Amulets & Its Evil

All praise to Allah lord of the realms, and his blessing and peace be upon His prophet Mohamed and all his family and companions:

Narrated by Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud May Allah be pleased with him said I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say, ‘Ruqaa (spells), Tama’im (amulets) and Toula (love-charms) are shirk (polytheism). [Reported by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majjah and Ahmad, Authenticated by Al-Albani]

Ruqaa (spells): Plural of Ruqya (spell), it is read on the sick or ill person to acquire recovery for this patient, type of incantation.

Al-Toula (love-charms): A type of Magic done believed to make a husband love his wife and vice-versa.

Amulets: Will be explained in detail.

Forms and kinds of polytheism forbidden from the Hadith

The notion derived from the Hadith that all (Ruqaa, Amulets and love-charms) are all types of shirk, however this is not the case for all kinds of Ruqaa. This general rule has exceptions, Prophet Mohamed said in a hadith reported by Muslim, “Ruqaa are ok unless it entailed shirk (polytheism)”.
 

It was stated by the prophet that he applied permissible Ruqya, had it done and done it to others. Thus not all kinds of Ruqya promotes polytheism, except some, these ones that include shirk (polytheism) and rely on other than Allah for aid. As for the Ruqya that includes supplication to Allah is permissible and favoured.

Al- Toula (Love-Charms): It’s a form of magic, where a woman wins through it the love of her husband. Its known to people by the names Sarf (dismissal, dismissing the heart to love her) and ‘Atf (Caring or being compassionate, having affection towards her). This practice is an act of Shirk, intended to bring benefit and prevent harm with something other than returning to Allah Almighty. If the words of Allah and his names were used, then the rule doesn’t apply to it.

Amulets: It’s the plural of amulet, hanging from the neck like a necklace or on the upper arm. The Arabs used to put it around a child’s neck, necklace made of beads or a round shaped metal like iron and gold. It is thought to ward off envy, evil eye and the effect of devils or any kind of general harm.

Forms and shapes of various Amulets

There are various forms and shapes of amulets, this applies to any thing hanged (on the neck), believing that it would fully bring benefit and prevent harm or thought to be one of the causes, in reality Allah almighty didn’t make this practice a cause religiously or fatally. Thus, the amulet could take the form of spells or incantations covered with leather or paper and worn on the chest or the upper arm. Its common amongst a lot of people, they even tie it to their bellies’ for prevention or cure from inner diseases. Amulets could be made from diverse material, like beads, strings, bones, sea shells, nail or even names of devils and Jinn, Talisman and other countless forms. A horseshoe or a shoe heel could be used as an amulet, hanged on top of a house door, or a fruitful tree and such kinds. A common practice among people is hanging amulets in cars, like red or green strings, a rabbit or a head of an animal, to repell evil eye and accidents, while some use a copy of the Holy Qur’an for this reason instead of reciting it!

Why is it called Amulets?

It is called Tamimah (Amulet) meaning the illness is completely cured or the matter is solved, derived from the arabic word (yatim) i.e. complete, where the person using it believes that the reason he wore it for will be cured or done sufficiently. That’s why messenger of Allah supplicated against such person that his affairs don’t get solved. So He said, “whoever hangs an amulet, May Allah forfeit his affairs.” [Ibn Al-Baz]

The ruling of amulets differ for different reasons, like, what is included in it, reason behind it, purpose and the belief of the person using it. Thus amulets are of various types having different religious ruling for each type, as follows:

First kind:

Written scripts, relying on devils or other creatures for aid, this is a major act of shirk (polytheism), resulting in abandoning the religion and eternity in hell. Therefore relying on someone other than Allah for aid in a matter that can’t be resolved except by Him is a major act of shirk (ploytheism), Allah almighty said, “And if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, " Allah." Say, "Then have you considered what you invoke besides Allah? If Allah intended me harm, are they removers of His harm; or if He intended me mercy, are they withholders of His mercy?" Say, "Sufficient for me is Allah; upon Him [alone] rely the [wise] reliers."” [Az-Zumar 39:38]
 

