The Children of Israel received a Great Book from Allah, namely the Quraan, which confirmed what they had been told in the Tawrah (i.e. Torah); they were claiming to adhere to their scripture, yet they disbelieved in the Messenger (saws) and a group of them also threw the Scripture of Allah (i.e., the Tawrah) behind their backs and shunned it, despite them knowing that it was the truth, as Allah tells us: “…A party of those who had been given the Scripture threw the Scripture of Allah (i.e., the Tawrah) behind their backs as if they did not know (what it contained).” [2:101]
It is the way of Allah that He punishes those who shun that which benefits them; He therefore busies them with things that are of no benefit to them, or makes them indulge in what harms them. Whoever shuns the worship of the Most Merciful will be afflicted with the worship of idols.
Whoever shuns Islamic monotheism will be afflicted with association with Allah. Whoever shuns the Sunnah will be afflicted with religious innovation. Whoever shuns adhering to the Islamic texts will be afflicted with blind imitation of others who have no evidence to back up their actions.
Whoever
shuns hoping in, loving and fearing only Allah will be afflicted with
directing all these acts to other than Him. Whoever refrains from
spending his wealth for the sake of Allah will be afflicted with
spending it for the sake of Shaytaan.
Whoever shuns humbling himself to Allah will be afflicted with being humiliated by other people, and whoever shuns the truth will be afflicted with adhering to falsehood.
This is exactly what happened to the Jews when they shunned the Book of Allah; they were afflicted with following in the footsteps of Shaytaan. During the reign of Sulayman (as) they refused to believe in the Book of Allah, and were thus afflicted by following what the devils recited and invented.
The devils introduced magic to the people and claimed that Sulayman (as) used magic and that it was the means for him to have such great power and a vast empire.
Indeed they lied, because Allah is the One who granted him enough power and such a vast empire that he had no need to resort to magic, or to seek the help of the devils. As a matter of fact, Allah facilitated the devils for the disposal of Sulayman (as), Allah says: “They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues, bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles…” [34:13]
Allah utilized them for Sulayman (as) to use, and so they were under his command, but after the death of Sulayman (as) the devils came out to the people claiming that the reason behind his control over them was the magic he used and practiced, but Allah exposes their lie saying what means: “And they (i.e., the Children of Israel) followed (instead) what the devils had recited during the reign of Sulayman. It was not Sulayman who disbelieved …” [2:102]
Whoever practices or uses magic is a disbeliever, but Sulaymaan (as) never disbelieved and never practiced magic; indeed Allah confirms the very opposite: “…It was not Sulaymaan who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic…” [2:102] They disbelieved by teaching people magic and how to use it, thereby misguiding them.
The Jews practiced the magic that Allah sent the two angels with, namely Haroot and Maroot, as a means of testing people and seeing who amongst His slaves would remain steadfast and who would deviate, or who would remain upon faith and who would disbelieve.
Whoever shuns humbling himself to Allah will be afflicted with being humiliated by other people, and whoever shuns the truth will be afflicted with adhering to falsehood.
This is exactly what happened to the Jews when they shunned the Book of Allah; they were afflicted with following in the footsteps of Shaytaan. During the reign of Sulayman (as) they refused to believe in the Book of Allah, and were thus afflicted by following what the devils recited and invented.
The devils introduced magic to the people and claimed that Sulayman (as) used magic and that it was the means for him to have such great power and a vast empire.
Indeed they lied, because Allah is the One who granted him enough power and such a vast empire that he had no need to resort to magic, or to seek the help of the devils. As a matter of fact, Allah facilitated the devils for the disposal of Sulayman (as), Allah says: “They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues, bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles…” [34:13]
Allah utilized them for Sulayman (as) to use, and so they were under his command, but after the death of Sulayman (as) the devils came out to the people claiming that the reason behind his control over them was the magic he used and practiced, but Allah exposes their lie saying what means: “And they (i.e., the Children of Israel) followed (instead) what the devils had recited during the reign of Sulayman. It was not Sulayman who disbelieved …” [2:102]
Whoever practices or uses magic is a disbeliever, but Sulaymaan (as) never disbelieved and never practiced magic; indeed Allah confirms the very opposite: “…It was not Sulaymaan who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic…” [2:102] They disbelieved by teaching people magic and how to use it, thereby misguiding them.
