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Encyclopedia of Religion entry for
Kahin
pl. kahanah and kuhhan. A soothsayer, or augur. The word occurs only twice in the Qur’an; and in both instances it is used for "a soothsay." Surah lii. 29: "For thou (Muhammad), by the favor of thy Lord, art neither a soothsayer (kahin), nor one possessed (majnun)." The word is used in the Traditions in the same sense only:- Mishkat, book iv. chap. i.: "The Prophet said, believe in Islam, and put not your trust in soothsayers (kahanah)." Mishkat, book xxi. ch. ii. : "Ayishan relates that the Prophet was asked about kahanah, fortune-tellers, and he said, ‘You must not believe anything they say. ‘ It was then said, ‘O Prophet, why do they then sometimes tell lies? ‘ And the Prophet said: ‘Because one of the jinn steals away the truth and carries it to the magician ‘s ear, and the magicians (kuhhan) mix a hundred lies with it. ‘" The Hebrew 
Kohain, 
is applied in the Old Testament not only to the Jewish priests, but also to Melchizedek (Gen. xiv. 18), Potipher (Gen. xli. 45; see marginal reading in our Englich version), and to Jethro (Ex. ii. 16).
citations: Dictionary of Islam, Hughes
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12
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