Advice to those under the influence of magic

15-8-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is it permissible to go to a female soothsayer to find out whether I am bewitched or not, knowing that after that I will be seeking treatment by Quranic invocations?

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 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

 

It is absolutely forbidden to go to soothsayers or astrologers. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbade this and warned that a person who goes to a soothsayer and asks him or her about anything, his prayers will not be accepted for 40 nights. [Muslim] The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also warned that whoever goes to a soothsayer or an astrologer and believes what they say will (thereby) become a disbeliever in what was revealed to Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. [At-Tabaraani. Al-Albaani: Saheeh (Authentic)]

If the questioner, may Allaah cure her, is suffering from a specific illness, we advise her to do the following:

1-      Resort to Allaah The Almighty and know that cure is from Him alone. Allaah The Almighty Says about Ibraaheem (Abraham)  may  Allaah  exalt  his  mention (what means): {And when I am ill, it is He who cures me} [Quran 26:80]. You must rely on Allaah The Almighty and know that it is He in whose hands are harm and benefit, and He has no partner - glory be to Him. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

  • {And whoever relies upon Allaah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allaah will accomplish His purpose. Allaah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.} [Quran 65:3].
  • {And if Allaah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him; and if He intends for you good, then there is no repeller of His bounty. He causes it to reach whom He wills of His servants. And He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.} [Quran 10:107]

2-      Use Sharee’ah prescribed Ruqyah (Quranic healing). On the authority of ‘Awf ibn Maalik Al-Ashja‘i  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him he asked the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, about the Ruqyahs they used to use in pre-Islamic times, and the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, approved them, provided they contain no polytheism. [Muslim]. The Ruqyah must be in Arabic and in intelligible words so that it does not contain polytheistic words that a person cannot understand. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to make Ruqyah for himself and for others. Whenever he experienced an illness, he used to read the last two chapters of the Quran and then spit dry spit on his body. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].  The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also used to make Ruqyah for Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them both and their father, saying: “A‘oothu bikalimaat illaahi at-taammati min kulli shaytaanin wa haammatin wamin kulli ‘aynin laammah.  (O Allaah, I seek refuge with Your Perfect Words from every devil and from poisonous pests and from every evil, harmful, envious eye.)” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then told them that Ibraaheem (Abraham)  may  Allaah  exalt  his  mention would seek refuge with Allaah for Ismaa‘eel and Is’haaq (Ishmael and Isaac), may Allaah exalt their mention, by reciting these words. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Moreover, there is nothing wrong if you go to righteous people who are experienced in making Ruqyah and who do not practice magic or sorcery. You should, however, be accompanied by a Mahram (i.e., a non-marriageable man) and there should be no Khalwah (seclusion) or uncovering of ‘Awrah (those parts of the body that must be covered according to Islam).

3-      Seek medical treatment if necessary. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered us to seek treatment because Allaah The Almighty has assigned a medicinal cure for every disease, except old age. [Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, An-Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah ]

4-      Know that Allaah The Almighty afflicts His slaves with diseases and suffering to test their patience and submission to Him. He afflicted Ayyoob (Job)  may  Allaah  exalt  his  mention with severe illness, but he was patient and did not despair. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allaah.} [Quran 38:44] Allaah The Almighty has made this an expiation for the sins of His slaves. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also told us that if any tiredness, disease, distress, sorrow, harm, grief or even mild pain afflicts a servant, Allaah The Almighty will thereby wipe out a number of his sins. [Al-Albaani: Saheeh (Authentic)].

Allaah Knows best.

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