ONLY ALLĀH KNOWS THE GHAYB

 FAJR REMINDER: ONLY ALLĀH KNOWS THE GHAYB

By: Umm Affān

Muḥarram 10, 1448 (25-June-2026)

Dear brethren! We must firmly believe that the knowledge of the Ghayb (the unseen and hidden matters) belongs to Allāh alone. No one shares with Him in this exclusive attribute. Yet, it is unfortunate that some people claim knowledge of what is hidden, thereby competing with what belongs solely to Allāh. These are the soothsayers, fortunetellers, and others who present themselves as religious figures, spiritual leaders, or herbalists. They claim to possess knowledge of unseen matters and employ various methods such as drawing lines in the sand, reading palms, casting sea-shells, and similar practices.

Such individuals prey upon the ignorance and vulnerability of people, exploiting them for financial gain. Some may argue, “But, sometimes, what they say comes true.” Indeed, this may occur occasionally. However, this does not validate their claims. They remain liars who cooperate with the Shayāṭīn. Ā’ishah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha) reported: “Some people asked the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) about soothsayers. He said, ‘They are nothing.’ They said, ‘O Messenger of Allāh, sometimes they say something and it comes true.’ The Messenger of Allāh said, ‘Those are the words snatched by the jinn, who whisper it into the ears of their friends, and it is mixed with more than one hundred lies.’” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6213, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2228]

What is even more distressing is that some Muslims turn to these agents of Shayṭān when making important life decisions. Whether it concerns marriage, business ventures, travel plans, or other affairs, they seek guidance from fortunetellers to learn about their future or determine whether a matter will bring success or hardship. A Muslim should have no connection whatsoever with soothsaying and fortune-telling, for these are practices associated with disbelief and misguidance. ‘Imrān Ibn Ḥuṣayn reported: The Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) said, “He is not one of us who reads omens or has them read for him, or who performs soothsaying or has it performed for him, or who practices magic or has it practiced for him.” [Musnad al-Bazzār 3578]

What, then, is the ruling regarding one who visits a fortuneteller? Firstly, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever goes to a fortuneteller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty days,” [Ṣaḥiḥ Muslim 2230] Though, he or she has to pray it and repent. This applies to the person who visits without believing what is said. Secondly, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever goes to a fortuneteller and believes in what he says... he has nothing to do with what has been revealed to Muḥammad.” [Sunan Abī Dāwūd 3904]

Dear brethren! Let us safeguard our faith by placing our trust entirely in Allāh and seeking guidance only through the means permitted in Islām. We should distance ourselves from every form of fortune-telling, soothsaying, and superstition, knowing that they endanger one's religion and lead a person away from the path of truth.

I beseech Allāh (ﷻ) to protect us from misguidance, strengthen us upon Tawḥīd, and preserve our faith until we meet Him. Aameen.