SPELLS AND AMULET
By: Allama ‘Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah B. Baz
Translated by: Dr. Abul Hayat Ashraf
HOW CAN THE TWO TRADITIONS GIVEN BELOW BE RECONCILED? THERE IS A TRADITION THAT SPELLS, AMULETS AND BEWITCHMENTS ARE ALL INSTANCES OF SHIRK? ANOTHER TRADITON STATES THAT WHOEVER AMONG YOU IS CAPABLE OF DOING BENEFIT TO HIS BROTHER, LET HIM DO BENEFIT TO HIS BROTHER.
Question:
Abdullah Bin Masood (may Allah be happy with him) narrates that the Holy Apostle (S.A.W.) said: “Spells, amulets and bewitchments are all shir-k”. Jabir (may Allah be happy with him) narrated that one of my maternal uncle used to heal scorpion bites through charms and spells. When the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) prohibited charms, he came to the Holy Apostle and said: “O Messenger of Allah! You prohibited spells and charms while I heal scorpion-bites through charm and spells. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “Whoever among you is capable of doing benefit to his brother, let him do it. “What is the way out for reconciling these two traditions? Further, how is it to hang the Glorious Quran as an amulet (talisman) in the neck of a patient?
Answer:
Spells (charms) and incantations, which have been prohibited, consist of those varities which are comprised by Shir-k (polytheism) and the agency of deities other than Allah or contain such words which do not appear meaningful. Those spells or charms and incantations are allowable which do not contain the above mentioned anomalies, because these spells (charms) and incantations may serve as a great means of cure of the patient. The Holy Apostle (S.A.W.) said: “There is no harm in charms, so long as there is no polytheism in it”. The Holy Apostle (S.A.W.) further said: “Whoever, among you is capable of doing benefit to his brother, let him do benefit his brother. “The stated two traditions are collected by Imam Muslim.
“Spells Apostle (S.A.W.) also said: “Spells (charms) are only for evil look and heal the poison”.
The import of this tradition (as explicated by the distinguished scholars) is that the best spell and incantation is that which is employed for getting rid of both these afflictions. It is also proven that the distinguished Apostle (S.A.W.) puffed the breath of recitation on others as well as he got the same done for him.
However, it is not allowable to hang something, called Gundah or Taweez in the neck of children with the purpose of spell and incantation. The truth is just this that such an act is Haram (forbidden) and an act of shirk (polytheism)
As the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “May Allah not fulfill the hope of those who wears a charm; may Allah not protect the one who hangs sea-shells. “The Holy Apostle (S.A.W.) further said: “Whoever wears a charm, he did shirk (polytheism)”. Also he (S.A.W.) said: “Incantations, amulets and spells are shirk (polytheism).
If there are verses of the Gracious Quran or other allowable prayers in the Talisman, then, some difference of opinion is found among Islamic scholars. The true doctrine is just this that it is also Haram (forbidden). First argument in favour of this doctrine consists of those traditions of the distinguished Apostle (S.A.W.) which have been mentioned above and under which is covered the forbiddingness of all types of talismans. Second argument is “closing the door of polytheism”. Because, if Quranic Talismans will be declared to be lawful, then, they will mingle with other types of talisman. Thus, the practice will be doubtful and the door of polytheism will be opened wide. Now, every Muslim is aware of this fact that prevention of all those causes and means, which drag toward polytheism and Allah’s disobedience, is a great religious (Sharaee,) procedure.
Question: Some people claim that they treat with the help of “Public Tibb”. When I approached such a man, he told me to give him in writing my own name as well as the name of my mother and come back next day. When people go again to such tabeeb, they say: “You are suffering from such and such disease and this is the treatment” (Then they elaborate on the treatment). Some of them say that they deploy Allah’s words for treatment. What is your opinion about such people and how is it to approach them (for treatment)?
Answer: The man who adopts this method for treating people, he exploits a “Jinn” and claims to possess the gnosis of the affairs of Al-Ghaib. It is not allowable to go to such any man for treatment. The Holy Apostle (S.A.W.) said about this type of people:
“The salat (prayer) of one who goes to a soothsayer, asks him something and believes in what he says will not be accepted for forty days”. (This tradition is reported by Imam Muslim)
Prohibition from going to soothsayers, astrologers and magicians and from enquiring them occurs in several traditions of the distinguished Apostle (S.A.W.) as also the prohibition of believing in their utterances. The Holy Apostle (S.A.W.) said: “Whoever goes to a soothsayer and believes what he tells him has denied the revelation of Muhammad (S.A.W.). And whoever, by believing in sand, seashells and making lines on the ground or by asking name from a patient, his mother, or one of his relatives name, claims to behaving knowledge of unseen, he is astrologer and fortune teller”.
Now, the distinguished Apostle (S.A.W.) has prohibited from enquiring to and believing in opinions of such a person. Therefore it is prohibited to enquire from such people and to seek healing from them. It is incumbent to avoid them even if they claim that they heal with the help of Holy Quran, because it has been the habit of people of falsity that they deploy fraud and decit. Therefore they should not be believed; rather, if a Muslim knows such any man, he should report about him to the government so that Islamic law is enforced upon him and Muslims are saved from loosing their wealth because of his fraud and craftiness as well as from his mischief and wickedness. Only Allah is the supporter and besides Him, there is no one who has any power or authority.