The Wisdom of Creating the Star
Imam Bukhari in his Saheeh said: “Imam Qatadah said: Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala created the stars for 3 purposes: as an ornament of the sky, a cast of satan, and as a guide. So whoever narrates it other than the 3 things above then he has been wrong, lost his happiness, and burdened himself with the knowledge that he did not know”.
Jewelry for the sky
Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala said: “Verily We have decorated the sky close to the stars, and We made the stars as tools of the devil, and We prepared for them the torment of the burning hell- nyala.” (QS Al Mulk: 5)
Because human beings see a clear and clean sky at night without any moon illuminating and no lights shining.
Then he will see a star with such an incredible beauty that is unknown except by Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala, as if it were in the middle of a forest adorned with all kinds of shiny silver metal, glowing red or bluish, and all this can we watch.
Then there is a question; the star is close or attached to the sky at the end of the above verse. Is that true?
The answer: it is not valid if the star is attached or close to the sky, because Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala said: “And He is the One who created the night and the day, the sun and the moon. each of the two circulates within its circulation line.” (QS Al Anbiya ‘: 33), Yusabbihun means circulating in his circulation line.
Then if it is said: “We have decorated the heavens of the world” does this not show closeness to the sky?. We say: decorating something over something else does not have to be pasted or pasted. Do you not see someone decorating the palace with large and beautiful lamps but not sticking to the wall.
So the person who sees it from a distance sees it as an ornament, even though it does not stick.
The Devil thrower
That is Satan of the jinn who steals the news of heaven is not a man, as a human Shaytan can not reach it, but Satan spirits can achieve it as the word of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala in (Surat Shad: 37-38) (Surat an-Naml: 39 ) (QS Al Jin: 9)
However, Satan can not reach the other ceiling because the ceiling is guarded, as in the hadith about the isra ‘Rasulullah Shallallahu’ alaihi wasallam said: “There are doors, can not enter into it except with His permission.” (HR …….) and the words of Allah in QS Al A’raaf: 40.
Thus it remains that the star is special in the heavens of the world, and the devil does not exist except in the heavens of the world, Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala said: Verily We have adorned the nearest heaven with ornaments, namely the stars, And have guarded it (actually) from every devout devil. (QS As Shaffat: 6-7)
The meaning of “And We made the star the tools of the devil” That is the meteor or star from the fire as Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala said: “(Remember) when Moses said to his family:” Indeed I saw the fire. I will bring you news from it, or I will bring you a torch of fire so that you may be on fire ”_ (QS An Naml: 7),
Shihab means fire. And the martyr was thrown to the devil while stealing the hearing from heaven. See QS Jin: 9 and QS As Shaffat: 10.
Then a question arises, if the jinn was created from fire (QS Ar Rahman: 15), then how can the jinn burn with fire? On this question Imam Fakhrur Razy said that the fire is partly stronger than the others, so the vital win over the weak.
As in another verse: “And We prepared for them a painful doom” said as-Sa’ir means a very hot fire, then it has been known that the fire is multi-level, some stronger than some, and this is a matter sensible, indeed some tools made of iron can be softened with tools made of iron as well, stronger iron can break it.[1]
As a guide
Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala said: “And He established the mountains in the earth so that the earth does not shake with you, (and he created) rivers and roads so that you may be guided, And (He) create) signs (road signs). and with the stars That they are guided.” (QS An Nahl: 15-16)
This third wisdom is also an objection to the worshipers of the stars because the stars were only created as a guide in the darkness of land and sea. Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala said: “And it is He who placed for you the stars that you may be guided by them through the darknesses of the land and sea. We have detailed the signs for a people who know. (Surat al-An’am: 97)
When people get lost and confused on the way, then Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala made the stars as a guide, they need a guide for the benefits of trade and travel. Among the stars, some remain visible and do not shift in place. Some continue to circulate, people who are experts in the field will know its circulation and know the direction and time. Then the above verse and the like show that on masyru’iyah learn the science of astrology and its circulation, Ilmu Tasyir.
Dhahir verse above shows that the wisdom of the creation of stars is only as a guide, but other verses show the wisdom of the creation of stars such as QS An Nahl: 16, QS Al Mulk: 5, QS As shaffat: 6-10 and QS Fusshilat : 12.
Then Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala mentions two kinds of signs or addresses that can be used as a guide is Ardhiyyah that includes all that Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala created on earth, such as mountains, rivers, roads, valleys, and so on then Ufuqiyyah as in His word (QS An Nahl: 16)
An-Najmu is a type of name that is not specified for a particular star because each race has its way of taking directions from this star, to know the direction of Qibla, land, or ocean including ‘mat Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala as He said “And He has subjected to you all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, (as mercy) from Him. Lo! Herein verily are portents for a people who give thought. (Surat al-Jatsiyah: 13)
The Star of Knowledge which forbids
Allah says: “(He is God) who knows the unseen, so he does not show anyone about the unseen. Except for the Messenger whom He is pleased with, so indeed he has guardians (angels) in front and behind him”.
Imam Ibn Jauzi Rh said: “Who knows the unseen is Allah Ta’ala alone, there is no ally for Him in His kingdom, so He will not tell the unseen to anyone except to whom He wills from His messenger, with something He wants.
This verse is proof of who thinks that the star can show the unseen then he has disbelieved. It is divided into two parts Astronomy, The first, the Science of Ta’tsir. This science is divided into three kinds, first, Believing that it is the star that creates events and evil, including great shirk.
Second, Make it a cause by taking the evidence of his movements, shifts, and changes that this and that will happen. As said: this person will live miserably or happy because he was born on this star, so this is disbelief and denying the Qur’an (QS An Naml: 65)
Third, Believing that the star is the cause of good and evil, includes minor shirk.
Among those who hate to learn about the circulation of the moon is Imam Qatadah, as well as the Sufyan
Second, Ilmu Tasyir. This knowledge is divided into two kinds: first, Taking guidance with its circulation for the benefit of diniyah. This is what is asked, such as determining the direction of Qibla by taking the guidance of the stars, then here is a great benefit.
Second, Taking a cue from the rotation of the stars in worldly pleasures, then this is nothing. Like using it to determine the direction, such as knowing the poles of the earth in the north, such as this is allowed or taking instructions from the stars to know the movement or change of seasons, or the passage of the moon, which is thus hated by some salaf, and some allow it.
As for those who hate it, they worry if it is said: “If this star appears, then the rainy season or drought has come, or some believe that it is the star that causes the feeling of cold, heat, or wind blowing ‘.
And what is authentic is that it is okay to study the place of the moon’s rotation, unless you learn it to rely on its rain, the coming of winter, and believing that the stars are the cause of it all, then this is from shirk. As for just knowing the time, whether it is spring, drought, or rain, then this is okay.
Taking guidance from the stars to know the direction in the safar on land or sea, this is allowed to learn it, and includes from the blessings of Allah Ta’ala. (Surat al-An’am: 97)
Ibn Rajab RH said: “What is meant by learning the science of Tasyir is not Ta’tsir, because in fact, the science of Ta’tsir is invalid, haram little or much, as for the science of Tasyir, if it is necessary to study it to know the direction qibla, the way, then it is permissible according to jumhur, as well as exploring the place of rotation of the sun and the moon to know the direction of qibla, and the times of prayer and the change of seasons.
