Muslim views on astrology and Gotha Go 145: Difference between pages

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[[Islamic astrology]], in [[Arabic]] ''ilm al-nujum'' or ''ilm al-falak''. In early Arabic sources, ''ilm al-nujum'' was used to refer to both [[astronomy]] and [[astrology]]. In [[medieval]] sources, however, a clear distinction was made between ''ilm al-nujum'' (science of the stars) or ''ilm al-falak'' (science of the celestial orbs), referring to astrology, and'' ilm al-haya'' (science of the figure of the heavens), referring to astronomy. Both fields were rooted in [[Greek]], [[Persian]], and [[Indian subcontinent|Indian]] traditions. Despite consistent critiques of astrology by scientists and religious scholars, astrological prognostications required a fair amount of exact scientific knowledge and thus gave partial incentive for the study and development of astronomy.

|name =Go 145

|type =[[Trainer (aircraft)|Trainer]]

|manufacturer =[[Gothaer Waggonfabrik|Gotha]]

|image =Image:Go145.jpg

|caption =

|designer =Albert Kalkert

|first flight =[[1934 in aviation|February, 1934]]

|introduced =[[1935 in aviation|1935]]

|retired = [[1945 in aviation|1945]]<ref>The Spanish '''CASA 1145-L''' licensed version saw post-World War II service as a trainer.</ref>

|primary user =[[Luftwaffe]]

|produced =

|number built =ca 10,000

|unit cost =

|variants with their own articles =

}}

The '''Gotha Go 145''' was a [[Nazi Germany|German]] [[World War II]]-era [[bi-plane]] of wood and fabric construction used by [[Luftwaffe]] training units. Although obsolete by the start of [[World War II]], the Go 145 remained in operational service until the [[Victory in Europe Day|end of the War in Europe]] as a night harassment bomber.

== Background ==

==Opinions of Contemporary Scholars==

On [[2 October]] [[1933]] the [[Gothaer Waggonfabrik|Gotha]] aircraft company was re-established. The first aircraft manufactured was the Gotha Go 145 <ref>Kay and Smith, p.115</ref>, a two-seat bi-plane designed by [[Albert Kalkert]] made out of wood with a fabric covering. The Go 145 featured fixed landing gear and was powered by an Argus As 10C air-cooled engine fitted with a two-blade fixed-pitch propeller. The first prototype took to the air in February 1934, and was followed by a production model, the '''Gotha Go 145A''', a dual-controlled trainer with flight controls in the rear seat.

According to jurists, the study of astronomy (''ilm al-haya'') is lawful, as it is useful in predicting the beginning of months and seasons, determining the direction of [[salat]] (prayer), and navigation. They agree that this branch of science be used in determining the beginning and end of the month of [[Ramadan]]. As for astrology, this is considered by most Islamic scholars as [[haram]] (unlawful), as knowledge of the Unseen is known only by Allah. Dr. Husam al-Din Ibn Musa `Afana, a Professor of the Principles of [[Fiqh]] at [[Al-Quds University]], [[Palestine]], states the following:

== Operational service ==

“First of all, it is worth noting that the [[Arabs]] knew astronomy a long time ago. They would predict time through observing the movements of stars.

In 1935 the Gotha Go 145 started service with Luftwaffe training units. The aircraft proved a successful design and production of the Go 145 was taken up by other companies, including [[AGO Flugzeugwerke|Ago]], [[Focke-Wulf]] and [[Messerschmitt|BFW]]. Licensed versions were also manufactured in [[Spain]] and [[Turkey]]. The Spanish version, called the '''CASA 1145-L''' actually remained in service until long after World War II <ref>Kay and Smith, p.115</ref>. Nearly 10,000 Gotha Go 145’s were built. Further development of the aircraft continued, the '''Gotha Go 145B''' was fitted with an enclosed cockpit and wheel spats (an aerodynamic wheel housing on fixed-gear). The '''Go 145C''' was developed for gunnery training and was fitted with a single 7.92mm MG-15 machine gun for the rear seat, after removal of flight controls for the rear seat.

