عربي
Magic and Protection

Magic in Islam: Its Reality, Danger, and Islamic Treatment

Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.

Magic is among the major sins and one of the greatest doors of corruption. Allah mentioned it in His Book, clarified its danger, and the religion forbids learning it, teaching it, and going to its people. The Muslim believes in what is established in the Qur’an and Sunnah, but he does not open the door to illusion and accusation, nor does he make every illness, conflict, or distress caused by magic.

Allah Most High says that the devils disbelieved by teaching people magic, and that they learned what separated a man from his wife, while they could not harm anyone except by Allah’s permission. [Al-Baqarah: 102]
قال الله تعالى: {وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُوا الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ، وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا، يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ، وَمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى المَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ، وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ، فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ المَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ، وَمَا هُمْ بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ، وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنْفَعُهُمْ، وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ، وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا بِهِ أَنْفُسَهُمْ، لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ} [البقرة: 102].
And He says: “The magician will not succeed wherever he is.” [Taha: 69]
وقال سبحانه: {وَلَا يُفْلِحُ السَّاحِرُ حَيْثُ أَتَى} [طه: 69].
Reality

The Reality of Magic

Magic is a hidden practice in which the magician uses forbidden means. It may involve seeking help from devils, disbelief, talismans, deception, illusion, and spreading corruption between people. Its effect is not independent; nothing occurs except by Allah’s universal permission and decree.

Allah Most High says: {وَمَا هُمْ بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ} [البقرة: 102].

Great Danger

The Danger of Magic

  • It corrupts belief.
  • It leads to shirk and disbelief.
  • It separates people.
  • It wrongs innocent people.
  • It opens the door to fear and obsession.
  • It ties people to devils and impostors.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, counted magic among the seven destructive sins. He said: “Avoid the seven destructive sins,” and he mentioned among them: “magic.” Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Warning

Is It Permissible to Go to a Magician to Undo Magic?

It is not permissible to treat magic with magic, and it is not permissible to go to magicians, soothsayers, or fortune-tellers. Evil is not removed by evil like it, and disbelief is not treated with disbelief.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights.” Narrated by Muslim.

Islamic Treatment for Magic
Treatment 1

Repentance and Correcting Tawhid

The greatest thing that protects the servant is his tawhid, prayer, and distance from sins.

Treatment 2

Islamic Ruqyah

The Muslim recites Al-Fatihah, Ayat al-Kursi, the last two ayahs of Al-Baqarah, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas, verses for nullifying magic, and the authentic ruqyah supplications.

Treatment 3

Verses for Nullifying Magic

“When they threw, Musa said: What you have brought is magic. Indeed, Allah will nullify it...” [Yunus: 81-82]
{فَلَمَّا أَلْقَوْا قَالَ مُوسَى مَا جِئْتُمْ بِهِ السِّحْرُ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيُبْطِلُهُ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُصْلِحُ عَمَلَ المُفْسِدِينَ . وَيُحِقُّ اللَّهُ الحَقَّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ المُجْرِمُونَ} [يونس: 81-82].
“Throw what is in your right hand; it will swallow what they have made. What they have made is only the trick of a magician, and the magician will not succeed wherever he is.” [Taha: 69]
{وَأَلْقِ مَا فِي يَمِينِكَ تَلْقَفْ مَا صَنَعُوا، إِنَّمَا صَنَعُوا كَيْدُ سَاحِرٍ، وَلَا يُفْلِحُ السَّاحِرُ حَيْثُ أَتَى} [طه: 69].
Repeat: recited when needed without believing in a required fixed number
Treatment 4

Preserving the Adhkar

Especially the morning and evening adhkar, sleep adhkar, and the adhkar for leaving and entering.

Treatment 5

Destroying the Magic If It Is Found in a Lawful Way

If the magic is truly found and its location is known, then it may be destroyed in a permissible way that does not include any religious violation, while asking trustworthy people of knowledge when needed.

Important Note

Important Note About Diagnosis

It is not permissible to state with certainty that a person is affected by magic merely because of general symptoms. The cause may be psychological, physical, or due to life pressures. One should not accuse relatives, neighbors, or others of magic without evidence, for that is injustice, cutting family ties, and corrupting hearts.

FAQ

Does Magic Really Exist?

Yes. The Qur’an and Sunnah indicate that it exists, but its effect only occurs by Allah’s permission and decree.

FAQ

Is Every Delayed Marriage, Illness, or Conflict Caused by Magic?

No. This is false exaggeration. The causes may be natural, psychological, social, or a trial from Allah.

FAQ

Is It Permissible to Undo Magic with Similar Magic?

No. Rather, it is treated with Islamic ruqyah, repentance, adhkar, and permissible means.

FAQ

May I Go to Someone Who Tells Me Who Bewitched Me?

It is not permissible to ask fortune-tellers or soothsayers, nor to believe someone who claims knowledge of the unseen.

Closing

Closing Note

Magic is a grave danger, and its treatment is not through sorcery or soothsayers, but through tawhid, Islamic ruqyah, repentance, adhkar, and permissible means. Whoever attaches himself to Allah, Allah will suffice him; and whoever preserves Allah’s limits, Allah will preserve him.