Imam Jaffer Sadiq, Numerology, Astrology and Palmistry.

On Tue, 3/3/09, Atif wrote:

This is so amazing how various people claim knowledge of ghaib can tell you your future but don't know about there own... They can tell you who you are but they don't know who they are... But yet people want to go to these people listen to them and believe their crap..
=====================================================

Dear Atif Sahab,

Late. Abu Zahra Misri [Egyptian Scholar], way back in 50s had written a l book [Translated by Raees Ahmed JaferI Nadvi - Published by Sheikh Ghulam Ali and Sons - Karachi] on the life and work of Hazrat Imam Jafer Sadiq [May Allah have mercy on his soul], Abu Zahra Misri had discussed in detail, this so-called Shia Science of Numerology and he by quoting several leading Shia Scholars proved that this very “Evil Science of Numerology” is wrongly attributed to the great Hazrat Jafer Sadiq [May Allah have mercy on his soul] because Jafer was a great Fiqh and Scholar and this science if full of polytheism. He further wrote that one Haroon Bin Saeed Ajli invented this Science and attributed and mixed it with the genuine work of Hazrat Jafer Sadiq. Ibn-e-Khaldun in his Muqqaddama Ibn Khaldun had also confirmed these Facts centuries ago that this Science has nothing to do with Hazrat Jafer Sadiq [May Allah have mercy on his soul].

Misuse of Holy Quran for Black Magic Muhammad Aamir Mughal

Background of Numerology [Ilmul Abjad or Ilmul Aadaad - Kufr and Shirk - Disbelief and Polytheism] and why these Sciences are Unlawful, Forbidden and Haram in Islam, read after reading about Numerology [Ilmul Abjad or Ilmul Aadaad]

The Ilm of Astrology

Let it be clear that, out of those Alloom (plural of ilm) which provide the information regarding the future and the past, the ilm of astrology is the oldest. First, for the reason of sacredness, it is not acceptable; secondly, it is a branch of mathematics and for this reason one needs to work very hard in this field. For most, it is not only difficult, but also almost impossible.

In India, generally, the Brahmins have learned a few Asloaks (rules) and have tried to become Jotish (fortunetellers) and have brought a bad name to Jotish. Even if they master the Jotish, more often than not what they say turns out to be wrong, because the foundation upon which they laid their Jotish has long since rotted.

Between now and then there have been many changes in the Solar system. For example, in the olden days, the point of balance of Rabbei (a rabbah means square) was in first degree of Aries, and the entrance of the Sun into this point, called Nau-Rose (the new day), was on the 21st of March. Now the Sun enters Aries on the 13th or 14th of April, but comes to the point of normality or balance on the 21st of March. This is the day when night and day are of the same quantity in time.

From this, it is quite obvious that due to the changes in the Solar system, the point of balance has moved from the first degree of Aries to eight or nine degrees of Pisces. This is explained only to justify the above statement. I could give many logical reasons, but it would only lengthen the subject.

The Ilm-e-Rummal

The second oldest ilm is Ilm-e-Rummal (geomancy)which has been related to many Prophets, especially Prophet Adam, Prophet Idris and Prophet Daniel (peace be upon them).

This ilm requires the same principles as mentioned earlier for the sake of piousness. But the use of this ilm has been discouraged unless and until it is absolutely necessary. This is advised in many books of Hadiths and others. My deceased father wrote a detailed book on the subject, named the Ketab Aitamad-ul-Rummal.

If this ilm is used without necessity, it will be of no use, like other books of fortune telling. And even though one has very deeply and carefully studied the drawings of all the sixteen types of horoscopes (geomantic figures), many times he will make mistakes and it will bring him nothing but embarrassment.

The Ilm of Mesmerism

The third oldest ilm is of Mesmerism(Hypno¬tism), which is that, in the state of relaxation, one concentrates the Soul towards a special matter and things begin to clear up. There are two different kinds: in the first, one will take the subject into a trance and with his spiritual power make the subject unconscious and then question him or her. In the second kind, one will concentrate through his soul to find out the required matter. This really requires concentration and meditation, which eventually will be a hindrance in remembering and praying to Allah. Like other Alloom, it has human errors. It is very easy to make mistakes. My father wrote a nice book on the subject, called Khuab-e-Maqnatees (Dream of magnetism).

