PART 4 – WITCHCRAFT AND SOOTHSAYING
14. Witchcraft Types & the Verdict on Sorcerers
Question:
What are the types of witchcraft? Is the sorcerer a Kafir (disbeliever)?
Answer:
There are two types of witchcraft. One is a paper contract, i.e., readings and talisman inscribed with mysterious words, by means of which the sorcerer calls on devils to participate in harming their victim. Allah, the Sublime, says, “And (they) follow that which the devils falsely related against the kingdom of Solomon. Solomon disbelieved not; but the devils disbelieved, teaching mankind magic….’’ (Al-Baqara Sura, Ayah 102.)
The other type of witchcraft is in the form of medications and drugs that work on the victim‘s body, mind, will and inclination. Under their effect, the victim can be made to be so attached to his wife or another woman that he becomes enslaved by her, and follows her commands. Alternatively, the victim can be gradually weakened till he perishes; in this case, the victim is made to imagine things as different from reality.
Regarding the status of the sorcerer, there are two views: some Ulama consider him a Kafir (disbeliever), while others do not consider him a Kafir. Obviously, these views derive from the two types of witchcraft previously mentioned: (a) if the sorcerer invokes devils, he is a Kafir; (b) if he uses medications and drugs, he is a criminal, not a Kafir. (Ibn-Uthaimeen, The Precious Collection, Vol. 2, pp. 132-133.)
15. The Death Penalty for The Sorcerer for Apostasy or for a Criminal Offence
Question:
Is executing the sorcerer a penalty for apostasy or for a criminal offence?
Answer:
It can be a punishment for apostasy or for a criminal offence. This depends on the previous verdict regarding the sorcerer‘s status. If he is judged as a Kafir (disbeliever), he is penalized by death for apostasy; if not, he is penalized by death for a criminal offence. In either case the sorcerer must be executed because of the graveness of his crimes. For instance, he seeks to destroy the lives of husbands and wives. He also seeks to have people enslaved under the influence of magic so that he can carry out his evil designs on them, e.g., commit adultery with a bewitched woman. Because of such serious crimes, he has to be executed without advising him to repent, for he has committed legally punishable crimes.
However, if the sorcerer‘s activities are considered acts of Kufr, he is to be advised to repent. This reflects the problem created by classifying apostasy among criminal offences, for, if one heeds the advice and repents of apostasy, he is pardoned. Also, punishment for criminal acts is a kind of atonement for the criminal who is a Muslim, not a Kafir. In contrast, apostasy is not atonable, so whoever is punished for it must not have a Muslim burial, and must not be buried in Muslim burial grounds.
Thus, the death penalty for sorcerers is consistent with Shari‘ah, for they are up to nothing but destructive corruption. Therefore, by executing them, people are saved from their danger and are deterred from practising witchcraft. (Ibn-Uthaimeen, The Precious Collection, Vol. 2, pp. 132-133.)
16. Attempts to Bewitch the Prophet
Question:
Is it true that there were attempts to bewitch the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
Answer:
According to Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim and other books of Hadith, it is true, but the magic could not affect divine revelations or Shari‘ah matters. All that magic could do was that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم imagined having done something he had not actually done. That magic was the work of a Jew called Lubaid IbnA1-A‘sam. (Op. Cit.) The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was cured of it when Allah revealed it to him and gave him protection by Al-Falaq and An-Nas Suras. (Op. Cit.) Regarding prophethood, the magic had no effect on the Prophet‘s صلى الله عليه وسلم behaviour concerning revelations or acts of worship.
There are those who deny the bewitchment of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم .They argue that if accepted, the bewitchment incident could be taken to support the accusation, “Ye are but following a man bewitched.’’ ‘ (Al-Baqara Sura, Ayah 102.) However, the incident does not necessitate agreement with those who describe the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم as bewitched, for their accusation is directed towards the divine revelations, which they consider as nonsensical utterances made by someone under the influence of magic. As for the magic done unto the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ,it had no effect on divine revelations or acts of worship. Misinterpretation of the incident by some should not oblige us to dismiss it as unreal. (Ibn-Uthaimeen, The Precious Collection, Vol. 2, pp. 134-135.)
17. Witchcraft Is Real
Question:
Is witchcraft real?
Answer:
Witchcraft really exists, and it has real effects. However, that it converts things and actually makes stationary things move, and moving things stop is not true, but imaginary. Regarding the magic performed by Pharaoh‘s magicians during the contest with Prophet Musa (Moses) — may His peace and blessings be upon him – Allah says, “…. And when they threw they cast a spell upon the people‘s eyes, and overawed them, and produced a mighty spell.’’ (Al-Baqara Sura, Ayah 116. )
Thus, it is the eyes that are deceived.
In that story how were the eyes of people bewitched? They were bewitched when the people started looking at the ropes and wands as if they were moving snakes. As mentioned in the Qur‘an, Allah says, “Then Lo! their cords and their staves, by their magic, appeared to him as though they ran.’’ (Ta-Ha Sura, Ayah 66. )
As mentioned above, magic has no power over converting things into others, nor does it move stationary things or stop things moving. In spite of that, it can affect the victim in such a way that he imagines moving things to be stationary and vice- versa.
