What is the ruling on reading books on the zodiac, which I am sure, have nothing to do with magicians or devils; they only study the effects of the planets on humans?

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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

It is impermissible to read books on the signs of the zodiac on the pretext that astrology is an established science, and that the zodiac affects human life. The planets and stars are only signs indicating the greatness and power of Allaah The Almighty. Each celestial body praises Allaah The Almighty and prostrates to His might. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Do you not see that to Allaah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth and the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures and many of the people?}[Quran 22:18]

Allaah The Almighty has made planets and stars beneficial for man. We understand this from the verse that reads (what means): {And [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command.}[Quran 7:54]

According to the Quran, the functions of the stars include guidance on land and sea. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And landmarks. And by the stars they are [also] guided.}[Quran 16:16]

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And it is He who placed for you the stars that you may be guided by them through the darknesses of the land and sea. We have detailed the signs for a people who know.}[Quran 6:97]

Allaah The Almighty tells us that the stars decorate the nearest sky, and that the devils are pelted by them. The falling stars are also known as shooting stars. The stars we see in the nearest sky do not change their positions.  Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with stars and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze.}[Quran 67:5]

It is also narrated  that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered the Muslims  to pray, supplicate, ask Allaah The Almighty for forgiveness, and give in charity whenever there was a solar or lunar eclipse. He was reported to have said that the sun and the moon are two signs of Allaah The Almighty and their eclipse does not occur due to anyone’s life or death. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was also reported to have said that the sun and the moon were two signs with which Allaah The Almighty instills a sense of awe in His servants. [Muslim]

In these two Hadeeths, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, refuted those who claimed that the solar eclipse was due to the death of his son, Ibraheem. He also pointed out that the rationale behind that eclipse was a divine warning, like that which struck people in the form of gusty winds, earthquakes, volcanoes and the like.

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

• {So each We seized for his sin; and among them were those upon whom We sent a storm of stones, and among them were those who were seized by the blast [from the sky], and among them were those whom We caused the earth to swallow, and among them were those whom We drowned.}[Quran 29:40]

• {And We send not the signs except as a warning.}[Quran 17:59]

Warning His servants with such signs, Allaah The Almighty tells them that they may be precursors of impending torment.

On the other hand, if you are referring to the physical effect of the planets on people, you are right. However, Allaah The Almighty ordered us to do acts of worship to ward off their evil. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to say when there were strong winds: “Allaahumma ’inni ’as’aluka khayraha wa khayra maa ’ursilat bih wa na‘oothu bika min sharrihaa wa sharri ma ’ursilat bih.” (O Allaah, we ask You for its good and the good of whatever it is sent with. We seek Your refuge from its evil and the evil of whatever it is sent with.) [Muslim]

In addition, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered Muslims to pray, give in charity, and supplicate whenever there is a solar or lunar eclipse.

It is commendable that one does righteous deeds when there are obvious favors bestowed upon a person, so that Allaah The Almighty nourishes him with greater bounties; and to do acts of worship when there are evident causes of evil, so that it may be warded off or removed.

However, a Muslim is not required to pursue hidden knowledge, for as long as he observes the orders of Allaah The Almighty and abstains from what He has prohibited, Allaah The Almighty makes him secure against evil and makes the good destined for him accessible to him.

 Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whoever fears Allaah - He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allaah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allaah will accomplish His purpose. Allaah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.}[Quran 65:2-3]

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that anyone who learns astrology hasd learn some magic. [Abu Daawood]

Magic is prohibited by the Quran, the Sunnah (tradition) and the consensus of the scholars.

There are two kinds of astrology that are classified under sorcery:

1. Theoretical: That is to believe that the movement of in the stars affects the incidents occurring on earth. The Arabs used to depend on this whenever they wanted to decide whether or not to embark on a journey. They used to draw lots and the drawing of the one inscribed with the words “I will go” or “I will not go” would decide his departure.

2. Practical: That is to believe in the mingling of heavenly and earthly powers; using things like talismans. This is one of the most advanced types of magic. Whatever Allaah The Almighty forbids is more harmful than beneficial. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And the people learn what harms them and does not benefit them.}[Quran 2:102]

The second type, although it is thought to be useful as a field of knowledge, is motivated by ignorance and is more harmful than useful. This science supposes that the movement of celestial bodies causes incidents to occur on earth. Those who follow this belief claim that the knowledge of the causes necessitates knowledge of the effects. This is a grave mistake because in that case they must have knowledge of each and every detail. Bearing this in mind, the best of the astrologers’ knowledge is only a part out of the whole, together with their unfamiliarity with all the other causes, conditions and impediments.

This is analogous to the one who believes that the scorching sun turns grapes into raisins, supposing that there are already ripe grapes, and the farmer has spread them out under the sun to dry. This often occurs, but to depend totally on the heat of the sun to predict the outcome of an incident is not right. There could be many reasons for the grapes not turning into raisins: the tree may or may not yield grapes, the grapes may be consumed fresh, brewed or stolen.

There is evidence that astrology is corrupt and prohibited. It is narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that anyone who approaches an ’Arraaf and asks him about anything, his prayers will not be accepted for forty days. [Muslim]

‘Arraaf is a general noun referring to fortune tellers, soothsayers, astrologers and geomancers who talk about incidents in the future through these methods.

It is incorrect to believe that a certain star or sign of the zodiac causes welfare or evil to anyone. Anyone who adopts this belief has rendered himself a Kaafir (disbeliever), if he believes that a star or a sign of the zodiac arranges his affairs (instead of Allaah The Almighty).

An astrologer forms his knowledge about anyone through reviewing his date of birth under a certain sign of the zodiac. Such a method cannot provide complete information about any given person, since other factors, such as one’s parents and the country in which one was brought up, are all equally important factors.

The early disbelieving astrologers including the Sabians who worshipped celestial bodies along with others, used to cast the newly born baby’s horoscope and name the child after something referring to that horoscope. When the child grew up, the astrologers would ask him about his name and read the horoscope. The present astrologers ask a person what his father’s and mother’s names are, and claim to know about his affairs. This is a form of deviance and is contradictory to reason and religion.   

And Allaah Knows best.