Power of imagination is a must for these ilm. This is also known as Makkashaffa. Whatever comes in light from these three Alloom are not trust¬worthy, due to human error. Sometimes one may find out something unwanted that may cause embarrassment or something that one may not be able to control.

The Ilm-ul-Jaffer

Therefore ilm-ul-Jaffer is the only ilm that not only provides the information of past and future, but also is not a hindrance to prayers, because by ilm-ul-Jaffer itself is a prayer. This, unlike evil (black) magic, does not harm the performer. If one makes a mistake, the result will still be good, though of a lesser intensity. Done in any way, the outcome is beneficial. The effects of this ilm, whether performed correctly or wrongly, begin to show within four weeks, which is the time limit for the results for this ilm. If the Saturn square has more Fire Alphabets, then the results should be expected in the first week. If Air Alphabets are more in number, then in two weeks, Water in three and Earth in four weeks. The explanation of Haroof (alphabets) will follow in the next chapters.

The Alphabets of Ilm-ul-Jáffár

In this ilm, the most important thing is to understand the rules of Haroof-e-Basta (opened alphabets) and their use. There is no doubt that Ilm-ul- Jaffer is a Lunar book and has a complete relationship with affairs of the Moon. In the same way that the Moon has 28 stages that translate into 28 Alphabets. And in the same way that the orbit of the Moon is divided into 360 degrees, so the Qawaid-e-Basta Haroof (the rules of opened alphabets) are 360. That is why, when the Moon is conjunct the Sun or is in the sign of Scorpio or in any other way in fall or inimical, it is forbidden to write it.

In ilm-ul-Jffer, the term “Qawaid-e-Basta and Haroof-e-Basta” means “to make an alphabet from another alphabet.” In all the books it has been agreed that there are only 360 Qawaid-e-Basta. But not one book has mentioned more than a few ordinary Qawaid. In reality, this ilm is an ocean, where every one has tried his best and written according to his findings. But they did a wise thing by taking it from hearts to books. I am also doing the same and will write down what ever I got from the ancestors, so that one can benefit from it. But one must look to the spirits of the purest Imams, so that he can enlighten his heart with the blessings of Allah.

The first Abjad is Abjad-e-Jammal Kabbir, which has eight words. The first word Abjad consists of four letter. The second word is Hawwadh, which has three letter. Third is the three letter word Hutti. The fourth is the four letter Kaleman. Fifth is the four letter S’fas. Sixth is the four letter Qarashat. The seventh is the three letter Thakhk¬haz and the eighth is the three letter Dazagh.

First Abjad - Abjad-e-Jammal Kabbir

First Abjad - Abjad-e-Jammal Kabbir

The letters of all eight words and their numerical values are as follows:

The ilm of numerology depends upon this Abjad, and because of this, all the present, past and future work is done.

Second Abjad- Asbat - Haroof-e-Tahhaggi

The second Abjad is Asbat, which is known as Haroof-e-Tahhaggi, and is taught in the common rules of interpretation of Haroof.

In Abjad-e-Jamal (Camel, big) Kabir (great) the top in sequence are those numbers which are known as numbers of status or honor or hidden numbers. In subordination to these are real numbers and are related to Jamal-e-Kabir numbers. Both are used in this Jim, and in certain circumstances the Hon¬ored numbers are taken from the second Abjad, namely Asbat. It will be stated later. These are said to be the oldest words, meaning that, these are found in the oldest sayings. With regard to pronunciation and the number of the Moon’s stages, these are twenty-eight in total. And the above-mentioned eight words are the names of Allah. And their pronunciation and the way of writing them is the oldest. First these were written in Suriani and then in Hebrew language, then in Arabic and Persian language.

Relationship to Haroof-e-Abjad

It is a must that the Aamil (the performer/doer) of Jaffer and Takseer (The method of breaking the alphabets and changing their values), before starting an Ammal (the doing of the work) or the writing of a consent or a Taweez (writing the values in certain mathematical form to increase the power, such squares, rectangle etc., should pay the Zakaat, otherwise it will not work. Or in Azeemat Khawani (reading/recitation of holy verses ) it may reverse the effects.

