An Islamic discussion on

Magic

…All power belongs to The Most Beneficent & Most Merciful

The physical and the non-physical world:

We have this physical world with all its mysteries in front of us that are possible for
us to see. But there is again a whole world, more enormous and much more
fantastically mysterious, that is not possible to witness through the eyesight. Lots of
things do exist but are not comprehensible through our eyes. One of the aspects of
this unseen world is the cause and effect of our actions.

As there is the good and the bad in this physical world so is there the good and the
bad in the unseen world. Amongst the good things are Allah (S.W.T.), angels, etc.
Amongst the bad things present in the non-physical realm are things that are anti-
system to the physically good. They also include the misuse or wrong application of
some of the physical and non-physical good.

Definitions Of Certain Haraam Actions:

1. Magic – Indulging in magic, teaching and learning magic, earning out of it is

unconditionally and absolutely Haraam. On the basis of obligatory precaution, this is
not allowed even for retaliating to magic in general. The exception to this being,
when there is no alternate to this and there is a requirement that is of higher
significance in nature, like saving a momins life who is being affected by magic. By
magic it is meant to influence the mind of a person through influencing of the sight
or hearing or similar aspects of a person.

Let us refer to the Holy Quran in this regard:

“They said: O Musa! Will you cast, or shall we be the first to cast? He said: Cast. So
when they cast, they deceived the people’s eyes and frightened them, and they
produced a mighty enchantment.”

(Araaf 7: 115-116).

“He said: Nay! Cast down. Then lo! Their cords and their rods – it was imaged to him
on account of their magic as if they were running.”

(TaHa 20: 66).

This is how we have defined magic in the above point.

2. Soothsaying – Fortune telling, this is defined as informing about the hidden things
by maintaining that the information has been received through Jinn. It is haraam to
indulge in soothsaying. It is also haraam to earn out of soothsaying. Similarly, it is
also haraam to refer to a soothsayer. Furthermore, it is even haraam to believe in
what the soothsayer has said as true.

3. Astrology – This is Haraam. It is defined as information regarding events like

inflation, deflation, heat, cold and other events relying on the movements of celestial
bodies, developments in the state of the stars like the proximity between them or
the distancing between them or their timing or other similar things with the faith that
these have an effect on the events, an effect that is either autonomous to Allah
(S.W.T.) or in sharing with Allah (S.W.T.). It is also to be noted that many claimants
do not even have this knowledge of astrology. They claim to have knowledge based
on their ulterior motives. Obviously, this is also Haraam.

It is NOT Magic in most cases?

We tend to put all the blame for any misfortune/problem on other people & most
convieniently on magic. Instead of looking at our sins & other reasons we
immediately accept any suggestion(from anybody at all), that someone has done
something to us!.

In 99% of cases we only incorrectly assume that magic has affected us & it may be
true in a very rare case.

Magic is evil

Magic is unconditionally & absolutely haram/prohibited .A gunahane Kabira (greater

sin) leading to Hell fire. A person who indulges in magic & does not repent is
punishable by Death in an Islamic society, as it is equivalent to shirk & severly
criticised in many ahadith

At times, the sorcerer discontinues all good actions & concentrates on performing
satanic rituals, committing adultery, drinking blood etc. There is an entire cult in
magic called as Blood Magic. This is based on the belief that as blood represents life
force, and thus can be used to power or augment powerful magic. Use of blood can
provide power to humans and also to objects. A more hideous though related cult is
Death Magic. In both of these the magician does not fall short of killing ones own
wife, kids, etc. Another form is called as Necromancy. This also includes rapes of
little girls. In this and most of the forms of magic atrocities of ghastly nature are
caused more specifically to women. Then there are other forms of magic like the
sympathetic and the contiguous. Contrary to the name, even the sympathetic is very
harsh. Both these also involve making idols/dolls and then harming the idol/doll so
as to harm any given person with the only difference that contiguous includes
something (clothes, shoes, footprints, etc.) related to the target. These acts bring
the magician close to Satan so that he is helped in his magic. Obviously the closer to
Satan a man is the further he is from any kind of truth & Islam.

A Muslim is one who submits to the All Powerful Allah swt.

