Fortune telling
Our Lord, Allah, the Exalted has made it clear to us that:
[27:65]
قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلْغَيْبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ
"Say: None in the heavens or on earth, except Allah, knows what is hidden: nor can they perceive when they shall be raised up (for Judgment)."
Not even the Prophet (ﷺ) knows everything. We have evidence for this claim from both Quran and Sunnah. In an authentic Hadith, Jibreel (عليه السلام) took a man's form and asked the Messenger Muhammad (ﷺ) about the Hour (Judgement Day) and he (ﷺ) clearly stated that he doesn't possess such knowledge and this knowledge is exclusive to Allah. Even in the Quran, Allah says:
[7:188]
قُل لَّآ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِى نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَوْ كُنتُ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ لَٱسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِىَ ٱلسُّوٓءُ إِنْ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Say: "I have no power over any good or harm to myself except as Allah wills. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have multiplied all good, and no evil should have touched me: I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings to those who have faith."
From this we can clearly understand that none but Allah possess the knowledge of future or the unseen reality. Therefore, if one arrogates to himself the knowledge of unseen realities or the future, then he has committed Shirk.That is to say, a person who claims to know the future is a liar. Indeed, no one shares the attributes of Allah, and having the precise knowledge of future and upcoming events or one's destiny in particular is from the attributes of Allah. Thus, one who claims to have such attribute to himsef, is making himself an equal to Allah, who in reality is unmatched and unique. This is the ruling for the one who tells fortune. Precisely why it is adviced that one must not belive in such lies and avoid asking any knowledge from a fortune teller. However, if anyone belives that a fortune teller may have the precise knowledge of future and can tell ones destiny, then this belief is dangerous for him. One should not act upon such belief. These are all acts that dooms one. Whether it is Shirk or Kufr, there is a dispute among scholars. Some say that this has reached the level of Shirk and some say that this is Kufr (disbelief). Most authentic is that, anyone who believes that a fortune teller has the knowledge of ones destiny or the future events, then this is indeed Shirk, but if one goes to a fortune teller just out of curiosity or without a strong belief that he knows future and then believes what the fortune teller says, then it is an act of Kufr. Either way we must acknowledge that no one is equal to Allah in knowledge and no one except Allah has the knowledge of unseen realities and future events.
Offering sacrifice to anyone other than Allah
If a person offers sacrifice to anyone other than Allah, then it is undoubtedly Shirk. Such Shirk is seen in India, Korea, Japan. Hindus offer fruit, vegetable or sweet to the idols and in korea, they follow their tradition where they offer meat and other food items to their deceased and whatnot. Anyhow, in Islam, we cannot sacrifice (specifically, slaughter an animal) in the name of any other being. We must offer our sacrifice to Allah. Allah says regarding the sacrifice (Slaughter of an animal):
[108:2]
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنْحَرْ
"So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone]."
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Beginners guide to Islam (Vol-01)
Non-FictionIn Volume-01 of "Beginners guide to Islam", very important religious matters such as "What is Islam?", "Declaration of Faith", "Basis of Faith and its articles", "Belief in Allah" which includes "Tawheed" and "Shirk" were discussed in details and th...