The Jews practiced the magic that Allah sent the two angels with, namely Haroot and Maroot, as a means of testing people and seeing who amongst His slaves would remain steadfast and who would deviate, or who would remain upon faith and who would disbelieve.
These
two angels, Haroot and Maroot, were sent to teach people magic in the
land of Babylon in Iraq as a test for these people. One may ask: “How
can Allah send these two angels to teach people magic if practicing
magic is disbelief?” The answer is that it is done in order to subject
people to a trial, as Allah says: “…But they (i.e., the two
angels) do not teach anyone unless they say: 'We are a trial, so do not
disbelieve (by practicing magic)…'” [2:102]
These angels would initially warn people not to learn this magic, and that to do so would entail disbelief, but if they insisted on learning magic, then they would teach them it; this magic could thereafter be used for prohibited reasons, such as to separate spouses. The Jews practiced the magic that they accused Sulayman (as) of using.
The Jews learnt magic and became specialists in it, and to this day the most skilled magicians are the Jews, especially the Moroccan Jews. These Jews shunned the news of the description and imminent arrival of the Prophet Muhammad (saws) that was in their scripture; they also shunned the new Book (i.e. the Quraan); they eschewed all this and instead resorted to learning and practicing magic.
In this story, Allah mentions some of the evil consequences of magic, such as: “…And (yet) they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife…” [2:102]
This is while Allah describes marriage as something that results in harmony when He says: “…He placed between you (i.e., man and his wife) affection and mercy….” [30:21]
Magic separates man from his wife, which is proof that it does have an effect, but this effect only occurs by the will of Allah. Some types of magic make a person love another and act as if he is enslaved to him or her; such a person would feel that he simply cannot live without this person; another type of magic results in the opposite, whereby a person may hate another to the extent that he cannot even look him in the eye; a father can be bewitched in order to make him despise his children or wife, as in the previously mentioned Ayah of Surah Al-Baqarah.
“But they (i.e. the Children of Israel) certainly knew that whoever purchased it (i.e. learnt and practiced magic) would not have in the Hereafter any share.” [2:102]
The scholars differed in their interpretation of this verse. Some of them stated that Allah did not send down these angels with magic to teach people, but rather it was the devils who taught people magic. On the other hand, many from the Salaf were of the view that Allah sent down to the earth these two angels from the heavens as a punishment to them; others said that they were angels who deviated and were an exceptional case from all the other angels, who never disobey Allah; yet others said that they were honorable angels who were sent down to teach people magic as a way of testing them, but who only taught those who insisted on learning it after having been informed and reminded that magic is a form of disbelief, and after having been sternly warned against learning and practicing it.
Undoubtedly, learning magic is prohibited, and practicing it is disbelief, as indicated in the Ayah, in addition to many prophetic narrations that affirm this fact.
Magic is a reality and not mere illusion; some people consider tricks of the hand or deceptions of the eye to be magic, but magic is much more than that; it is a reality, and could lead one to hate what he used to love, such as the case which Allah informs us where it can separate man from his wife. Indeed the goal that the devil strives hardest to achieve is to separate man from his wife, as in the narration of Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah, who stated that the Prophet (saws) said: “Shaytaan places his throne on the water, then he sends his troops to people; the closest devil in position to him is the one who causes the most mischief and trials amongst people. One of them (i.e., from his troops) comes to him and says: `I continued to whisper to so and so until he committed such and such a sin.` Shaytaan responds: `I swear by Allah! You have not done much.` (This process continues) until one (devil) comes and says: `I continued to whisper to him until I made him separate from his wife.` Thereupon, Shaytaan brings him close to him and hugs him, saying: `Yes! You are the one.`” [Muslim] Meaning, that he is the one who has achieved the greatest accomplishment. This separation is caused by either magic or by any other means.