According to the scholars of Shar`iah, there are two terms confused in many people's minds when it comes to dealing with the question in hand. These terms are astronomy and astrology. Astronomy is the science that deals with studying the movements of the celestial bodies and reducing observations to mathematical order. That science is useful in determining time, seasons, the direction of Prayer, etc. Astrology, on the other hand, is concerned with studying the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs. Astrologists believe that the movements of stars have an influence on people's lives. Both Muslim astronomers and [religious] scholars refuse the prophecies of astrologists.<ref>excerpted from a lecture given by Dr. Yusuf Marwah under the title ''Astronomy and the Beginning of the Lunar Months''</ref>

By 1942 the [[Soviet Union|Russians]] began using obsolete aircraft such as the [[Polikarpov Po-2]] to conduct night harassment missions against the Germans. Noting the success of the raids, the Germans began conducting their own night harassment missions with obsolete aircraft on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]]. In December 1942 the first ''Störkampfstaffeln'' (harassment squadron) was established and equipped with Gotha Go 145 and [[Arado Ar 66]]. The night harassment units were successful and by October 1943 there were six night harassment squadrons equipped with Gotha Go 145. Also in October 1943 the ''Störkampfstaffeln'' were redesignated ''Nachtschlachtgruppe (NSGr)'' (night ground attack group, literally night battle group). In March 1945 ''Nachtschlachtgruppe 5'' had 69 Gotha Go 145’s on strength of which 52 were serviceable <ref>Bishop, p.182</ref> while ''Nachtschlachtgruppe 3'' in the [[Courland Pocket]] had 18 Gotha Go 145’s on strength of which 16 were serviceable <ref>Bishop, p.183</ref>. When the war in Europe ended on [[8 May]] [[1945]] the Gotha Go 145 equipped the majority of the ''Nachtschlachtgruppe''.

On the other hand, scholars agree that astrology is a prohibited field of study. Imam [[Ibn Taymiyah]] said: “Astrology that is concerned with studying the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs is prohibited by the Quran, the [[Sunnah]], and the unanimous agreement of the Muslim scholars. Furthermore, astrology was considered forbidden by all Messengers of Almighty Allah.”

==Operators==

The Saudi scholar, [[Muhammad ibn al Uthaymeen]], said: “Astrology is a kind of sorcery and fortune-telling. It is forbidden because it is based on illusions, not on concrete facts. There is no relation between the movements of celestial bodies and what takes place on the Earth.”<ref>Islamonline.com</ref>

*{{flag|Nazi Germany|name=Germany}}

*{{flag|Spain}}

*{{flag|Turkey}}

== Surviving aircraft ==

==Quranic Verses & ''Ahadith'' Relating to Astrology==

*Gotha Go 145A - Museum für Verkehr und Technik. [[Berlin]], [[Germany]].

Before the advent of [[Islam]], people believed that the sun and moon might [[eclipse]] when a great figure died. During the Muhammad's lifetime, it happened that the sun eclipsed on the same day when Muhammad’s son Ibrahim died. The people then thought that it had eclipsed because of the Prophet’s son’s death. On knowing this, Muhammad led them in the Eclipse Prayer and then delivered a speech saying: “The sun and moon are but signs of Allah; they do not eclipse because so-and-so died or was born.”

*Gotha Go 145A - Norsk Luftfartssenter. [[Bodø]], [[Norway]].

Both examples are badly damaged and are in storage.

== Specifications (Go 145A) ==

This [[hadith]] indicates that Muhammad denied all relation between the movements of the heavenly bodies and events on the Earth. Ibn `Abbas reported that Muhammad said: “He who has acquired some knowledge of astrology has acquired some knowledge of sorcery; the more he acquires of the former the more he acquires of the latter.”<ref>Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah</ref>

{{aircraft specification|Gotha Go 145A

|ref= ''Kay & Smith, p. 116.''

|crew=2 (pilot, instructor)

|length main=8.7 [[metre|m]]

|length alt=28 [[Foot (unit of length)|ft]] 6½ [[Inch|in]]

|span main=9 m

|span alt=29 ft 6⅓ in

|height main=2.9 m

|height alt=9 ft 6 in

|area main=21.75 [[Square (algebra)|sq]] m

|area alt=234.10 sq ft

|empty weight main=800 [[Kilogram|kg]]

|empty weight alt=1,940 [[Pound (mass)|lb]]

|loaded weight main= 1,380 kg

|loaded weight alt=3,043 lb

|max takeoff weight main=

|max takeoff weight alt=

|engine (prop)=

|type of prop=

|number of props=

|power main=

|power alt=

|max speed main=212 [[Kilometres per hour|km/h]]