The easy way to pay Zakaat is as follows: The first thing is to follow the cleanliness conditions explained earlier. The second is to consider the dignity and the exaltation of the planet. It should in no way be inimical or in fall. So must the Aamil start the Ammal for the Zakaat in the moment of the dignity of the planet. The Aamil should read every day, four thousand, four hundred and forty four times [4,444] every alphabet for twenty-eight days continously.

The Aamil should wear non-alcoholic perfume (s) specifically related to the said Planet. If the alpha¬bet is Fire, then he should burn the Baghure (a perfume seed which, when burned, gives out perfumed smoke) related to the Fire planet. and so on, respectively. It must remain so throughout the Ammal.

The meaning of the 8 names of Allah are:

Their letters are divided in the following way:

1. First seven are Fire

2. Second seven are Air

3. Third seven are Water

4. Fourth seven are Earth

For the Fire alphabet he should face East and keep the Baghure burner pot near him, with fire in it. If he writes the alphabets then he should burn them in a fire of berry tree wood (a special berry tree found in the Middle East and South Asia).

For the Air alphabet he should face West and sit at a higher elevation, where air can blow around him. If he writes the alphabet, then he should hang this writing on a tree.

For the Water alphabet he should sit near Water. If this is not possible then he should keep a pot of water near him and face North. He should put his writing in water, like a river, a pond or a well.

For Earth he should face South and sit on clean earth (soil). If he writes it, he should then bury it in the earth or soil. The same rules apply for the writing or reading of Azeemat and Taweez. Other¬wise the whole Ammal will not bear fruit.

(In Astrology the status of the Earth element is over the Water element. Whereas in ilm-ul-Jaffer it is the other way around.)

The Taweez of the Nine box Square:

Since I mentioned Taweez, it seems reasonable that I, in this respect, write briefly on this too. So let it be clear that when one has to write a Taweez of Names of Allah or Azeemat (holy verses), then he should take the numbers of it, according to Jamal Kabir, and then subtract twelve out of it. If the remainder is divisible by three, then it will be correct to write a Taweez, otherwise it will not work. What you get after the division by three is your starting number. From there you increase respectively.

Since there are nine boxes in a square, we need nine numbers, which will be as follows:

In Example 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. 8 and 9.

In Example 2: 8,9,10,11,12,13,14, 15, and 16

The method to place them in the square is as follows -- Whatever the Name of Allah or Azee¬mat you are writing, you must consider the pre¬dominant element of the letters. For example, if the name or Azeemat has mostly Fire letters, then you must write the first number in the middle box of the top line of the square. If it has mostly Air letters, then start with the middle box of the right line of the square. Earth will go to the bottom line and Water to the left of the square in the same way.

The next number has to follow the sequence in following way. And this is in the manner of chess play. After the first number, move like a knight to two and a half boxes and the third will move like a knight again. Then fourth will move like a rook to the next box. Then write the fifth with the move of bishop, and the sixth with the same move. Again with the move of a rook write the seventh. Again like a knight write eight. Then again like a knight for the ninth. Make sure that all the lines of the square, including the diagonals, add up to the number fifteen.

Relationship to Haroof-e-Abjad

The Taweez of a Sixteen box Square:

The method for this is to take the total numbers of the Azeemat or name of Allah and add them up. Then subtract thirty out of it and divide the re¬mainder by four. If the remainder is divisible by four then the obtained number is written in, according to element, in the particular box. Pro¬ceed as follows:

The second will move as knight to two and a half boxes. The third will go as bishop, fourth as knight, fifth as rook, sixth as knight, seventh as bishop, eighth as knight, ninth as

Example 1 --

Evenly divided number (no remainder)

Total number of Haroof = 34

Subtracting 30 (as rule)- 30

= 4

Divide by 4 (as rule)

Example 2 --

Remainder of 1 after subtraction and then division

Total number = 35

Subtract 30 as a rule -30 = 5

Divide by 4 as a rule

Then do the same process as above but add One to the number in the thirteenth box.