Some magicians use magic to bewitch the eyes of people and make them believe that they are seeing something that they are not, as Allah says regarding the magicians of Pharaoh: “…And they presented a great [feat] of magic.” [7:116] People thought, as a result of their magic, that they were seeing snakes instead of ropes and sticks.
Some people claim that there is a prophetic narration that is as follows: "Learn magic but do not teach it to others." This is a fabrication; such words were never uttered by the Prophet (saws).
The Islamic ruling regarding the magician is that he is to be beheaded, as the Prophet (saws) said: “The punishment for the magician is that he must be beheaded.” [At-Tirmithi & Al-Hakim] This is because such a person is an apostate, even if he fasts, prays and claims that he is a Muslim, because his practice of magic invalidates any good deeds he may perform.
There are two ways of being relieved from the effects of magic:
- The incorrect way is to go to magicians for this purpose; this is prohibited because the Prophet (saws) said: “He who approaches a magician and believes what he says will have his prayers rejected for forty days.” [Muslim] Thus, it is prohibited to approach them or to seek their assistance in removing the effect of magic done on one by others.
- The correct way is by reciting the legislated Ruqyah. Examples of this would be Surah Al-Fatihah, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nass and the Verse of the Throne, or Ayaatul Kursi, which is the two-hundred and fifty fifth Ayah of Al-Baqarah. An example of a prophetic supplication that is useful in this regard is: "Allahumma Rabban-nas, athhibil-ba's, wash'fi, Antash-Shafi, la shifa'a illa shifa'uka, shifa’n la yughadiru saqama [O Allah! The Lord of mankind! Remove this disease and cure (him or her). You are the Great Curer. There is no cure but through You, which leaves behind no disease].'' [Al-Bukhari]
One may also recite Quranic verses in water and add to it seven dried and crushed Lote-tree (Sidr) leaves. This method is confirmed to have been practiced by some of the Salaf such as Wahb ibn Munabbih may Allah have mercy upon him.
Some people recite the Ayaat that address the issue of magic, like those found in Surah Al-A’raf, Yoonus, and Taha over this water and then add the crushed leaves to it, then they recite Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nass and some authentic Prophetic supplications over it. They then wash their body with this water. This is a method that has been proven to be beneficial by experience.
The Prophet (saws) was bewitched by Labeed ibn Al-A’sam, who had strong relations with the Jews, and the Jews requested his assistance due to him being renowned for his experience in magic.
These angels would initially warn people not to learn this magic, and that to do so would entail disbelief, but if they insisted on learning magic, then they would teach them it; this magic could thereafter be used for prohibited reasons, such as to separate spouses. The Jews practiced the magic that they accused Sulayman (as) of using.
The Jews learnt magic and became specialists in it, and to this day the most skilled magicians are the Jews, especially the Moroccan Jews. These Jews shunned the news of the description and imminent arrival of the Prophet Muhammad (saws) that was in their scripture; they also shunned the new Book (i.e. the Quraan); they eschewed all this and instead resorted to learning and practicing magic.
In this story, Allah mentions some of the evil consequences of magic, such as: “…And (yet) they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife…” [2:102]
This is while Allah describes marriage as something that results in harmony when He says: “…He placed between you (i.e., man and his wife) affection and mercy….” [30:21]
Magic separates man from his wife, which is proof that it does have an effect, but this effect only occurs by the will of Allah. Some types of magic make a person love another and act as if he is enslaved to him or her; such a person would feel that he simply cannot live without this person; another type of magic results in the opposite, whereby a person may hate another to the extent that he cannot even look him in the eye; a father can be bewitched in order to make him despise his children or wife, as in the previously mentioned Ayah of Surah Al-Baqarah.
