Islam and Magic
Magic is an old human practice. It is sometimes defined as deception by
showing something to an audience, which is contrary to reality. In Islam this is part of magic, which is, however, defined as
seeking the help of demons to perform something harmful against somebody.
In the light of the above definition, Islam
considers magic to be an act of blasphemy. Thus, the Holy Quran say:
"Suleiman (Solomon) did not disbelieve, but the devils disbelieved
teaching men magic" (2:102)
In an authentic saying, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.) said: Whoever goes to a fortune teller (a soothe sayer) or a
diviner and believes him, has, in fact, disbelieved in what has been revealed
to Muhammad.
Thus Islam condemns magic, even what is called
the horoscope or luck or reading one's palm to foretell the future is also
prohibited in Islam. This is based on the belief that no one knows
the future or the unseen except God almighty. That is why the Quran asserts
that even Muhammad does not know the unseen. Concerning this, it says:
"If I had the knowledge of the unseen, I should have secured
abundance for myself, and no evil would have touched me" (7:188).
Again, God is described in the Quran as the knower of the unseen and the manifest (6:73) and as the holder of the keys of the unseen (6:59).
Again, God is described in the Quran as the knower of the unseen and the manifest (6:73) and as the holder of the keys of the unseen (6:59).
In another tradition, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.) says: "Avoid the
seven deadly acts which are:
(1) Ascribing partners to God,
(2) Magic,
(3) Killing the human self which Allah prohibited except with right,
(4) Eating usury,
(5) Devouring the orphan's wealth,
(6) Defecting from the battle-field (without a justified reason)
(7) Slandering chaste, unwary believing women.
Thus Islam has closed the door for practicing
magic, simply because it is against its teachings, and it is deceptive and
harmful. There are some of the verses of the Holy Quran that refer
to magic: In Surat Baqara Ayat 102-103, the Quran says:
"And when there came to them a Messenger from Allah confirming what
was with them, a party of those who were given the scripture threw away the
book of Allah behind their backs as if they did not know. And they followed
what the devils gave out falsely of magic of the reign of Solomon; for Solomon
did not disbelieve but the devils disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to
the two angels Harut and Marut, but neither of these two (angles) taught anyone
(such things) until they had said: we are only for trial, so don't disbelieve.
And from them (magicians) people learn that through
which they would cause separation between a person and his spouse, but they
could not thus harm anyone except by Allah's leave; and now they learn that which harms them rather than profits them.
And indeed they knew that its practitioner would have no share in the
Hereafter. And how bad indeed was that for which they sold their own selves if
they but knew" (2:102-3).
Although Solomon was the Prophet and Messenger of God, he was accused by
some of his opponents to be practicing magic. Those
who claimed this could not distinguish between magic and miracles. Almost all messengers of God were granted miracles as a proof
of their authenticity. To name only a few: Moses was granted the
staff by which he could divide the sea and make water gush from rocks. Abraham
was flung in the middle of a huge raging fire, which Allah made cool and
peaceful to him. Jesus Christ could heal the blind and the leper and bring back
the dead to life.
If we contemplate these acts we find that miracles
are totally different from magic. While magic
is always harmful, miracles are useful. Magic
is from devils while miracles are from God. When these divine
miracles are rejected other miracles are imposed to inflict severe punishments
on rejecters. On the other hand, miracles are real
while magic is sometimes deceptive.
It may be said that the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.)
was himself exposed to the effect of magic. How could you explain
this? This is true; but God saved him from the spell
of magic through the repeated remembrance of God and the recitation of some
chapters and verses of the Holy Quran. This took place to confirm
the humility of Muhammad (S.A.W.W.). who was a human like other humans. This
made it easier for his followers to imitate him. Two questions are pertinent in
context:
●How to protect one's self from magic?
●And how to treat a person under the spell of magic?
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.) provided us with the recipe through which we
can protect ourselves from magic. We shall be immune from magic if we recite the
last three chapters of the Holy Quran, which are number 112, 113 and 114:
Al-Iklas, Al-Falaq, Al-Nas after the five daily prayers.
And here is their translation:
●Al-Iklas (Unity)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the eternally besought of all!
He begets not nor was begotten.
And there is none comparable unto Him.
●Al-Falaq (Daybreak)
In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful
In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful
Say I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
From the evil of that which he created;
From the evil of the darkness when it is intense,
and from the evil of malignant witchcraft,
And from the evil of the envious when he envies.
●Al-Nas (Mankind)
In the name of Allah the beneficent, the Merciful
In the name of Allah the beneficent, the Merciful
Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
The King of mankind,
The God of mankind,
From the evil of the sneaking whisper,
Who whispers in the hearts of mankind,
Of the jinn and of mankind.
These three surats are also recommended to be recited three times after the dawn prayer and three times after the sunset prayer. Secondly
Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W.W.) encouraged us to recite the greatest verse in the
Quran called the verse of the Throne, Ayat-ul-Kursi, it is translated as
follows:
"Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, and the Eternal. Neither
slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. Unto Him belongs whatever is in the heavens
and whatever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedes with Him save by His
leave? He knows that which is in front of them and that which is behind them,
while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His chair
encompasses the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving
them. He is the sublime, the Tremendous" (2:255).
This verse should be recited after each and every one of the five daily
prayers and before going to bed.
The Prophet (S.A.W.W.) also encouraged us Muslims to recite the last two ayats
of Surat Baqara at the beginning of every night whose
translation is as follows:
"The Messenger believes in that which has been revealed unto him from
his Lord and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah and His angles
and His scriptures and His messengers and they say: We hear, and we obey.
(Grant us) Your forgiveness, our Lord. Unto you is the journeying" (2:285).
"Allah tasks not a soul beyond its scope. For it (is only) that which
it has earned, and against it (only) that which it has deserved. Our Lord!
Condemn us not if we forget, or miss the mark! Our Lord! Lay not on us such a
burden as you did lay on those before us! Our Lord! Impose not on us that which
we have not the strength to bear! Pardon us, absolve us and have mercy on us.
You are our Patron; so grant us victory over the disbelieving folk"
(2:286).
Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W.W.) said: “whoever
recites the last two ayats of the Surat
Baqara, they will suffice him”. This
means that they will protect him from every evil. Again seeking
refuge in Allah and remembering his name is an effective protection against all
evils including magic. Two main supplications are recommended in this respect.
They are:
- I seek refuge in the complete words of Allah from the evils of what
He created;
- In the name of Allah through whose name nothing on earth or in heaven
can cause any harm.
If these two prayers are recited three times in the beginning of the day
and in the beginning of the night, then no harm or evil will approach the
reciter by the grace of Allah (S.W.T).
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