[Remainder]

Consideration of the strengths of the elements and the planets

Relationship of Elements to Each Other

One must take into consideration the Element factor in each case, especially for the one who wants to have Ammal done and the subject on whom the Ammal is being done. Keep in mind that if the Seeker has the Fire element in abundance in his name and the subject has the Air element in abundance, or the seeker has more Air and the subject has more Fire elements, then the Taweez will work very quickly and the impact will be deep. The same thing is true if the seeker has more Earth and the subject has more Water element letters in their names and

vice versa. And if the seeker has more Fire and subject has more Water element letters, then the Taweez will never work. The same thing is true if the seeker has more Air and the subject has more Earth letters.

Friendship and Enmity of Planets

It is very important that one should keep in mind the friendship and the enmity of each planet in consideration. Always write a Taweez or read an Azeemat keeping these factors in consideration; also many other factors may make them their enemies or at fall or become dignified. A condition of a sextile (making 60 degree aspect) is half friendship. A Trine is a full friendship. A square is a half, whereas an opposition is a complete enmity.

Power and Weakness of Planets

Another important factor is the power and weakness of a planet, many times a malefic planet may become benefic. Therefore the impact of both the benefic and malefic planet will be great. See chapter 4 for the benefic and malefic positions of the planets. All the Planets are in detriment in the fifth house or sign from the sign of their ruler ship.

Position of Sun

Add all the days passed from 1st of January until the day of the question and add to it ten (10) as a rule. Then divide it by the sign and the amount of days allocated as follows:

Example:

On the 22nd of March someone wants to know the position of the Sun -- at what degree and in what sign is it? Add the days passed through the 22nd of March from the 1st of January.

January = 31
February = 28
March = 22

Total days = 81

Add 10 as a rule =10 91 - 89 = 2 Give the 2 to Aries. The Sun is at two (2) degrees of Aries.

Total

Give 29 days to Capricorn = 29

30 days to Aquarius = 30

30 days to Pisces. = 30

Total = 89 days

In Ilm-ul-Jaffer it is very important to find out the Ascendant (Taaleh / rising sign), and the positions of the Moon and the Sun.

Position of Sun

Add all the days passed from 1st of January until the day of the question and add to it ten (10) as a rule. Then divide it by the sign and the amount of days allocated as follows:

Example:

On the 22nd of March someone wants to know the position of the Sun -- at what degree and in what sign is it?

Add the days passed through the 22nd of March from the 1st of January.

January = 31

February = 28

March = 22

Total days = 81

Add 10 as a rule= 10 91 - 89 = 2 Give the 2 to Aries. The Sun is at two (2) degrees of Aries.

Total = 91 Give 29 days to Capricorn = 29

30 days to Aquarius = 30

30 days to Pisces = 30

Total = 89 days

Position of the Moon

Say someone asked about the position of the Moon. To find it, one must know the Moon month date. Let us say that the date today is 4th of Rabbih-ul-Awwal. Multiply the date by thirteen (13) and add to it twenty- six ( 26) as a rule. Then divide it equally among all signs giving 30 to each sign. Starting from the Sun’s sign at the time of birth of the Moon.

Example:

Today’s date is the 4th of Rabbih-ul-Awwal

4 x 13 = 52

Add 26 as arule +26

Total = 78

Say the Sun was in Pisces at the time of birth of the Moon. So giving:

30 to Pisces = 30

+30 to Aries = 30

Total = 60

so 78 - 60 = 18

We are left with 18, which will go to Taurus. Therefore the Moon is at 18 degrees of Taurus.

Position of the Ascendant

One should know how many Gharis have passed until the time of the question. There are sixty (60) Gharis from sunrise to sunrise. Count the Gharis at the time of question and multiply it by six (6) as a rule. Then add the degrees the Sun has moved in the present sign.

Begin to give the days according to the table provided above, starting from the sign the Sun is in.

Example:

On the 22nd of March 1877, a question was asked, then it was 6th of Rabbih-ul-Awwal 1194 Hijra. And the Sun was one (1) degree of Aries, and the time was 10 Gharis.