Transliteration: Walain saaltahum man khalaqa alssamawati waalarda layaqoolunna Allahu qul afaraaytum ma tadAAoona min dooni Allahi in aradaniya Allahu bidurrin hal hunna kashifatu durrihi aw aradanee birahmatin hal hunna mumsikatu rahmatihi qul hasbiya Allahu AAalayhi yatawakkalu almutawakkiloona

Prophet Mohamed said, “Whoever hangs an amulet has committed shirk (polytheism)”, [Declared authentic by Al-Albani]
 

Another authentic hadith the messenger of Allah said, “Whoever hangs something will be referred to it.” [Narrated by At-Tirmizi]

Meaning, that Allah will let him follow this amulet that will not aid him after all, what a loss! As an amulet doesn’t satisfy or brings tranquility, moreover doesn’t ward off the calamity nor brings benefit without the aid of Allah.

Shaikh Saleh Al-Fawzan said, “Some people hang these amulets assuming being ill while he’s not, rather, he’s fearing envy and evil eye, or he hangs it in his car, animal, house door or his shop. This all emerges from weakness in faith, which is the real disease that needs to be cured through the comprehensive knowledge of true Tawheed (monotheism) and Faith.

Second Kind:

Amulets containing incomprehensible drawings, figures, Talisman, names and words. Those kinds are impermissible, because it leads to Shirk ( polytheism) rather its closer to it. This kind of amulets is similar to the first one, a Muslim must be cautious.

Third Kind:

Hanging an amulet containing Qur’an, Ahadith, or authentic and permissible supplication, the scholars have differed on the ruling applying to it. Some of them accepted it and others forbade, among who forbade it was Ibn Mas’ud May Allah be pleased with him, because it is included in the general rule of prohibition and preserve the Qur’an from being misused in matters other than what Allah exalted be his rank prescribed for.

Shaikh Ibn Uthaimeen said, “The scripts - paper containing verses of the Qur’an folded in leather then sewed – worn by children on their wrists or hanged from the neck, is a matter of dispute among scholars, the general notion of the Hadith that it is prohibited and not permissible. Some of these people write the qur’an in small fonts in tiny papers placed in small lock then hanged around a child’s neck, an innovated practice leading to indegnifying the Qur’an, this same child could cause it be stained with impurities by going to the bathroom and other impure places, causing indignifying the Qur’an.

Fourth kind:

Hanging of beads, rings, strings, ringlets and its kinds to repel affliction or relieve distress. The rule accompanying this kind needs more elaboration, to be fairly comprehensible the rules of its reason must be understood. In short - explained by the scholars-, a person must know some qualities of the reason behind the act.

1. Not making it a reason unless it is prescribed religiously or destined to be one.

2. That the worshiper doesn’t depend on it, rather, he depends on its Lord who caused and destined it exalted be His rank, while applying the permissible type.

3. To fully comprehend that these factors no matter how great or strong in effect it could be, it is managed by the destiny of Allah and his fate not escaping that, where He disposes it the way he wills.

Detailed Ruling of this Kind

If you acknowledged the motivation behind it, then you must know that wearing ringlets, strings and their kind, believing that it accompanies Allah in creating, planning and influence, will be considered as seeking deity with Allah in Godhood, also taking deity with Allah in his divine nature, thus assuming deification of the amulet and the heart attached to it wishing its benefit.

If he believes that Allah is the only Benefiter and Affecter while it’s merely a reason for warding off the calamities, defining it as a religious and fatal reason although it’s not, This is forbidden and a deceive to the religion and fate. The sharia prohibits this act strongly, which is regarded as a lack of sanity being attached to something that doesn’t bring benefit; moreover it leads to plain harm.

In conclusion of the aforementioned ruling of wearing ringlets, strings and their like, is forbidden. If the person wearing it believed that its beneficent in itself then he got himself in Major Shirk (polytheism), but if he believes that the command is in the hands of Allah alone and the amulet is a mere reason for it eventually he committed a Minor Shirk (polytheism). He made what is not a reason to be so and turning his heart to something other than Allah almighty. The minor Shirk (polytheism) committed is a bridge to Major Shirk (polytheism) if his heart gets attached to it, seeking grace and warding off the calamities.
Understand it well fellow Muslims and never give one verdict to amulets as it varies in type, reason and its motive.

