A Message in the Rule of Witchcraft

Praise be to Allah alone, and peace be upon His Prophet

Given the fact that there has been recently so many sorcerers who claim to heal and who treat people through magic and witchcraft, and that they have spread in some countries, and that they have exploited many credulous people who are dominated by ignorance – I have decided that, out of sincerity towards Allah and His slaves, I will demonstrate the great danger of this matter to Islam and Muslims; it is to cling to something other than Allah the Almighty and to disobey His commands and those of His Messenger, peace be upon him.

Allah is my help as I say that it is permissible to seek treatment, and a Muslim is to see physicians for internal diseases, surgical or neurological and so on; to diagnose his illness and to treat him with appropriate medication religiously permissible as they have learnt in medicine; because that is from taking appropriate measures, it does not contradict the idea of trusting Allah. Allah the Almighty has sent down the disease and with it the medicine, a fact known by some and unknown by others, but He has not made the treatment of His slaves in something He has forbidden them to take.

It is not permissible for the sick person to go to the sorcerers who claim to know the unknown to diagnose his sickness, he is not allowed to believe what they tell him about; they will speak guessing at the unseen, or they conjure jinn (demons) to assist them. If they claim the knowledge of the unknown, they are considered as disbelievers and astray. Imam Muslim in his Sahih has narrated that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever comes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayers will not be accept for forty days".
 

Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever comes to a sorcerer and believes what he says, then he has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad" [Narrated by Abu Dawud, on the authority of the four authors of Sunan]
 

Al-Hakim corrected it saying that the Prophet peace be upon him, said: "Whoever comes to a fortune-teller or sorcerer and believes what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad".
 

'Imran ibn Hussain, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "he is not one of us whoever draws omens or omens are drawn for him, or foresees for people or people foresee for him, or performs magic or magic is performed for him, and whoever goes to a sorcerer and believes what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad" [Narrated by al-Bazzar with a good chain]
 

In these hadiths it is forbidden to go to fortune-tellers, soothsayers, and sorcerers, and their likes, it is forbidden to ask or believe them, and there is also a threat against doing this. So, it is the duty of the governors and people of authority and the others who are powerful and influential to disapprove and condemn going to soothsayers and fortune-tellers and the like, and to prevent people who engage in such matters in marketplaces. People should not be deceived by the truth they tell in some matters, or by the many people frequently coming to them, such people are ignorant and are not to be conceited by; because the Prophet, peace be upon him, has forbidden going to them, enquiring from them or believing them, because of the great evil and the danger of serious and dire consequences that may befall people by doing this, and that they are wicked liars and evil doers.

There are also, in these Hadiths, evidences that fortune-tellers and sorcerers are disbelievers because they claim knowledge of the unknown which is kufr (disbelief), and they do not obtain their goals but by serving and worshipping the jinn, not Allah; and this is disbelief in Allah and associating others with Him, the Almighty. Whoever believes in their claims of knowing the unknown is like them, and whoever engages in their actions of such things is disowned by the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. It is not permissible for a Muslim to subjugate to what they claim as an alleged treatment by grumbling with talismans or pouring lead and such superstitious actions they perform, all this is witchcraft and deceiving people, and whoever accepts it thereby helps them in their falsehood and kufr.

It is also impermissible for any Muslim to go to them to ask who would marry his son or relative, or what would be between the couple or their families of love and loyalty, hostility and separation, and so on; because this is from the unknown which is known by no one except Allah the Almighty.

And magic is of the blasphemous forbidden actions as Allah says about the two angels: “But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, "We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic]." And [yet] they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah. And the people learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But the Children of Israel certainly knew that whoever purchased the magic would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew. [Al-Baqarah 2:102]
 

Transliteration: wama yuAAallimani min ahadin hatta yaqoola innama nahnu fitnatun fala takfur fayataAAallamoona minhuma ma yufarriqoona bihi bayna almari wazawjihi wama hum bidarreena bihi min ahadin illa biithni Allahi wayataAAallamoona ma yadurruhum wala yanfaAAuhum walaqad AAalimoo lamani ishtarahu ma lahu fee alakhirati min khalaqin walabisa ma sharaw bihi anfusahum law kanoo yaAAlamoona

These verses indicate that magic is disbelief and that the magicians separate between man and wife. They also show that magic itself is not effective whether beneficial or harmful, it only affects by Allah's leave, by His permission because Allah the Almighty is the One Who created good and evil.