Number of Gharis = 10

Multiply by 6 as a rule x 6 = 60

Add 1 degree of Sun + I = 61

Give 30 to Aries, 30 to Taurus and the remaining 1 to Gemini. The Ascendant at that time was one (1) degree Gemini.

The other method to find the ascendant is to know how many degrees the Sun has traveled in the sign it is in. Now the Sun always rises with the sign it is in. This rising sign and the following signs rise for a particular time. Start by dividing the total number of Gharis passed over from sunrise to sunrise (60 Gharis) by the total of signs passed (12 signs) to see how many Gharis it will take for a sign to pass (5 Gharis).

If Sun was at 1 degree of Aries and time was 10 Gharis.

Number of Gharis passed = 10

60 ÷ 12 = 5 Gharis for a sign to pass

10 ÷ 5 = 2 signs passed

Thus from 1 degree Aries to 1 degree Taurus is one sign, and from 1 degree Taurus to 1 degree Gemini is the second sign. So at 10 Gharis, the Ascendant was one (1) degree of Gemini.

The method of making the complete book

Jaffer-e-Jammiah

The method for Jaffer-e-Jammiah is as such that a book of (28) twenty-eight lines is created, in which every part has (28) twenty-eight pages, and in every page there are (28) twenty-eight boxes, and in every box (4) four letters are written. The first letter is considered the box, the second letter taken as a line, the third is taken as a page and the fourth as a part.

Therefore there will be four Alif in the first box. The meaning of this is that the first box is the first line, and the first page and the first part.

In the second box will he one Bay and three Alif. And in the last box of the first line will be one Ghain and three Alifs, to mean that the twenty-eighth ( 28th ) box will be the first line, and the first page and the first part. The last box of the last page of this book will have four Ghain in it.

Jaffer-e-Kabir

The second way is that the first letter is marked for part, the second marked for page, the third marked for line and the last marked for the box. This is called Jaffer-e-Kabir. The result for both is the same. Both have the same value, status, benefit and the rules of extraction of results.

This book will have a total of 784 pages, 32952 lines and 922656 boxes. Therefore in this world, every word a human being can possibly pronounce can be found in this book, whether it is meaningful or not, and from any language.

If it is a four-letter word, then one can find it in one box. If it is more than four letters then it can be found combining with the other boxes. For example, the Arabic word Khaliq can be found in Jaffer-e-Jammiah’s box number twenty-four (24),on line one (1) of page twelve (12) and part nineteen (19). The Persian word Aizd can he found in the Jaffer-e-Jammiah’s box one (1), line ten (10), page seven (7) and part four (4). The Sanskrit (Indian) word Eeshwar can be found in box one (1), line ten (10), page twenty (21?), and part twenty (20).

This book is a complete book. If you want to find out any person’s name, the name of a planet, the name of an angel, or of a Mowakal, and the name of any other thing or matter, you can find it in the same manner in this book. If it is a four-letter word, then you will find it in one box, and if more than four letters then take it from the next box and therefore the line where the name is found in the box is the diary of that person or matter. The lines before that box are the future of that person and the lines after are the past.

In the light of Quran and Hadith:

Nowadays Press Freedom and Newsmedia in Islamic Republic of Pakistan are under restriction and ban but there is no ban on Programs like [Istikhara Pareshaniyon Say Chutkara, Roohani Illaj, Horoscope, Lakeerain Kiya Kehti Hain and what not].

The Ilmul Aadad or Ilmul Abjad i.e. Numerology are considered a branch of Sihr [Witchcraft/Magic and all the above programs being relayed of Private TV Channels do belong to several branches of Magic i.e. Kufr/Shirk [Infidelity/Polytheism] but prevalent in the garb of Spirituality and above all Sufiism the right word is quacks.

More on absurd Para Normal Science:

Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "He who acquires a branch of the knowledge of astrology, learns a branch of magic (of which he acquires more as long as) he continues to do so.''[Abu Dawud].