What is our religious role towards who wears amulets?

These things that are worn could be a kind of amulet or could be something else. Indicated by the reason and purpose of wearing it, the person wearing for the purpose of adornment or imitating someone else or any other permissible reason. The issue must be confirmed first before passing judgments, on the other hand if proven to be an amulet worn to seek benefit and warding off the calamities, this person must be advised and removing it is obligatory if possible, unless there was harm or unwanted drawbacks reflected. Specifically the man is entitled to eliminate such practices in his household not being negative about minor issues, after all that, can Major Shirk be imagined?

Al Hakem reported with an authentic chain of transmission that Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud entered his home, then he saw his wife wearing red beads around her neck, he tore it roughly, then he said, “the house of Abdullah is in no need of shirk”, he also said, “from what we have learned from the prophet -peace and blessings be upon him- “Ruqaa (spells), Tama’im (amulets) and Toula (love-charms) are shirk (polytheism)” [Reported by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majjah and Ahmad, Authenticated by Al-Albani]
 

As stated in Al-Bukhari and Muslim that the messenger of Allah ordered to tear up any necklace hung on a camel’s neck.
 

Narrated by Ibn Aby Hatem by Hudhaifa that he saw a man wearing a thin string for fever, he ripped it and recited Allah’s words, “And most of them believe not in Allah except while they associate others with Him.” [Yusuf 12:106]
 

Transliteration: Wama yuminu aktharuhum biAllahi illa wahum mushrikoona

This confirms the role of the scholars, especially individuals appointed for Enjoining good and Forbidding evil if they are available to teach the ignorant, alert the unaware and enjoin the good and forbid the evil on these matters. As Shirk (polytheism) is greatly an unjust act leads to nulling good deeds, eternity in hell and deprived from paradise. Here it means attachment to anything but Allah and believing these strings, beads and rag cloth could bring benefit or ward off calamities, moreover thinking that it ward off envy and evil eye.

We ask Allah to be sound of all Afflictions, apparent and non-apparent ones, specially the affliction of Shirk (polytheism). We also ask Allah to die on monotheism and his blessing and peace be upon His prophet Mohamed and all his family and companions.

What is the Meaning of the Hadith “That every Ruqaa, Tama’im and Toula are shirk”?

Kind Sheikh Idn Baz May Allah have mercy on him, answered: - The chain of transmission of the hadith is alright, reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawud, and narrated by Ibn Mas’ud. Its meaning according to the people of knowledge, that the Ruqaa (spells) made of ambiguous meaning or devils names and their like are forbidden It’s a type of magic known as Sarf (dismissal, dismissing the heart to love her) and ‘Atf (Caring or being compassionate, having affection towards her). Tama’im (Amulets) hung on children’s necks to repel envy and Jinn, it could also be worn by elders and ill people, and on camel’s neck and it has been answered earlier in question number three. The names of amulets hung over animals’ neck are Al-‘Awtaar it comprises Minor shirk (polytheism) and entails the same ruling of amulets. An authentic Hadith by prophet Mohamed stated: “He sent a messenger to the army in one of his battle dispatches telling them, “Rip up every necklace of Watar (singular of Al-‘Awtar in Arabic) hung over a Camel’s neck.” [Reported by Al-Bukhary and Muslim]
 

This is clear evidence on impermissibility of any amulet even if Qur’an was carved in it or any other script.

For that reason spells are forbidden if it’s ambiguous, on the other hand, if these spells wasn’t Ambiguous and contain nothing contradicting the religion then it’s permissible, because prophet Mohamed got Ruqya made for him and made Ruqya for others. He said, “There is nothing wrong with Ruqaa unless it entails shirk.” [Reported by Muslim]
 

Also reading Ruqya over water is permissible, i.e to be read over water and drank by the sick person or drained on him, prophet Mohamed did that and its proven in the Book of Medicine in Sunan Aby Dawud: “That he read over water for Thabit Ibn Qays Ibn Shamas and drained it over him.”

Our righteous forefathers also followed this practice so it’s alright to do so.

Colllection Fatawa and diverse articles part thirty.


Translated by Wathakker.info website