“But they (i.e. the Children of Israel) certainly knew that whoever purchased it (i.e. learnt and practiced magic) would not have in the Hereafter any share.” [2:102]
The scholars differed in their interpretation of this verse. Some of them stated that Allah did not send down these angels with magic to teach people, but rather it was the devils who taught people magic. On the other hand, many from the Salaf were of the view that Allah sent down to the earth these two angels from the heavens as a punishment to them; others said that they were angels who deviated and were an exceptional case from all the other angels, who never disobey Allah; yet others said that they were honorable angels who were sent down to teach people magic as a way of testing them, but who only taught those who insisted on learning it after having been informed and reminded that magic is a form of disbelief, and after having been sternly warned against learning and practicing it.
Undoubtedly, learning magic is prohibited, and practicing it is disbelief, as indicated in the Ayah, in addition to many prophetic narrations that affirm this fact.
Magic is a reality and not mere illusion; some people consider tricks of the hand or deceptions of the eye to be magic, but magic is much more than that; it is a reality, and could lead one to hate what he used to love, such as the case which Allah informs us where it can separate man from his wife. Indeed the goal that the devil strives hardest to achieve is to separate man from his wife, as in the narration of Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah, who stated that the Prophet (saws) said: “Shaytaan places his throne on the water, then he sends his troops to people; the closest devil in position to him is the one who causes the most mischief and trials amongst people. One of them (i.e., from his troops) comes to him and says: `I continued to whisper to so and so until he committed such and such a sin.` Shaytaan responds: `I swear by Allah! You have not done much.` (This process continues) until one (devil) comes and says: `I continued to whisper to him until I made him separate from his wife.` Thereupon, Shaytaan brings him close to him and hugs him, saying: `Yes! You are the one.`” [Muslim] Meaning, that he is the one who has achieved the greatest accomplishment. This separation is caused by either magic or by any other means.
Some magicians use magic to bewitch the eyes of people and make them believe that they are seeing something that they are not, as Allah says regarding the magicians of Pharaoh: “…And they presented a great [feat] of magic.” [7:116] People thought, as a result of their magic, that they were seeing snakes instead of ropes and sticks.
Some people claim that there is a prophetic narration that is as follows: "Learn magic but do not teach it to others." This is a fabrication; such words were never uttered by the Prophet (saws).
The Islamic ruling regarding the magician is that he is to be beheaded, as the Prophet (saws) said: “The punishment for the magician is that he must be beheaded.” [At-Tirmithi & Al-Hakim] This is because such a person is an apostate, even if he fasts, prays and claims that he is a Muslim, because his practice of magic invalidates any good deeds he may perform.
There are two ways of being relieved from the effects of magic:
- The incorrect way is to go to magicians for this purpose; this is prohibited because the Prophet (saws) said: “He who approaches a magician and believes what he says will have his prayers rejected for forty days.” [Muslim] Thus, it is prohibited to approach them or to seek their assistance in removing the effect of magic done on one by others.
- The correct way is by reciting the legislated Ruqyah. Examples of this would be Surah Al-Fatihah, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nass and the Verse of the Throne, or Ayaatul Kursi, which is the two-hundred and fifty fifth Ayah of Al-Baqarah. An example of a prophetic supplication that is useful in this regard is: "Allahumma Rabban-nas, athhibil-ba's, wash'fi, Antash-Shafi, la shifa'a illa shifa'uka, shifa’n la yughadiru saqama [O Allah! The Lord of mankind! Remove this disease and cure (him or her). You are the Great Curer. There is no cure but through You, which leaves behind no disease].'' [Al-Bukhari]
One may also recite Quranic verses in water and add to it seven dried and crushed Lote-tree (Sidr) leaves. This method is confirmed to have been practiced by some of the Salaf such as Wahb ibn Munabbih may Allah have mercy upon him.
Some people recite the Ayaat that address the issue of magic, like those found in Surah Al-A’raf, Yoonus, and Taha over this water and then add the crushed leaves to it, then they recite Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nass and some authentic Prophetic supplications over it. They then wash their body with this water. This is a method that has been proven to be beneficial by experience.
The Prophet (saws) was bewitched by Labeed ibn Al-A’sam, who had strong relations with the Jews, and the Jews requested his assistance due to him being renowned for his experience in magic.