The damage has been great and intensified of those liars who inherited this science from the idolaters and disbelievers and deceived the feeble minded, truly to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return and Allah alone is Sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs for us.

The verse also indicates that those who learn the witchcraft learn what harms them not that which will profit them, and that they would have no share in the Hereafter namely (any share or fortune). This is a tremendous threat to show the severity of their loss in this worldly life and the Hereafter, and that they have sold themselves cheap, and this is why Allah the Almighty dispraised them by saying: “And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew.” [Al-Baqarah 2:102]
 

Transliteration:walabisa ma sharaw bihi anfusahum law kanoo yaAAlamoona

We ask Allah safety from the evil of sorcerers, fortune-tellers and other warlocks, as we ask Him to protect Muslims from their evil, and to help the rulers of the Muslims to take guard against them and to implement the rule of Allah concerning these sorcerers so that the slaves of Allah get relieved from their malicious harm, He is the Most Generous.

Allah the Almighty has revealed for His slaves the legitimate ways to guard themselves against the harm of evil magic before it befalls them, and He explained to them how to be treated from it after it befalls them, it is mercy and kindness of Him towards them, and to perfect His grace unto them.

The following is an account of things that guard against the danger of magic before it happens and things that treat after magic befalls people; and all of them are religiously permissible things:

As for warding off the danger of magic before it happens; the most important and most beneficial is: to shield yourself with legitimate zikrs (certain sayings revealed by Allah and Prophet Muhammad to invoke Him for protection), prayers and Sayings of refuge, such as reciting the verse of Al-Kursi after every obligatory prayer and after saying the prescribed legitimate dhikrs after finishing the prayers, also reciting this verse before sleeping. The verse of Al-Kursi is the greatest verse in the Holy Qur'an, it is His saying: “Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” [Al-Baqarah 2:255]
 

Transliteration: Allahu la ilaha illa huwa alhayyu alqayyoomu la takhuthuhu sinatun wala nawmun lahu ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi man tha allathee yashfaAAu AAindahu illa biithnihi yaAAlamu ma bayna aydeehim wama khalfahum wala yuheetoona bishayin min AAilmihi illa bima shaa wasiAAa kursiyyuhu alssamawati waalarda wala yaooduhu hifthuhuma wahuwa alAAaliyyu alAAatheemu

Also reciting: “Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One,” [Al-Ikhlas 112:1]
 

Transliteration: Qul huwa Allahu ahadun

and “Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh), the Lord of the daybreak,” [Al-Falaq 113:1]
 

Transliteration: Qul aAAoothu birabbi alfalaqi

and “Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh) the Lord of mankind,” [An-Nas 114:1]
 

Transliteration: Qul aAAoothu birabbi alnnasi

After every obligatory prayer, and reciting these three Surats (chapters) three times in the daybreak after morning prayer, on sunset after Maghrib prayer, and at bedtime. It is also shielding the recitation of the last two verses of Sura Al-Baqarah by the beginning of the night, they are: “The Messenger (Muhammad) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allâh, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. (They say), "We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers" - and they say, "We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all).” [Al-Baqarah 2:285] to the end of the Surat.

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever recites Ayat-ul-Kursî in a night, will be appointed a guardian angel by Allah and demons will not get near him till the morning",
 

The Prophet, peace be upon him, also said: “Whoever recites the last two verses of Surat Al-Baqara in a night, they are enough for his protection”
 

Meaning that, and Allah knows best: they will protect him from all evil.

It is also protecting to say these words frequently: ((I seek refuge by the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created)), by day and night, and when entering any home in the cities or in the desert, in sea or air as the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "whoever enters a place and says: I seek refuge by the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created, nothing will harm him until he leaves that place".
 

A Muslim should also say, three times, in the beginning of the day and the beginning of the night: ((in the name of Allah with which nothing causes harm on earth or in heaven, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.)) the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, prompted saying these words and that doing this is of the means of safety of all evil.

These zikrs and prayers for refuge are of the greatest causes of taking guard against the evil of witchcraft and other evils to those who maintain saying them with sincerity and faith and trust in Allah, and depending on Him, and that their heart be delighted to what these words indicate, they are also one of the greatest weapons in removing the magic after its happening, with begging Allah and asking Him to reveal the damage and to remove the harm.

