Q: How can we reconcile the following two Hadiths:1- Whoever visits a fortuneteller (`Arraf), asks him about anything, and believes in their words, their Salah (Prayer) shall not be accepted for forty days. (Related by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith) 2- Whoever visits a fortuneteller believing his saying has indeed disbelieved in the revelation sent down to Muhammad. (Related by Abu Dawud) (Part No. 1; Page No. 621)  Apparently, the first Hadith does not indicate the Kufr (disbelief) of those who visit fortunetellers while the other states their Kufr.

A: There is no conflict between the two Hadiths. As for the Hadith, Whoever visits a fortuneteller or a soothsayer believing his saying has indeed disbelieved in the revelation sent down to Muhammad, it indicates that those who ask soothsayers, believing that they know the Ghayb (the Unseen), are Kafirs, for they oppose the Qur'an as Allah says: Say: “None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (Unseen) except Allâh” As for the Hadith, Whoever visits a fortuneteller (`Arraf) and asks him about anything, their Salah shall not be accepted for forty days (Related by Muslim), this narration does not contain the phrase: "and believes in their words".This means that those who go to fortunetellers to ask them anything, their Salah shall not be accepted for forty nights but in case that they also believe them, they are Kafirs.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.