The Prophet (saws) was afflicted by this magic for six months. He (saws) would think that he was sleeping with his wives while in fact he was not. He (saws) persevered through this period, and when he feared that it would affect his zeal for worship, he (saws) supplicated to Allah, asking Him to remove it from him.
'A’ishah narrated: “Magic was done on the Prophet (saws) so he began to think that he was doing things that he was not actually doing. One day, he (saws)
invoked (Allah) for a long period and then said: "I feel that Allah has
inspired me as how to cure myself. Two persons came to me (in a dream)
and sat down, one by my head and the other by my feet. One of them asked
the other: 'What is the sickness of this man?' The other replied: 'He
has been bewitched.' The first asked: 'Who has bewitched him?' The other
replied: 'Labeed ibn Al-A'sam.' The first one asked: 'What materials
did he use?' The other replied: 'A comb, the hair gathered on it, and
the outer skin of the pollen of a male date-palm.' The first asked:
'Where are they?' The other replied: 'In the well of Tharwan.'"
So the Prophet (saws) headed out towards the well. He later returned and said to me: "The date-palms (i.e., the ones on the well) are like the heads of devils." I asked: 'Did you take out those things with which the magic was done?' He (saws) replied: "No, for I have been cured by Allah, and I am afraid that this action may spread evil amongst the people." Later on the well was filled up with earth." [Al-Bukhari]
The hair that was on the comb was taken, and a knot was made in which the magic was placed; then, the hair that contained the magic was placed inside the outer skin of the pollen of a male date-palm, and this was placed under a rock, inside the well. When some Companions may Allah be pleased with them went to remove this magic from the well, they found that its water was the color of Henna, due to the effect of magic on it.
The Prophet (saws) was inspired by Allah as to where the location of the magic was; it was removed and the knot was undone, so the magic was ruined.
The question of 'A’ishah was an indirect way of asking why the Prophet (saws) did not punish the man who bewitched him, and he (saws) explained why, saying: “I am afraid that this action may spread evil amongst the people.” Meaning, that since the punishment of being a magician is execution by beheading, and because people did not know that he practiced such evil, nor did they witness him doing it on the Prophet (saws) then punishing him would have encouraged people to accuse anyone of doing magic, even if they were innocent, and justify it by quoting this action of the Prophet (saws).
He (saws) was very careful not to execute anyone whose crime was not obvious to everybody, and it is for this same reason he refrained from killing Ibn Salool, who was the head of hypocrites, despite him knowing that he was being a disbeliever, a liar and a hypocrite.
He (saws) did not kill him because it would not have been clear to people why he killed him, due to this Ibn Salool pretending to be Muslim.
One may ask: “How could the Prophet (saws) be bewitched when he was conveying the message?”
The answer is that the magic never affected any aspect of his mind, memory or mission; it only affected his relations with his wives.
Another question that might be asked is: “Does the fact that he (saws) was bewitched not contradict being protected by Allah?" Allah says: “…And Allah will protect you from the people…” [5:67]
The answer is that the protection referred to in this verse was against certain matters only, such as being killed before conveying the message fully, or being prevented from conveying the message in any way.
In fact, proof of the fact that such protection was limited is that he (saws) was afflicted greatly by the disbelievers: they offended and beat him, and besieged him and his followers. He (saws) also suffered hunger and fell into a pit that the disbelievers had dug for him. They did all these things but were unable to prevent him from conveying the message of Allah.
So the Prophet (saws) headed out towards the well. He later returned and said to me: "The date-palms (i.e., the ones on the well) are like the heads of devils." I asked: 'Did you take out those things with which the magic was done?' He (saws) replied: "No, for I have been cured by Allah, and I am afraid that this action may spread evil amongst the people." Later on the well was filled up with earth." [Al-Bukhari]
The hair that was on the comb was taken, and a knot was made in which the magic was placed; then, the hair that contained the magic was placed inside the outer skin of the pollen of a male date-palm, and this was placed under a rock, inside the well. When some Companions may Allah be pleased with them went to remove this magic from the well, they found that its water was the color of Henna, due to the effect of magic on it.