From the confirmed prayers of the Prophet, peace be upon him, in the treatment of ailments caused by magic and others, with which he, peace be upon him, used to do is ruqya (certain prayer for healing against evil spirits or fear or stings of snakes and scorpions) for his companions: "O Allah! The Lord of the people, the Remover of trouble! (Please) cure (Heal) (this patient), for You are the Healer. None brings about healing but You; a healing that will leave behind no ailment". He used to say it three times. [Muslim]
 

This includes the ruqya which was done by Gabriel to the Prophet, peace be upon him, which is his saying: "by the name of Allah I perform ruqya against everything that may harm you and against the evil of every soul or envious eye, may Allah heal you, by the name of Allah I perform ruqya" and repeat it three times.
 

There is an effective cure for magic after befalling a man, and preventing him from consummating his marital duties, which is to take seven green lote-tree leaves, grind them by a stone or so, and put them in a pot and pour some water on them, enough to wash with, and recite the verse of Al-Kursi and “Say, "O disbelievers," [Al-Kaafiroon 109:1]
 

Transliteration: Qul ya ayyuha alkafiroona

and “Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One,” [Al-Ikhlas 112:1]
 

Transliteration: Qul huwa Allahu ahadun

and “Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh), the Lord of the daybreak,” [Al-Falaq 113:1]
 

Transliteration: Qul aAAoothu birabbi alfalaqi

and “Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh) the Lord of mankind,” [An-Nas 114:1]
 

Transliteration: Qul aAAoothu birabbi alnnasi

and the verses that treat magic which are His saying: “And We inspired to Moses, "Throw your staff," and at once it devoured what they were falsifying. (117) So the truth was established, and abolished was what they were doing. (118) And Pharaoh and his people were overcome right there and became debased.” [Al-A'raf 7:117-119]
 

Transliteration: Waawhayna ila moosa an alqi AAasaka faitha hiya talqafu ma yafikoona (117) FawaqaAAa alhaqqu wabatala ma kanoo yaAAmaloona (118) Faghuliboo hunalika wainqalaboo saghireena

And the verses in Surat Yunus: “And Pharaoh said, "Bring to me every learned magician." (79) So when the magicians came, Moses said to them, "Throw down whatever you will throw." (80) And when they had thrown, Moses said, "What you have brought is [only] magic. Indeed, Allah will expose its worthlessness. Indeed, Allah does not amend the work of corrupters. (81) And Allah will establish the truth by His words, even if the criminals dislike it."” [Yunus 10:79-82]
 

Transliteration: Waqala firAAawnu itoonee bikulli sahirin AAaleemin (79) Falamma jaa alssaharatu qala lahum moosa alqoo ma antum mulqoona (80) Falamma alqaw qala moosa ma jitum bihi alssihru inna Allaha sayubtiluhu inna Allaha la yuslihu AAamala almufsideena (81) Wayuhiqqu Allahu alhaqqa bikalimatihi walaw kariha almujrimoona

and the verses in Surat Taha: “They said, "O Moses, either you throw or we will be the first to throw." (65) He said, "Rather, you throw." And suddenly their ropes and staffs seemed to him from their magic that they were moving [like snakes]. (66) And he sensed within himself apprehension, did Moses. (67) Allah said, "Fear not. Indeed, it is you who are superior. (68) And throw what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have crafted. What they have crafted is but the trick of a magician, and the magician will not succeed wherever he is."” [Taa-Haa 20:65-69]
 

Transliteration: Qaloo ya moosa imma an tulqiya waimma an nakoona awwala man alqa (65) Qala bal alqoo faitha hibaluhum waAAisiyyuhum yukhayyalu ilayhi min sihrihim annaha tasAAa (66) Faawjasa fee nafsihi kheefatan moosa (67) Qulna la takhaf innaka anta alaAAla (68) Waalqi ma fee yameenika talqaf ma sanaAAoo innama sanaAAoo kaydu sahirin wala yuflihu alssahiru haythu ata

After reciting the above verses on the water with the grinded lote-tree, you drink three sips from it, wash by the rest, and so, Allah willing, the ailment will go away, and if necessary, repeat twice or more, there is no harm doing this till the ailment goes away.

One of the most effective treatments of magic is exerting efforts to know where the magic has been placed; in the land or on a mountain or otherwise, if it is identified and retrieved and destroyed the magic will be neutralize.

This is a brief statement of the things that ward off witchcraft and treat it; Allah is the Source of strength.