People say Hazrat Ali Ibn-e-Talib [May Allah be pleased with him] had the knowledge of Ramal [Ramal Faal] [May Allah forgive me for even repeating this lie on lofty person like Ali Al Murtaza Abutarab, Amen]

Read this:

Mu`awiyah bin Al-Hakam (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I said: "O Messenger of Allah, I have recently emerged from ignorance and Allah has favoured me with Islam. There are still some men among us who visit the soothsayers to consult them (on matters relating to the future).'' He (PBUH) replied, "Do not visit them.'' I said: "There are some men who are guided by omens.'' He eplied, "These are the ideas which come up in their minds but you should not be influenced by them (i.e., these things) should not prevent them from pursuing their works.'' I said: "There are some men who practise divination by drawing lines on the ground.'' The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) replied, "There was a Prophet Idris [PBUH] who drew lines, the line which agrees with the line drawn by that Prophet would be correct.''[Muslim].

"These are the ideas which come up in their minds'' means that sometimes something appears and one's mind at once takes it as a bad omen. This is something instinctive and natural and one is not accountable for it. But if one acts in accordance with that omen then what he does is wrong and is, therefore, forbidden. For this reason, the Prophet (PBUH) said, "(i.e., these things) should not prevent them from pursuing their works.''

The drawing of a line mentioned in this Hadith is different from the drawing of lines in `Iyafah mentioned earlier. Moreover, that was an act of a Prophet Idris [PBUH] which was done by him in the light of Wahy sent to him by Allah and, therefore, was certainly correct. But now, nobody possesses that knowledge and cannot, therefore, be adopted. The statement of the Prophet (PBUH) that: "The line which agrees with the line drawn by that Prophet Idris [PBUH] would be correct'' was by way of elucidation. It does not mean that that act can also be done by anyone today, for how can it be done without knowing its principles. How did that Prophet of Allah draw that line? What were its principles? Since that knowledge has passed away with that Prophet, it is now no longer valid, nor would it be fruitful.


Kahin (soothsayer), Munajjim (astrologer) and Arraf (foreteller) have similar characteristics but with a slight difference. All of them make predictions about the future. Kahin would overhear some jinn and disclose the secret to people which would sometimes prove true, because the jinn's source of information was Satan who sometimes stole away some information from the angels. But after the annunciation of the Prophet (PBUH) it was made impossible for jinns and satans to overhear anything in the skies. Moreover, Kahin and others of his ilk would make predictions on the basis of certain signs and circumstantial evidence which could go wrong or right. This is so even to this day. Astrological prediction is also a form of foretelling but this is often wrong. Al-`Irafah, or what is known to be as divination is also an indication of some future occurrence on the basis of certain causes and events. All the three occult arts supplement each other and also take the help of similar other things. In other words, these are all different forms of soothsaying. Geomancy also tries to tell about the invisible future. At-Tarq is the art of taking omen by striking birds with gravel on their wings or by throwing barley, etc., before them. In the latter formula, if a bird flies towards the right side, it would be a good omen; and if it goes towards the left it will be a bad one. All such things are unlawful and have been strictly forbidden by Islam. If anything predicted by these means comes by chance true, it does not furnish any justification for their validity.


Sihr is a serious crime and is one of the kinds of kufr. It is one of things with which people have been tested, in the past and currently, among the nations of the past, during the Jaahiliyyah and in this ummah. The Qur’aan and Sunnah have described the kinds of sihr and the rulings on these matters. Sihr is so called because its means are hidden or secret, and because the practitioners of sihr deal with things in secret which enable them to perform illusions to confuse the people and deceive their eyes, and to cause them harm or steal their money, etc., in a secretive manner so that in most cases nobody realizes what is happening. Hence the last part of the night is called sahar, because at the end of the night people are unaware and they do not move about much. And the lungs are also called sahr, because they are hidden inside the body. According to sharee’ah, the meaning of sihr is what the magicians do to delude and confuse people, so that the one who is watching thinks that it is real when in fact it is not.

