Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
The term kahānah comes from the root تَكَهَّنَ, on the pattern of فَعالَة, meaning:
In pre-Islamic times, some made soothsaying a profession. They claimed contact with devils who would steal bits of news from the heavens and pass them to these soothsayers, who would then mix them with many lies.
If even one statement proved true, people believed them and:
Thus: A kāhin is one who claims knowledge of unseen future matters.
Proof:
"Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights."
[Muslim: 2230]
﴿قُل لا يَعلَمُ مَن فِى السَّمـوتِ وَالأَرضِ الغَيبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ﴾
[al-Naml: 65]
Prophetic statement:
"Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and believes what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad."
[Tirmidhī: 135; Ibn Mājah: 639; al-Albānī, Irwā’ al-Ghalīl: 2006]
Example:
When Ibn Ṣayyād came to the Prophet ﷺ, he tested him by hiding a thought and asking him to reveal it. Ibn Ṣayyād said “al-Dukh” (hinting at Sūrat al-Dukhān). The Prophet ﷺ replied:
"Be gone! You will never go beyond your limit."
[Bukhārī: 1354; Muslim: 2924]
Definition of Kahānah
The term kahānah comes from the root تَكَهَّنَ, on the pattern of فَعالَة, meaning:
- Guessing or making speculative predictions
- Speaking without factual basis
- Trying to learn realities through false means
In pre-Islamic times, some made soothsaying a profession. They claimed contact with devils who would steal bits of news from the heavens and pass them to these soothsayers, who would then mix them with many lies.
If even one statement proved true, people believed them and:
- Sought judgments from them
- Asked them about future events
Thus: A kāhin is one who claims knowledge of unseen future matters.
Three Categories of Those Who Visit Kāhins
① Asking Without Believing
- Ruling: Ḥarām (prohibited)
- Consequence: 40 days of prayers not accepted
Proof:
"Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights."
[Muslim: 2230]
② Asking and Believing
- Ruling: Major disbelief (kufr) in Allah
- Reason: Believing anyone’s claim to knowledge of the unseen contradicts the Qur’ān:
﴿قُل لا يَعلَمُ مَن فِى السَّمـوتِ وَالأَرضِ الغَيبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ﴾
[al-Naml: 65]
Prophetic statement:
"Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and believes what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad."
[Tirmidhī: 135; Ibn Mājah: 639; al-Albānī, Irwā’ al-Ghalīl: 2006]
③ Visiting to Expose and Refute
- Ruling: Permissible
- Condition: Must be for testing them and revealing their falsehood to protect people from misguidance.
Example:
When Ibn Ṣayyād came to the Prophet ﷺ, he tested him by hiding a thought and asking him to reveal it. Ibn Ṣayyād said “al-Dukh” (hinting at Sūrat al-Dukhān). The Prophet ﷺ replied:
"Be gone! You will never go beyond your limit."
[Bukhārī: 1354; Muslim: 2924]
Summary Table
| Case | Ruling | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ask without believing | Ḥarām | 40 days’ prayers not accepted |
| 2. Ask and believe | Kufr | Must repent or dies in disbelief |
| 3. Visit to refute | Permissible | To protect people from harm |