The treatment of witchcraft by offering sacrifices to the jinn or other performances is not permissible; because it is the work of the devil, it is of associating others with Allah the Almighty. We must beware of committing such things. It is not permissible, as well, to treat magic by asking sorcerers, fortune-tellers and soothsayers, or use what they say because they are disbelievers, they are wicked liars and evil doers who claim knowledge of the unknown, and lie to people, the Prophet, peace be upon him, has warned against going to them, asking them or believing them, as explained in the beginning of this Message. It was narrated about the Messenger of Allah that he was asked about the nashrah, he answered: "it is the work of the devil" [Narrated by Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud]
 

The nashrah; is removing the witchcraft from the bewitched, the Prophet, peace be upon him, meant by his words the nashrah which people of ignorance used to use, namely: asking the sorcerer to remove the magic, or placing it by another magic from another sorcerer.

Removing magic by legitimate ruqyah and refuge prayers and by permissible medicines is accepted. This was stated by Ibn Al-Qayyim and Sheikh Abdul Rahman ibn Hassan in Fath al-Majid, may Allah have mercy on them both, and this was also stated by other scholars.

We ask Allah to help the Muslims to be safe from all evil, and to protect their religion, and bless them with the knowledge in it, and protect them from committing anything that violates His commands, blessings and peace be upon His servant and Messenger Muhammad and his household and companions.

The ruling about asking sorcerer and fortune-tellers

Q: in some parts of Yemen there are people who are called (the masters) and those people perform some actions which are contrary to religion, such as sorcery and others, they claim that they are able to heal people from incurable diseases, and they demonstrate this ability by stabbing themselves with daggers or cut their tongues and then return them without any damage that happen to them, some of these people perform prayers and some of them do not, they permit themselves to marry from other clans, but they prevent others from marrying from theirs, and when they perform invocation for patients (in order to heal them) they say: (O Allah, O so and so), one of their ancestors.

In the old days people used to reverend them, but nowadays people differ about them. What is the ruling of religion concerning these people?

A: these people and the like are among the Sufis who perform unacceptable deeds and whose behavior is invalid, they are also among the fortune-tellers about whom the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever comes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something his prayers will not be accept for forty days " [Muslim]
 

because they claim knowledge of the unknown, and they offer services to the jinn, and they worship them, and they deceive people with what they do of the types of magic which Allah has narrated about in the story of Moses and the Pharaoh: “He said, "Throw," and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic.” [Al-A’raf 7:116]
 

Transliteration: Qala alqoo falamma alqaw saharoo aAAyuna alnnasi waistarhaboohum wajaoo bisihrin AAatheemin

So it is not permissible to come to them or ask them because of this Hadith when the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever comes to a sorcerer and believes what he says, then he has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad" [authenticated by Al-Albani]
 

As for directing prayers to or asking refuge from other than Allah, or their claim that their parents and ancestors control the universe, or that they heal the sick, or respond to supplications although they are dead or absent, all this is disbelief in Allah the Almighty, it is grand disbelief (associating others with Him), it is obligatory to denounce them and never go to them, nor ask them, or believe them; because by such doings, they have combined between the deeds of sorcerers and fortune-tellers and the deeds of the infidels who worship other than Allah, and those who ask refuge or help from other than Allah: the jinn and the dead, and the others who they claim they belong to from their parents and ancestors, or from other people who claim to be holy or dignified, however all this is a kind of sorcery, it is the sorcery and divination which is reprehensible in Islam.

As for the reprehensible behavior of stabbing themselves with daggers or cutting off their tongues; this is all deceiving people. This is the type of magic which is forbidden by the texts of the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and as above mentioned warned against. So a wise man should not be deceived by this, this is what Allah the Almighty said about the sorcerers of the Pharaoh: “He said, "Rather, you throw." And suddenly their ropes and staffs seemed to him from their magic that they were moving [like snakes].” [Taa-Haa 20:66]
 

Transliteration: Qala bal alqoo faitha hibaluhum waAAisiyyuhum yukhayyalu ilayhi min sihrihim annaha tasAAa

These people have combined between a lot of things: magic and sorcery, fortune-telling and divination, the grand disbelief, asking refuge and help from other than Allah, claiming knowledge of the unseen as well as claiming to have control of the universe, and the many types of disbelief and sorcery and acts of outright quackery which are forbidden by Allah, they also claim knowledge of the unseen which no one knows except Allah, as He says: “Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected."”[An-Naml 27:65]
 

Transliteration: Qul la yaAAlamu man fee alssamawati waalardi alghayba illa Allahu wama yashAAuroona ayyana yubAAathoona

So all Muslims who know the truth about these people are obliged to denounce them and explain their evil behavior, they should raise the matter to the governors if they are in Muslim countries to punish them with what they are legally entitled to, in order to end their evil and protect Muslims from their falsehood and deception.

Allah is the Source of strength

Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz



Translated by Wathakker.info website