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Is it permissible to perform the so-called full moon ritual by writing wishes when the moon becomes full, as some people claim that this time has special energy and may help in the fulfillment of one’s desires? I have seen this practice being promoted and people encouraging others to follow certain steps while doing it. What is the Islamic ruling on this practice, and if someone has already done it out of ignorance or curiosity, how should he repent after learning that it may be prohibited?
The practice known as the “full moon ritual” in which one writes wishes on full moon is a branch of prohibited astrology and is from the practices of the people of shirk, kufr and misguidance.
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Answer: All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
Lets take a look at it in detail:
What is Full Moon Ritual?
Those who promote this full moon ritual claim that when the moon is full, whoever has wishes should write them on a flat piece of paper, following certain rituals that must not be broken, and place it in the window of the house or on the balcony.
They also say that nothing containing numbers should be written on the paper, nor the person’s real name, nor the names of those for whom the wishes are intended. They claim that the full moon has an effect in fulfilling wishes because of the energy it emits.
These ideas are taken from what is called “energy science,” whose reality is largely based on pagan Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. Many young people and those who claim to be cultured but lack basic Islamic knowledge have been deceived by it.
Even specialists in psychology reject the claims of “energy science” and the usefulness of its effects, and consider it a kind of selling illusion.
Islamic Ruling On Full Moon Ritual
When reflecting on this idea — the full moon ritual of writing wishes — we find that it involves claiming that certain causes and times have an effect without any sensory or Islamic evidence. This contradicts the foundation of Islamic belief. It falls under the following two situations:
First: Believing that the full moon and the ritual of writing wishes themselves influence and bring about the fulfillment of those wishes. This is major shirk that takes a person out of the religion, because he has set up a partner with Allah in creation, origination, and influence.
Second: Believing that the full moon, this specific time, and the ritual method are merely means for fulfilling wishes, while believing that Allah is the One who fulfills them. This is minor shirk, because whoever treats something as a cause for an outcome without any proof that it is a legitimate or natural cause has fallen into minor shirk.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah said: Some of My servants have become believers in Me and some disbelievers. As for the one who said: ‘We have been given rain by the grace and mercy of Allah,’ that one is a believer in Me and a disbeliever in the star. But as for the one who said: ‘We have been given rain because of such-and-such star,’ that one is a disbeliever in Me and a believer in the star.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari 810]
“Al-anwa’” refers to the stars. Whoever makes the star a cause for rainfall, the Prophet ﷺ called him a disbeliever.
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Seeking rain by means of the stars (al-anwa) is divided into two categories:
The first category: major shirk, and it has two forms:
The first form: that a person calls upon the stars for rain, such as saying: ‘O such-and-such star! Give us rain,’ or ‘Send us relief,’ and the like. This is major shirk, because he has called upon other than Allah, and calling upon other than Allah is major shirk.
The second form: that a person attributes the occurrence of rain to these stars, believing that they themselves act independently apart from Allah, even if he does not call upon them. This is major shirk in lordship (rububiyyah), while the first is in worship (ibadah); because supplication is an act of worship, and it includes shirk in lordship, since he only calls upon them believing that they act and fulfill needs.
The second category: minor shirk, which is to regard these stars as a cause, while believing that Allah is the Creator and the One who brings about the action. This is because whoever considers something to be a cause that Allah has not made a cause—neither through His revelation nor through His decree—has committed minor shirk.”
[End quote from Al-Qawl al-Mufid ala Kitab at-Tawhid (2/19)] ¹Reflecting on what is promoted under the name of the full moon ritual using “energy,” it becomes clear that it is a branch of prohibited astrology and from the practices of the people of ignorance and shirk. It is also illusion and false hopes; its practitioner neither preserves his creed nor gains sound action, and he returns from it only with disappointment and loss.
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever acquires knowledge from the stars has acquired a branch of magic; the more he increases in it, the more he increases in magic.” [Abu Dawood 3905; Ibn Majah 3726 — Graded Hasan]
These misguided people fall into one of two states: either believing the full moon ritual has an effect by itself, or believing it is a cause for fulfilling wishes. Thus the practitioner is in great danger between major and minor shirk — and this is the greatest sin.
Allah says: “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.” [An-Nisa 4:48]
And the Prophet ﷺ said: “Which sin is the greatest before Allah?” He said: “That you set up a rival to Allah while He created you.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari 4483].
What If Someone Practiced It Before Knowing Its Ruling?
Whoever performed or practiced this full moon ritual before knowing its Islamic ruling must repent and seek forgiveness, and destroy the papers on which the wishes were written.
A Muslim should refrain from such practices completely and instead rely on what is authentically prescribed: making Dua, turning sincerely to Allah, and taking Islamically lawful and practical means to achieve one’s goals. Whoever previously practiced this ritual out of ignorance should repent to Allah, seek His forgiveness, and abandon it.
Conclusion
The so-called “full moon ritual” of writing wishes has no basis in Islam. It is rooted in superstition, astrology, and unfounded beliefs about “energy,” and it contradicts the Islamic principle that only Allah controls benefit and harm. Depending on how a person believes in it, the practice may lead to minor shirk or even major shirk.
True fulfillment of needs and wishes comes only through Allah alone — not through the moon, rituals, or imagined energies.
Ya Allah, We repent to You from everything that angers You, and We seek refuge in You from associating anything with You knowingly, and We seek Your forgiveness for what we do not know. Ya Allah, turn our heart away from falsehood and superstition, and keep us firm upon Tawhid and the Sunnah. Ya Allah, fulfill our needs through what is lawful, and suffice us by Your Grace and Mercy.
Wallahualam (and Allah knows best)!
Footnotes:
- Source: https://shamela.ws/book/7339/591