PART 3 – WITCHCRAFT AND SOOTHSAYING
10. Prohibition of Seeking Treatment by Those Who Appeal to Other than Allah
Question:
A man fell ill, and his illness grew worse. He went to all available doctors, but to no avail; Allah did not destine his cure through them. However, the man went to one of those who invoke the help and blessings of the dead, and Allah allowed him to be cured at the hands of such an idolater.
Is it allowed to seek treatment by such a man?
Incidents like that have become frequent, so they have been taken as a proof of the man‘s ability to cure people by means of Shirk acts.
What is the religious ruling on that?
Answer:
It is prohibited to seek treatment by those who do Shirk acts, such as praying to the dead and appealing for their aid in healing their patients. The prohibition stands regardless of any benefit that may be gained. However, that treatment may coincide with Allah‘s destiny. Such coincidence may be mistaken as a result of the Shirk acts. The patient‘s illness may be the work of devils who tempt him to seek help from their associates in return for stopping the harm they are inflicting on him. (Ifta’s Permanent Committee, Islamic Research Journal, Issue 27, p. 65.)
11. “Learn witchcraft, but do not apply it” Is Not a Hadith
Question:
What is meant by: “Learn witchcraft, but do not apply it.’’? Some people say that it is a weak Hadith.
Answer:
Learning witchcraft is forbidden irrespective of intentions, be they applications or protection from magic itself. To do that is described by Allah as an act of Kufr (disbelief), as He says, “… but the devils disbelieved, teaching mankind magic and that which was revealed to the two angels, Harut and Marut, in Babel. Nor did they (the two angels) teach it to anyone till they had said:
We are only a temptation, therefore disbelieve not (in the guidance of Allah).’’ (Al-Baqara Sura, Ayah 102.)
Also the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم rules that witchcraft is a major sin. Ordering us to shun it, he says, “Shun the major seven deadly sins.’’ (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Kitab Al-Wasaya (Book of Wills), Hadith No. 2766.) Witchcraft is one of them. As mentioned in the Sunan of An Nasa’i, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says, “If one ties a knot and does Nafth into it, he has performed sorcery, and consequently has had associates with Allah.’’ (Sunan An-Nasa’I, Kitab Al Tahreem (Book of Prohibition), Hadith No. 7/112.)
As for the statement (“Learn witchcraft, but do not apply it.’’), it is, as far as we know, not a Hadith. (Ifta’s Permanent Committee, Fatwas on Treatment Using the Qur’an and the Sunnah, Ruqyas and Related Issues, by Ibn-Baz and Ibn-Uthaimeen, p. 57. )
12. Treatment with Forbidden Things or by Means of Offering Sacrifices to Other than Allah
Question:
I have been ill, and my condition is getting worse. Although I am a Muslim, I have gone to a sorcerer, who explained to me the causes of my illness. He has told me that he can treat me on condition that if I slaughter a sacrifice or mix alcohol with a twig from a tree, I will die. Given my worsening condition, what shall I do?
Answer:
Firstly, given what you have mentioned, it is forbidden to deal with sorcerers and soothsayers, who claim to diagnose illnesses and identify their causes by unusual means. The sorcerer’s demand that you offer a sacrifice to someone other than Allah is a major act of Shirk. Also, treatment with alcohol is forbidden because Allah has not made the healing of Muslims in something He has forbidden.
Secondly, you are allowed treatment with Shar‘i prayers and allowed medications, which contain nothing forbidden. May Allah cure your illness and protect you from all evil. (Ifta’s Permanent Committee, Fatwas on Treatment Using the Qur’an and the Sunnah, Ruqyas and Related Issues, by Ibn-Baz and Ibn-Uthaimeen, p. 60. )
13. Enquiring if One’s Daughter-in-Law Is a Foe
Question:
A patient consults a person about his illness. The person tells him that he is under the effect of magic. The patient asks him to remove the magic. The person pours lead on the patient‘s head in a container of water and tells him the name of the person who bewitched him. that someone has bewitched him. Is a Muslim allowed to do that?
Is it allowed for a mother to enquire about who her future daughter-in-law will be, or to enquire if her present daughter-in-law loves or hates her in-laws?
Answer:
On the one hand, a Muslim is allowed to seek treatment with medical practitioners and specialists; they diagnose his illness and prescribe suitable medications in accordance with the rules of medicine. This is part of taking the measures usually required in typical cases, for Allah has created cures for all diseases. Some people can discover those cures, whereas others cannot. However, prescribed medications must not be forbidden materials.
On the other hand, Muslims must not deal with soothsayers, who claim knowledge of the unseen, from which they claim to get information about illnesses. Muslims must not believe what a soothsayer tells them, for either it is all unfounded guesswork, or he invokes the Jinn to help achieve what he wants. A soothsayer‘s work is an act of Kufr (disbelief), and to seek his help is an act of Shirk. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says, “If one visits a soothsayer and enquires about something, his prayers will not be accepted for forty days.’’ (Op. Cit.) He also says, “Whoever consults a soothsayer and believes what he tells him disbelieves in what has been revealed to Muhammad.’’ (Documented by Al-Bazzar through the Hadith of Umran Ibn-Hussayn.)
A Muslim must not accept such prescriptions as pouring lead on one‘s head, etc., for they belong to witchcraft. If he accepts, he will be supporting their witchcraft and invocation of devils. Enquiring of a soothsayer about the identity of one‘s future daughter-in-law is not allowed, neither is the inquiry whether there will be love or hatred, harmony or disharmony between the spouses and their families. Such knowledge belongs to the unseen, which is known only to Allah. (Ifta’s Permanent Committee, Islamic Research Journal, Issue 19, p. 162-163.)
By Khaled al-Jeraisy
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