If he goes near these things he demonstrates that he has no faith in Allah swt &
Ahlul bayt(as).The Imam of our time will be saddened to see a believer relying on
Magic or soothsaying as he has abandoned Allah swt,& HIS chosen people.
If someone wishes for something bad to happen to HIS creation especially another
Muslim, Allah swt will also hate him for it. Such negative feelings arising out of pride
,jealousy need treatment by consulting knowledgeable people & reading books on
Ethics like Greater sins, Self Building*

Pir/ Baba/ Mulla/ Fakir/ Sufi:

It is to be noted that whenever we happen to say that it is haraam to go to a

Pir/Baba we always mean along with the associated conditions. This sentence is not
absolute in nature. Going to a Pir/Baba or to a mulla/fakir/sufi/scholar etc. for that
matter is haraam when it falls under the above-mentioned haraam categories. But if
a person goes to another person called as Pir/Baba and he evidently guides through
the knowledge of the Holy Quran or the Holy Traditions, then it is absolutely no
harm. There may be certain apprehensions here and hence please note that we can
divide the actions of Pir/Babas/scholar etc into the following categories for the sake
of convenience in particular related to our subject matter herein:

1. Actions that are evidently haraam based on the above-mentioned criterion. Like a
person dominates other peoples minds or a person claims that he gets news from the
Jinn, etc. Here we need to abhor the action and the person indulging in it and
prevent this social bane from spreading wherever possible.

2. Actions that are evidently good or mubah. Like a person informing through the
Holy Traditions about the signs of the re-appearance the Imam (A.F.) and also
informing that probably now so and so events will take place as is mentioned in the
Holy Traditions or a person advising that fornication be totally uprooted from the
society because he foresees the punishment of Allah (S.W.T.) in the near future.

3. Based on our limited knowledge that varies from person to person, we are not
capable to understand whether the person involved is using the pure knowledge or
otherwise. In such case, ethically we should keep aloof from such activities. But here
we do not have the responsibility or the right to do Amr Bil Maaroof and Nahi Anil
Munkar.

Reference to an important Ayat on this topic:

After the demise of H.Suleiman (A.S.) many people started claiming that he used to
indulge in magic to achieve such a huge kingdom. Hence, the Jews in particular
claimed that magic is a good action and is not prohibited. The basic motive was to
cleanse their own hands and to make their own magic business successful. The
following verse of the Holy Quran vouches for this fact and furthermore informs us
about some aspects of magic:

“And they followed what the shaitans chanted of sorcery in the reign of Sulaiman,
and Suleiman was not an unbeliever, but the shaitans disbelieved, they taught men
sorcery and that was sent down to the two angels at Babel, Harut and Marut, yet
these two taught no man until they had said, “surely we are only a trial, therefore do
not be a disbeliever.” Even then men learned from these two, magic by which they
might cause a separation between a man and his wife; and they cannot hurt with it
any one except with Allah’s permission, and they learned what harmed them and did
not profit them, and certainly they know that he who bought it should have no share
of good in the hereafter and evil was the price for which they sold their souls; had
they but known this.” Al-Baqarah 2: 102

The Jews were adamant in propagating the thought that H.Suleiman (A.S.) indulged
in magic. Hence, the Holy Quran had to clarify distinctly that H.Suleiman (A.S.) was
a Prophet of Allah (S.W.T.) he did not commit magic. Here the verse uses the words
‘Unbeliever’ and ‘disbelieved’ for magic! This verily denotes the intensity of this
crime. A person becomes a disbeliever in the realm of action once he indulges in
magic!

Also Read Ayatullah Makarm Shirazi's Answers on this subject by clicking here

How to protect against Magic

Read Duas from http://www.duas.org/magic.htm

“and they cannot hurt with it any one except with Allah’s permission” 2 :102 “…..
and whoever trusts in Allah, He is sufficient for him….”65:3

Reliance on Allah (S.W.T.) is definitely a perfect and absolute solution to any kind of
problems including magic.

It is related from Abu Abdillah ( Imam Sadiqe – A.S.). He said: Allah Tabarak Wa
Ta’ala revealed to Dawood (A.S.): "Whoever, grasps me withdrawing from My
creation – I know this from his intentions – then the skies and the earth and those in
them conspire against him; but I deliver him from this state of affairs. A servant
from my servants does not grasps someone from my creation except that I slash his
means from the heavens that is already in his hands and makes this world a difficult
place to stay. I do not care where exactly he is ruined.” – Mishkat-ul-Anwar Chapter
4 number 36.

2. Whenever there is a serious need for anything then Allah (S.W.T.) immediately
fulfills that need. Even if a kafir has a genuine need then there is a voice raised from
the very depth of his heart – “O Allah”. This kind of a voice is always answered even
if it comes from a kafirs heart. Being momins such a voice from the depth of the
heart coupled with the genuine need will be always answered. If someone faces
some problem then he should know that there is some good hidden in it. Accept
whatever comes from your Lord and do not be panicky. Your need in itself is a strong
dua that will InshaAllah be soon answered.