The Prophet (saws) was inspired by Allah as to where the location of the magic was; it was removed and the knot was undone, so the magic was ruined.
The question of 'A’ishah was an indirect way of asking why the Prophet (saws) did not punish the man who bewitched him, and he (saws) explained why, saying: “I am afraid that this action may spread evil amongst the people.” Meaning, that since the punishment of being a magician is execution by beheading, and because people did not know that he practiced such evil, nor did they witness him doing it on the Prophet (saws) then punishing him would have encouraged people to accuse anyone of doing magic, even if they were innocent, and justify it by quoting this action of the Prophet (saws).
He (saws) was very careful not to execute anyone whose crime was not obvious to everybody, and it is for this same reason he refrained from killing Ibn Salool, who was the head of hypocrites, despite him knowing that he was being a disbeliever, a liar and a hypocrite.
He (saws) did not kill him because it would not have been clear to people why he killed him, due to this Ibn Salool pretending to be Muslim.
One may ask: “How could the Prophet (saws) be bewitched when he was conveying the message?”
The answer is that the magic never affected any aspect of his mind, memory or mission; it only affected his relations with his wives.
Another question that might be asked is: “Does the fact that he (saws) was bewitched not contradict being protected by Allah?" Allah says: “…And Allah will protect you from the people…” [5:67]
The answer is that the protection referred to in this verse was against certain matters only, such as being killed before conveying the message fully, or being prevented from conveying the message in any way.
In fact, proof of the fact that such protection was limited is that he (saws) was afflicted greatly by the disbelievers: they offended and beat him, and besieged him and his followers. He (saws) also suffered hunger and fell into a pit that the disbelievers had dug for him. They did all these things but were unable to prevent him from conveying the message of Allah.
Some
magic is performed by blowing into knots and other materials which
magicians compile, which makes the bewitched person believe he is
performing actions that is not actually doing; another type makes a
person incapable of having sexual intercourse with his wife; another
type makes the wife imagine that her husband is a beast or a snake
whenever he tries to approach her sexually; there is another type that
makes the husband imagine that his wife has a foul stench whenever he
attempts to approach her sexually, even though she may be clean and
smell pleasant.
There are women who resort to magic in order to make their husbands divorce his other wife or wives, so that she can have him all to herself - and this is one of the greatest ways of oppressing others.
One may ask: “There are deadly types of magic; are they incurable?”
The answer is that they are curable, unless the effects of this magic coincide with the designated time of the person’s death. If that is the case, then nothing can help him. Allah says: "But never will Allah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.” [63:11]
The one who bewitches others and thereby causes their death must be sentenced to death, because such a person killed a soul intentionally and without due right.
Some people wear amulets, claiming that they protect them from magic, but they only add to the evil and make them weaker in faith.
In Islam, ends do not justify means; there are people who resort to magic in order to reconcile, for example, between two disputing people. This is prohibited, even if people claim that they have good intentions and are only using it for a good purpose. This is refused in Islam because the means used are evil, and regardless of the sought result, using magic remains prohibited.
There are women who resort to magic in order to make their husbands divorce his other wife or wives, so that she can have him all to herself - and this is one of the greatest ways of oppressing others.
One may ask: “There are deadly types of magic; are they incurable?”
The answer is that they are curable, unless the effects of this magic coincide with the designated time of the person’s death. If that is the case, then nothing can help him. Allah says: "But never will Allah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.” [63:11]
The one who bewitches others and thereby causes their death must be sentenced to death, because such a person killed a soul intentionally and without due right.
Some people wear amulets, claiming that they protect them from magic, but they only add to the evil and make them weaker in faith.
In Islam, ends do not justify means; there are people who resort to magic in order to reconcile, for example, between two disputing people. This is prohibited, even if people claim that they have good intentions and are only using it for a good purpose. This is refused in Islam because the means used are evil, and regardless of the sought result, using magic remains prohibited.
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