The Islamic Ruling on Magic and Magicians
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan
Source: Things that Nullify One’s Islam (p.47-50)
[1]
[ In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful… ]
The seventh one: Magic, like as-sarf and al-‘atf [2],
whoever practices it or is pleased with it
has disbelieved. [3] The seventh kind of apostasy is magic, the practice of magicians. It is two types: genuine and illusionary.
The first type, genuine magic, consists of the magician blowing on tied knots, murmuring phrases and words over them, seeking assistance from the devils within these words, the hanging of charms, and writing the names of devils on talismans. This is what genuine magic is, and it is something that has an effect on the targeted person, either by him being killed, becoming sick, or his mind being affected.
The second type, illusionary magic, is when things are manipulated in a way that causes someone to think that what he sees is actually that way, while it is not true. A man is made to think that the magician has done the following things:
* He turned a rock turned into an animal;
* He killed someone and then brought him back to life, by cutting his head off and then replacing it;
* He pulled a car along by his hair or teeth;
* A car ran him over and did not harm him;
* He entered into a fire;
* He ate fire;
* He stabbed himself with some piece of iron;
* He stabbed himself in the eye with an iron skewer;
* Or that he ate a piece of glass.
All of these are kinds of fake tricks that have no truth in them, and they are like the magic of Fir’awn’s magicians. Allah, the Most High, has said:
“He (Moosaa) was made to believe from their magic
that they (the magicians’ sticks) were (snakes) moving about.” [4] And Allah, the Most High, has said:
“They put magic on the eyes of the people
and sought to frighten them.” [5] This is illusionary magic [6]. They call it al-qamrah, a trick that the magician does to the people’s eyes. When the qamrah wears off, things return to their normal states.
Magic is disbelief, and the proof is the statement of Allah, the Most High:
“However, the devils disbelieved, teaching the people magic.” [7] Both learning and teaching magic are disbelief in Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. It is also one of the kinds of apostasy. The magician is an apostate. If he was first a believer and then practiced magic, then he has apostated from the Religion of Islam [8]. He is to be killed without requesting him to repent according to some of the scholars, since if he repented openly, he is known as a person who deceives the people, and the knowledge of magic would still remain in his heart even after he has repented.
The proof is His Statement: “And they
(the two who taught magic) did not teach
anyone before first saying, ‘We are merely
a tribulation, so do not disbelieve.’ ” [7] Allah the Majestic and Exalted sent down two angels from the heavens, teaching the people magic, as a trial and a test for the people [9]. When they came to those who desired to learn magic, they advised them, saying to them:
“We are merely a tribulation, so do not disbelieve.” [7] Meaning: “Do not learn magic.” So this proves that learning magic is disbelief.
This article was taken from BAKKAHnet (www.bakkah.net)
FOOTNOTES[1] From the TROID publication: Things that Nullify One’s Islam by Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab, explained by Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan. Click here for information about ordering the book.[2] As-sarf and al-‘atf: Two different types of magic that involve turning people against each other (as-sarf) and causing them to love each other (al-‘atf)[3] The words in the box are from Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab, and what follows is Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan’s explanation.[4] A translation of the meaning of Soorah Taa-Haa (20):66[5] A translation of the meaning of Soorah al-A’raaf (7):116[6] Even illusionary magic can be considered disbelief in Allah. Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, may Allaah preserve him, says in his book, Duroos fee Sharh Nawaaqidh al-Islam (p.146-147):
Jundub ibn Ka’b, the Companion, killed a magician in the presence of one of the governors of Banee Umayyah. He came and found the magician playing games in front of the governor, pretending to kill a person and then bring him back to life by cutting off his head and then replacing it. This is a kind of illusionary magic. He was trying to convince the people that he was killing him and then putting his head back upon his shoulders. He did not actually do anything, he was only tricking the people with an illusion. So Jundub went up to him and struck him with his sword until he chopped his head off, and said, “If he was truthful, then let him bring himself back to life.”
Translator’s note: Ibn ‘Abdil-Barr (may Allaah have Mercy on him) mentioned that the governor was al-Waleed ibn ‘Uqbah (may Allaah be pleased with him), and that he arrested Jundub for this action and wrote to the khaleefah ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) about what happened. ‘Uthmaan then ordered him to be released and he was. (Alistee’aab, p.113)[7] A translation of the meaning of Soorah al-Baqarah (2):102[8] Shaykh Saalih discusses the impermissibility of using magic to cure magic and refutes the claim that Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have Mercy on him) allowed it. See: Question #32 in Appendix I: Questions and Answers (of the published version).[9] Shaykh Saalih was asked, “How is it that the angels taught magic when teaching magic is a form of disbelief?” For his answer, refer to Question #31 in Appendix I: Questions and Answers (of the published version).
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING
What are the two types of magic? Give examples of each.
According to some scholars, why is the magician to be killed without being given a chance to repent?
What is a qamrah? And is it considered an act of disbelief?
TAKEN FROM: BAKKAH.net
whoever practices it or is pleased with it
has disbelieved. [3] The seventh kind of apostasy is magic, the practice of magicians. It is two types: genuine and illusionary.
The first type, genuine magic, consists of the magician blowing on tied knots, murmuring phrases and words over them, seeking assistance from the devils within these words, the hanging of charms, and writing the names of devils on talismans. This is what genuine magic is, and it is something that has an effect on the targeted person, either by him being killed, becoming sick, or his mind being affected.
The second type, illusionary magic, is when things are manipulated in a way that causes someone to think that what he sees is actually that way, while it is not true. A man is made to think that the magician has done the following things:
* He turned a rock turned into an animal;
* He killed someone and then brought him back to life, by cutting his head off and then replacing it;
* He pulled a car along by his hair or teeth;
* A car ran him over and did not harm him;
* He entered into a fire;
* He ate fire;
* He stabbed himself with some piece of iron;
* He stabbed himself in the eye with an iron skewer;
* Or that he ate a piece of glass.
All of these are kinds of fake tricks that have no truth in them, and they are like the magic of Fir’awn’s magicians. Allah, the Most High, has said:
“He (Moosaa) was made to believe from their magic
that they (the magicians’ sticks) were (snakes) moving about.” [4] And Allah, the Most High, has said:
“They put magic on the eyes of the people
and sought to frighten them.” [5] This is illusionary magic [6]. They call it al-qamrah, a trick that the magician does to the people’s eyes. When the qamrah wears off, things return to their normal states.
Magic is disbelief, and the proof is the statement of Allah, the Most High:
“However, the devils disbelieved, teaching the people magic.” [7] Both learning and teaching magic are disbelief in Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. It is also one of the kinds of apostasy. The magician is an apostate. If he was first a believer and then practiced magic, then he has apostated from the Religion of Islam [8]. He is to be killed without requesting him to repent according to some of the scholars, since if he repented openly, he is known as a person who deceives the people, and the knowledge of magic would still remain in his heart even after he has repented.
The proof is His Statement: “And they
(the two who taught magic) did not teach
anyone before first saying, ‘We are merely
a tribulation, so do not disbelieve.’ ” [7] Allah the Majestic and Exalted sent down two angels from the heavens, teaching the people magic, as a trial and a test for the people [9]. When they came to those who desired to learn magic, they advised them, saying to them:
“We are merely a tribulation, so do not disbelieve.” [7] Meaning: “Do not learn magic.” So this proves that learning magic is disbelief.
This article was taken from BAKKAHnet (www.bakkah.net)
FOOTNOTES[1] From the TROID publication: Things that Nullify One’s Islam by Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab, explained by Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan. Click here for information about ordering the book.[2] As-sarf and al-‘atf: Two different types of magic that involve turning people against each other (as-sarf) and causing them to love each other (al-‘atf)[3] The words in the box are from Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab, and what follows is Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan’s explanation.[4] A translation of the meaning of Soorah Taa-Haa (20):66[5] A translation of the meaning of Soorah al-A’raaf (7):116[6] Even illusionary magic can be considered disbelief in Allah. Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, may Allaah preserve him, says in his book, Duroos fee Sharh Nawaaqidh al-Islam (p.146-147):
Jundub ibn Ka’b, the Companion, killed a magician in the presence of one of the governors of Banee Umayyah. He came and found the magician playing games in front of the governor, pretending to kill a person and then bring him back to life by cutting off his head and then replacing it. This is a kind of illusionary magic. He was trying to convince the people that he was killing him and then putting his head back upon his shoulders. He did not actually do anything, he was only tricking the people with an illusion. So Jundub went up to him and struck him with his sword until he chopped his head off, and said, “If he was truthful, then let him bring himself back to life.”
Translator’s note: Ibn ‘Abdil-Barr (may Allaah have Mercy on him) mentioned that the governor was al-Waleed ibn ‘Uqbah (may Allaah be pleased with him), and that he arrested Jundub for this action and wrote to the khaleefah ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) about what happened. ‘Uthmaan then ordered him to be released and he was. (Alistee’aab, p.113)[7] A translation of the meaning of Soorah al-Baqarah (2):102[8] Shaykh Saalih discusses the impermissibility of using magic to cure magic and refutes the claim that Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have Mercy on him) allowed it. See: Question #32 in Appendix I: Questions and Answers (of the published version).[9] Shaykh Saalih was asked, “How is it that the angels taught magic when teaching magic is a form of disbelief?” For his answer, refer to Question #31 in Appendix I: Questions and Answers (of the published version).
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING
What are the two types of magic? Give examples of each.
According to some scholars, why is the magician to be killed without being given a chance to repent?
What is a qamrah? And is it considered an act of disbelief?
TAKEN FROM: BAKKAH.net
