Astrology in the early Islamicate World
Let's Talk Religion・19 minutes read
Astrology, a field within occult sciences, has roots in ancient civilizations and was widely practiced in the Islamic world despite controversy. Islamic scholars like Al-Kindy and Abu Mashad theorized on astrology's workings, aiming to legitimize it as a natural science with celestial influences on Earth.
Insights
- Astrology, considered "the science of the judgments of the stars," has roots in ancient civilizations like the Babylonians and Greeks, predating Islam and influencing later European occult sciences.
- Islamic astronomers like Ibn Taymiyah condemned astrology as a dangerous pseudoscience, contrasting with Islamic astrologers who viewed heavenly bodies as secondary causes to God, showcasing a complex relationship with the practice.
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Recent questions
What is the difference between astrology and astronomy?
Astronomy studies celestial bodies' movements, while astrology focuses on their effects and uses, such as predicting events and personality traits based on their positions.
How did Islamic astronomers view astrology?
Islamic astronomers like Ibn Haitham and Al-Farabi did not favor astrology, considering it impermissible and a dangerous pseudoscience, showcasing a complex relationship with the practice.
Who theorized on astrology's workings in early Islamic communities?
Islamic figures like Al-Kindy and Abu Mashad theorized on astrology, introducing concepts like stellar rays to explain celestial influences and legitimize astrology as a natural science.
What role did astrology play in the Islamic world?
Despite controversy, astrology was widely practiced in the Islamic world, from commoners to scholars, impacting later European occult sciences and being central to the practical art of magic.
How did Islamic astrologers view the influence of heavenly bodies?
Islamic astrologers viewed heavenly bodies as secondary causes to God, attributing ultimate power to Him while theorizing about stars and planets' influence on Earth and the elements.
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Summary
00:00
Astrology's Impact on Islamic and Western Cultures
- Astrology, a popular field within occult sciences, focuses on the heavenly bodies' behaviors, effects, and uses, known as astrology.
- Dr. Angela Puka collaborates on astrology in 20th-century Western esotericism, complementing the video's theme.
- In the 14th century, figures like Ibn Taymiyah condemned astrology as impermissible and a dangerous pseudoscience in the Islamic world.
- Despite controversy, astrology was widely practiced in the Islamic world, from commoners to scholars, impacting later European occult sciences.
- Astronomy, distinct from astrology, studies heavenly bodies' movements, aiding in determining prayer times and fasting periods.
- Islamic astronomers like Ibn Haitham and Al-Farabi, while significant, did not favor astrology, showcasing a complex relationship with the practice.
- Astrology, termed "the science of the judgments of the stars," predates Islam, with roots in ancient civilizations like Babylonians and Greeks.
- The Haranians, influenced by Hermeticism, played a crucial role in shaping astrology in the Islamic world, impacting early Muslim communities.
- Al-Kindy and Abu Mashad, pivotal Islamic figures, theorized on astrology's workings, introducing concepts like stellar rays to explain celestial influences.
- Al-Kindy's theory of stellar rays, influencing magical practices, aimed to legitimize astrology as a natural science, despite debates on the planets' causal powers.
16:10
Islamic Astrology: Stars and Planets' Influence
- Islamic astrologers view heavenly bodies as secondary causes to God, who is the ultimate power behind all events on Earth.
- Abu Mashad, a Persian astrologer, directly attributes causal powers to stars and planets, theorizing about their influence on Earth and the elements.
- Astrology was employed for divination, foretelling events, and reading horoscopes, appealing to those in power and central to the practical art of magic.
- The "Pikatrix," a significant grimoire in occult sciences, synthesizes ideas from Islamic astrologers like Al Kindy and Abu Mashar, providing detailed instructions on astral magic practices.