Thus, witchcraft is real, and it affects the body and senses of the victim, and may destroy him. (Ibn-Uthaimeen, The Precious Collection, Vol. 2, pp. 131-132.)
18. Treating Bewitchment by Annshrah (Counter-Magic)
Question:
What is the ruling regarding Annashrah, treatment of bewitchment by counter-magic?
Answer:
There are two types of treatment of bewitchment: The first type uses the Glorious Qur‘an and established prayers as well as allowed medications. It is legitimate because it brings about benefits, but no harm. This explains why it is needed.
The second type involves forbidden means, such as counter-magic. Some Ulama have allowed it, if necessary. Others have banned it altogether, and they base their verdict on a statement by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم when asked about Annashrah, he replied, “It is devil‘s work.’’ (Op. Cit.) Therefore, treating bewitchment by counter-magic is prohibited. Instead, one has to seek Allah‘s help through supplication with humility to remove witchcraft‘s harmful effects. Allah says, “And when My servants question thee concerning Me, then surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he crieth unto Me.’’ (Al-Baqara Sura, Ayah 186.) Allah also says, “Is not He (best) who answereth the wronged one when he crieth unto Him and removeth the evil, and hath made you viceroys of the earth? Is there any God beside Allah? Little do they reflect!’’ (An-Naml Sura, Ayah 62.) & (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. 55. )
19. Learning Sihr (Witchcraft)
Question:
What about learning witchcraft?
Answer:
Defined in general terms, Sihr (the Arabic for magic or witchcraft) means that which is subtle and whose causes are not known. Therefore, whatever effects Sihr may have remain a secret, hidden from people. According to this definition, astrology and soothsaying fall within the category of Sihr, and so does some rhetoric, about which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Some rhetoric has magical effects.’’ In this sense, whatever produces effects in mysterious ways is considered Sihr.
As a specific term, Sihr is defined as “Spells, Ruqyas and knots which affect hearts, minds and bodies in such a way that: a victim‘s mind loses control; his emotions become so disturbed that his married life is destroyed; his body becomes ill; and his thinking is withdrawn.’’
Concerning learning witchcraft, it is forbidden. In fact, it is an act of Kufr (disbelief in Allah) if devils are involved. In this respect, Allah says, “And (they) follow that which the devils falsely related against the kingdom of Solomon. Solomon disbelieved not; 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). And from these two (angels) people learn that by which they cause division between man and wife; but they injure thereby no one save by Allah‘s leave. And they learn that which harmeth them and profiteth them not. And surely they do know that he who trafficketh therein will have no (happy) portion in the Hereafter; and surely evil is the price for which they sell their souls, if they but knew.’’ (Al-Baqara Sura, Ayah 102.)
To learn the type of witchcraft in which devils are involved is an act of Kufr, and so is its application, which is also a kind of injustice and aggression against people. This explains why a sorcerer is executed either for his apostasy or his criminal act. If his witchcraft is judged as Kufr, the death penalty is for apostasy; if not, he is executed for crimes against his victims so that people can be saved from his evil deeds. (Ibn-Uthaimeen, The Precious Collection, Vol. 2, pp. 136-137.)
20. Fortune-Telling and Consulting Fortune-Tellers
Question:
What is fortune-telling? What is the ruling regarding consulting fortune-tellers?
Answer:
Fortune-telling (soothsaying) is claimed to be seeking the truth; in pursuit of that claim, fortune-tellers employ baseless means. In the Jahili (pre-Islamic) period, fortune telling was a profession of some people in contact with devils. Those devils tried to eavesdrop whatever they could in the heavens, then communicate it to fortune-tellers, who add to it and communicate it to people. If this coincidentally agrees with what actually occurs, people are misled to believe in those fortune-tellers and consider them credible references for judgments and predicting the future, hence the common definition of the fortune-teller as the one who foretells the future.
Regarding consulting fortune-tellers, there are three forms of relationship:
In one form, people consult the fortune-teller, but they do not believe him. This is forbidden, and it is a punishable offence as mentioned in the Hadith, “If one consults a soothsayer, his prayers will not be accepted for forty days.’’ (Op. Cit.)
In another form, people consult the fortune-teller and believe him. This is Kufr (disbelief in Allah), because they believe the fortune-teller‘s claim to know the unseen, which is denial of Allah‘s saying, “Say (O Muhammad): None in the heavens and the earth knoweth the Unseen save Allah’’ (An-Naml Sura, Ayah 65.) That is why the Hadith states, “Whoever consults a soothsayer and believes what he says disbelieves in what has been revealed to Muhammad.’’ (Op. Cit.)
In the third form, some people go to the fortune-teller and pretend to be consulting him so that they can expose him, his mischief and his deceptive ways to the public. There is no objection to doing that, as verified by the incident of Ibn Sayyadh; the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had something on his mind for him, and asked him if he knew what it was. Ibn-Sayyadh replied, “It is Addukh (smoke).’’ The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said to him, “Scram! Never will you go beyond your limits.’’ (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Kitab Al-Adab (Book of Manners), Hadith No. 6172, 6173.)
Thus, only the third approach to fortune-tellers is acceptable, for it exposes their despicable reality, whereas the first two are forbidden. (Ibn-Uthaimeen, The Precious Collection, Vol. 2, pp. 136-137.)
By Khaled al-Jeraisy
Comments
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.