. [Ahmad & Al-Bayhaqi]

It is impermissible to believe anything such a person says and attributes to astrology because the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave a warning that the one who goes to a soothsayer or a fortuneteller and believes what he says is a disbeliever. [Ahmad]  Moreover, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, informed us that if a person goes to a fortuneteller and asks him about anything, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights. [Muslim]

This man must return to Allaah in repentance and must abandon this prohibited practice.

In sum, it is impermissible for people to go to such a person to hear what he says and to believe him.

Allaah Knows best.