Islam and Magic

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).

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

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

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

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: