History of magic and sorcery
Fatwa No: 23820

Question

Who was the first person to teach people magic? What did the angels Haroot and Maroot do?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Magic has existed since ancient times. Allaah The Almighty mentioned magic in the story of Moosa (Moses) and Fir‘awn (the Pharaoh). Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Moses said, "Do you say [thus] about the truth when it has come to you? Is this magic? But magicians will not succeed."} [Quran 10:77]

Magic existed in the era of Sulaymaan (Solomon) . Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic.} [Quran 2:102]

As far as we are aware, Allaah The Almighty did not mention in the Quran who the first magician or sorcerer was. Likewise, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not mention in His Sunnah who the first magician or sorcerer was. We understand from the aforementioned verse that the Jinns are the source of magic and sorcery. The Quran indicates that every prophet was accused by his people of practicing magic, which means that magic has existed from ancient times. After mentioning the story of Ibraaheem (Abraham), Loot (Lot), the tribe of ‘Aad, the tribe of Thamood, Nooh (Noah) and the people of Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, — the tribe of Quraysh— Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {So flee to Allaah. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner. And do not make [as equal] with Allaah another deity. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner. Similarly, there came not to those before them any messenger except that they said, "A magician or a madman."} [Quran 51:50-52]

This verse tells us that the people to whom the prophets were sent advised each other to accuse their prophets of being magicians and /or mad.

Allaah Knows best.

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