'A’isha told that when God’s messenger was asked by some people about kahins he replied, “They are of no account.” They said, “Messenger of God, they sometimes tell a thing which is true.” He replied, “That is a word pertaining to truth which a jinni snatches and cackles into the ear of his friend as a hen does; then they mix more than a hundred lies with it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)
Exposition of the Hadith on Soothsayers
This narration from the Mother of the Believers, 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her), recorded in Mishkat al-Masabih 4593, addresses the fundamental Islamic position regarding soothsayers (kahins) and fortune-tellers. The Prophet's (peace be upon him) declaration, "They are of no account," establishes their complete lack of credibility in matters of the unseen (ghayb).
The Nature of "True" Information
The clarification provided by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) resolves the apparent paradox of soothsayers occasionally stating truths. He explains that a jinni may overhear a true word from the heavenly realm before the angels guarding it can cast a shooting star at him. This jinni then conveys this single truth to his human associate, the soothsayer.
The analogy of a hen's cackle illustrates how this information is transmitted—swiftly, stealthily, and in a corrupted manner. The soothsayer then mixes this one truth with numerous fabrications, often exceeding a hundred lies, to construct his deceptive predictions and build a false reputation.
The Ruling and Its Wisdom
The conclusive ruling derived from this hadith is the absolute prohibition of consulting soothsayers, believing them, or seeking knowledge of the unseen through them. Belief in a soothsayer concerning what he tells of the unseen constitutes disbelief (kufr) in what was revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him), as Allah alone has knowledge of the unseen.
The wisdom behind this prohibition is to protect the purity of Islamic creed (aqidah) and to direct believers to rely solely on Allah, seeking knowledge only through legitimate means—the Qur'an and the authenticated Sunnah. This teaching severs all paths that lead to shirk (associating partners with Allah) and superstition.