It is reported from Abi Ja’fer (Imam Baqer A.S.):“The most commendable of the
creation of Allah (S.W.T.) is the one who submits to whatever Allah (S.W.T.) has
determined for him. A person who recognized Allah (S.W.T.) and is satisfied with the
verdict will be rewarded when the verdict overwhelms him. But a person who feels
grudge over the verdict will be overwhelmed with the verdict albeit Allah (S.W.T.) will
quash the reward.” Mishkat-ul-Anwar Chapter 4: 42

-Special dua for protection (to be written on deerskin & kept )

A person came to Amirul Momineen Ali (a.s.) and complained that a spell has been
cast on him. Ali (a.s.) told him to write the following dua on the skin of deer and
keep it with him so that the spell may not affect him:

BISMILLAAHI WA BILLAAHI BISMILLAAHI WA MAA SHAAA-ALLAAHU BISMILLAAHI

WA LAA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAAH

QAALA MOOSAA MAA JI-TUM BIHIS SIH'R INNALLAAHA SAYUBT'ILUH INNALLAAHA

LAA YUS'LIH'U A'MALAL MUFSIDEEN

FAWAQA-A'L H'AQQU WA BAT'ALA MAA KANOO YA'-MALOON FAGHULIBOO HUNAA

LIKA WANQALABOO S'AAGHIREEN

In the Name of Allah and by Allah. (S Yunus 81) In the Name of Allah and as Allah
willed. In the Name of Allah. There is no power or might except by Allah. Musa (a.s.)
said Allah shall soon falsify the magic of those who have come with magic. Indeed
Allah does not improve the affairs of transgressors.(S Araf 118) Then the truth
became manifested and falsified what they had done. The truth triumphed and they
were disgraced.

Another important dua: He also advised reciting the following dua (verse 35 of Sura
al Qasas )seven times to safeguard against magic.It is better to recite it seven times
after Namaz-e-Shab and before the morning prayers. It will protect one from the
evils of magic

QAALA SANASHUDDU A'Z'UDAKA BI-AKHEEKA WA NAJ-A'LU LAKUMAA SULT'AANAN

FALAA YAS'ILOONA ILAYKUMAA BI-AAYAATINAAA ANTUMAA WA MANIT TABA-
A'KUMAL GHAALIBOON

… In the Name of Allah and by the help of Allah. Soon We shall strengthen your hand
by your brother. And appoint for you a force. By which their mischief would not harm
you. Move ahead with our signs. You and your followers shall triumph.

Also Dua e Sabasab can be used to protect oneself from magic and all other evils.

We need to rely on powerful methods at our disposal to change our future for the
better instead of such ways Sadqa & observing ties of kinship(selah reham) result in
long lives. Dua’a especially with the medium of Ahlulbayt(as) changes fortunes &
destiny

An interesting incident

In the book Qasasul Ulama there is an anecdote of the period of Abbas the Safawid.
A Christian king sent a messenger to Abbas with the message that he may be given
a chance to debate with Muslim scholars and if he defeats the Muslim scholars they
must all accept Christianity. Now the person sent by the Christian king had some
powers by which he was able to guess accurately what others held in their fists. The
scholars were invited to debate with him and they included Mulla Mohsin Faiz. When
the debate began Mulla Mohsin remarked that the Christian king has sent an ordinary
man instead of a religious scholar for debate. The envoy brushed the remark aside
and told him to hide something in his fist so that he can prove his miraculous
powers.

Mulla Mohsin kept the tasbih made of dust from Imam Husain (a.s.)’s grave in his fist
and challenged him to guess. The man thought for sometime but kept quiet. When
Mulla urged him to speak up he said, “According to my knowledge there is a piece of
Paradise soil in your hand but I am astonished as to where it was and how it came
into your hands.”

Mulla Mohsin said, “You are correct! It is the dust from the grave of Imam Husain
(a.s.) who was the grandson of our Prophet (s.a.w.s.). Your statement itself proves
that the Imam of Muslims was on the right. Hence, you must accept Islam.”

The Christian followed his conscience and became a Muslim. He had acquired the
power by acting in contradiction to all his wishes & desires for which he was being
compensated in this world itself as he was not a believer.

Please note that rules discussed herein are quoted from fatwas of Ayatullah Sistani.
The translations of M.H. Shakir have been used for the verses of the Holy Quran to
avoid confusion. There is neither claim nor the possibility to discuss the entire
subject matter in this brief article. For further information/clarifications you may
contact us through email.

The Thirty-First Greater Sin- Sorcery