|max speed alt=132 [[Miles per hour|mph]]

|range main=630 [[Kilometre|km]]

|range alt=391 [[miles]]

|ceiling main=3,700 m

|ceiling alt=12,139 ft

|climb rate main=

|climb rate alt=

|loading main=

|loading alt=

|power/mass main=

|power/mass alt=

|armament=

}}

== Notes ==

Commenting on this hadith, the [[Yemeni]] scholar [[Muhammad ash-Shawkani]] (d.[[1834]]), said that the Prophet compared between astrology and [[sorcery]] because sorcery was known to be forbidden; and so, he who would get some knowledge of astrology would do something forbidden and would be sinful.<ref>Nayl Al-Awtar, vol.7, p.207</ref>

{{Reflist}}

== References ==

It was also reported by [[Ibn Abbas]] that the Prophet Muhammad said: “He who uses astronomy for something other than what Almighty Allah has made lawful would be practicing sorcery. Astrologers predict knowledge of the future, and he who does so is a sorcerer, and sorcerers are disbelievers.”<ref>See Meshkat Al-Masabeeh, vol. 2, p. 1296</ref>

*Bishop, C. ''Luftwaffe Squadrons, 1939 –1945''. Amber Books, 2006.

*Donald, D. (ed.) ''Warplanes of the Luftwaffe: Combat aircraft of Hitler’s Luftwaffe, 1933 -1945''. Aerospace Publishing, 2001.

*Kay, A.L. and Smith, J.R. ''German Aircraft of World War II''. Naval Institute Press, 2002.

==Related content==

Also, [[Ibn Mihjan]] reported that the Prophet said: “I fear on account of my nation three things after my death: (I fear that) their [[Imams]] (leaders) would oppress them, (that) they would believe in astrology, and (that) they would disbelieve predestination.”<ref>Reported by Ibn `Asakir and Ibn `Abdul-Barr</ref>

{{aircontent

|related=

[[Abu Hurayrah]] also reported that the Prophet said: “He who goes to a fortune-teller to ask him about something, his Prayer will not be accepted for forty days.”<ref>Reported by Muslim</ref>

|similar aircraft=

Abu Hurayrah also reported that the Prophet said: “He who goes to a soothsayer or a fortuneteller and believes what he says exhibits disbelief in what has been sent down to Prophet Muhammad (from Allah).”<ref>Al-Albani said in Sahih At-Targhib wa At-Tarhib, vol. 3, p. 172, that this is an authentic hadith</ref>

|sequence=

Contemplating the last two ''ahadith'' reported by Abu Hurayrah, it is to be noted that mere going to fortune-tellers is a [[sin]] that incurs upon a [[Muslim]] who commits it that his prayer is not accepted for forty days, and that believing what fortunetellers say renders a Muslim a disbeliever in what has been sent down to Prophet Muhammad. This is because Allah says in the [[Quran]]: “Say (O Muhammad): None in the heavens and the earth knoweth the Unseen save Allah; and they know not when they will be raised (again).”<ref>Quran, An-Naml: 65</ref>

[[Blohm & Voss BV 142|BV 142]] -

[[Blohm & Voss BV 143|BV 143]] -

[[Blohm & Voss BV 144|BV 144]] -

'''Go 145''' -

[[Gotha Go 146|Go 146]] -

[[Gotha Go 147|Go 147]]/[[Junkers Ju 147|Ju 147]] -

[[Gotha Go 149|Go 149]]

|see also=

Allah also says: “(He is) the knower of the Unseen, and He revealeth unto none His secret, save unto every messenger whom he hath chosen, and then He maketh a guard to go before him and a guard behind him That He may know that they have indeed conveyed the messages of their Lord. He surroundeth all their doings, and He keepeth count of all things.”<ref>Quran, Al-Jinn: 26-28</ref>

}}

==Notes==

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[[Category:German military trainer aircraft 1930-1939]]

==See Also==

[[Category:World War II German ground attack aircraft|Gotha Go 145]]

*[[Islamic law]]

[[Category:World War II German aircraft|Gotha Go 145]]

[[de:Gotha Go 145]]

[[Category:Astrology]]

[[Category:Islam]]