Astrology and Islam: An Evaluation on the Unseen (Ghayb) and Scientific Realities

There are approximately 25,000 universities around the world, and among them, the oldest is about 900 years old. In these universities, millions of academics, professors, and associate professors have taught, conducted research, and written countless articles. However, in this respected academic world, astrology has no place. This is because astrology is not accepted as a scientific discipline. True scientists—those who question, think critically, and possess cultural knowledge—do not consider astrology a serious subject. The main reason behind this is that astrology is filled with claims that are incompatible with reason and logic and lack proven validity.
Astrology is an area that often attempts to manipulate people by exploiting gaps in knowledge and understanding within society. It is mostly preferred by individuals with limited education or those trying to fill spiritual voids. For this reason, scientists do not take astrology seriously. According to Islamic belief, the situation is no different.
There is no explicit mention of astrology in the Qur’an; rather, it emphasizes that knowledge of the unseen (ghayb) belongs solely to Allah. In Islam, only Allah knows the future. The unseen refers to realities beyond human perception and the limits of the five senses. The Qur’an clearly states that only Allah possesses knowledge of the unseen. As mentioned in Surah Al-Jinn (72:25–28):
> “Say: I do not know whether what you are promised is near or whether my Lord will appoint for it a distant time. He is the Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His unseen to anyone, except to a messenger whom He has chosen. Then He makes a guard to go before him and behind him, so that He may know that they have conveyed the messages of their Lord. And He encompasses whatever is with them and has enumerated all things in number.”
This verse indicates that knowledge of the unseen belongs only to Allah and that He does not share it with anyone, except whom He wills among His messengers. In other words, the only being capable of accurately knowing the future is Allah. According to the Qur’an, no human or being can have knowledge of the unseen without Allah’s permission. This principle invalidates astrology.
In Islam, only Allah—and those among His chosen messengers to whom He reveals—can know aspects of the unseen. In Surah An-Naml (27:65):
> “Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen except Allah, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.”
This verse emphasizes that no one other than Allah knows the unseen. It is clear that those who claim to possess such knowledge do not derive it from a true source. Astrological predictions are therefore based on unfounded and inaccurate data.
The Qur’an does not mention zodiac signs or planetary movements as factors influencing human personality or destiny. When celestial bodies are mentioned—such as in Surah Al-Furqan (25:61) and Surah Al-Buruj (85:1)—they are described as part of Allah’s creation, not as forces that directly affect human life:
> “Blessed is He who has placed in the sky great stars and placed therein a lamp and a shining moon.” (Furqan, 61)
The influence of zodiac signs, planetary movements, or stars on human beings is not supported by the Qur’an. Allah is the Creator of all events in the universe, and nothing possesses independent power apart from Him. Therefore, the belief that planetary movements determine a person’s destiny is not valid in Islam and is considered shirk (associating partners with Allah).
According to Islam, everything occurs according to the destiny determined by Allah, and nothing happens independently of His will. In Surah At-Takwir (81:29), it is stated:
> “And you do not will except that Allah, Lord of the worlds, wills.”
This verse demonstrates that even human will operates within Allah’s will. Associating any outcome with independent human control contradicts Islamic belief. Astrology, which relies on such notions of influence, is therefore rejected in Islam.
From a scientific perspective, astrology is an unproven, illogical, and dogmatic belief system. According to the Qur’an and Islam, knowledge of the unseen belongs solely to Allah, and the belief that human personality or destiny is influenced by planetary movements is invalid. While the Qur’an clearly states that only Allah knows the future and does not disclose the unseen, belief in astrology is based on misinformation, leading people into error and shirk. Therefore, believing in astrology is contrary to Islam. In Islam, only Allah—and those messengers and prophets He chooses to inform—have access to knowledge of the unseen.