As Allaah said concerning the magicians of Pharaoh (interpretation of the meaning):

“They said: ‘O Moosa! Either you throw first or we be the first to throw?’ Moosa said: ‘Nay, throw you (first)!’ Then behold! their ropes and their sticks, by their magic, appeared to him as though they moved fast. So Moosa conceived fear in himself. We (Allaah) said: ‘Fear not! Surely, you will have the upper hand. And throw that which is in your right hand! It will swallow up that which they have made. That which they have made is only a magician’s trick, and the magician will never be successful, to whatever amount (of skill) he may attain.’” [Ta-Ha 20:65-69]

Sihr may involve things that the magician does when tying knots on which he blows, as is referred to in the Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning):

“And from the evil of those who practise witchcraft when they blow in the knots”[al-Falaq 113:4]

And it may involve other things which they manage to do through the shayaateen (devils), so they do things that may affect a man's reason or make him sick; they may cause division between a man and his wife, resulting in her looking ugly to him, or by making her hate her husband or be put off by him.

This is blatant kufr as the Qur’aan states. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“They followed what the Shayaateen (devils) gave out (falsely of the magic) in the lifetime of Sulaymaan (Solomon). Sulaymaan did not disbelieve, but the Shayaateen (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic” [al-Baqarah 2:102]

Allaah informs us that they (the shayaateen) committed kufr by teaching men magic. Then He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Haaroot and Maaroot, but neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, ‘We are for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us).’”[al-Baqarah 2:102]

Then Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And from these (angels) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife, but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allaah’s Leave”[al-Baqarah 2:102]

i.e., this magic and any harm that results from it is subject to the prior decree and will of Allaah, for our Lord cannot be overwhelmed and nothing can happen in His Dominion against His Will. Nothing happens in this world or in the hereafter except by His prior decree and His great wisdom, as He wills. So some people may be tested by sihr, and others may be tested by sickness, or by being killed…etc. Allaah is All-Wise in all that He wills and decrees, and in all that He prescribes for His slaves.

Hence Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allaah’s Leave” [al-Baqarah 2:102]

“They said: ‘O Moosa! Either you throw first or we be the first to throw?’ Moosa said: ‘Nay, throw you (first)!’ Then behold! their ropes and their sticks, by their magic, appeared to him as though they moved fast. [Ta-Ha 20:65-66]

Allaah says (interpretation if the meaning):

“by their magic, appeared to him as though they moved fast” [Ta-Ha 20:66]

And in Soorat al-A’raaf Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“He [Moosa] said: ‘Throw you (first).’ So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them, and they displayed a great magic” [al-A’raaf 7:116]

But in fact their sticks and ropes did not change; it was the people’s sight which changed because of the sihr, so they thought they were snakes, because of the illusion brought about by the magicians. Some people call this taqmeer, which is when the magician does things to make a person not sense reality as it really is, so his eyes do not see what is really there and things may be taken from his shop or his home without him realizing it, i.e., he does not know what is really happening. So he may see a rock as a chicken or as an egg, and so on, because reality has been changed in his eyes because of the confusion wrought by the magician, and because his eyes have been bewitched. There are things that the magicians do with certain substances to make people’s eyes not see what is really happening.

This is the kind of magic which Allaah describes as “great” [i.e. serious, powerful] in Soorat al-A’raaf (interpretation of the meaning):

“… So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them, and they displayed a great magic” [al-A’raaf 7:116]

Sihr (witchcraft or magic) is a word referring to something hidden. It is real and there are kinds of witchcraft that may affect people psychologically and physically, so that they become sick and die, or husbands and wives are separated. Its effects happen by the will of Allaah. It is a devilish action, most of which is only achieved by means of shirk and drawing close to the jinn and shayaateen (devils) by means of that which they love, and it is based on associating others with Allaah (shirk).

There are doctors who are also practitioners of witchcraft, who treat people by means of seeking the help of the jinn. They claim to have knowledge of the sickness with no need to identify it, and they prescribe for the patient foods and drinks that bring him closer to his allies among the devils. He may tell them to slaughter a pig whilst saying “Bismillaah” over it, or to slaughter a permissible animal without saying “Bismillaah”, or when saying the name of one of the devils.

This is kufr or disbelief in Allaah, and it is not permissible under any circumstances to go to people like these. The hadd punishment for these people is execution. It has been proven from three of the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) that the practitioners of witchcraft are to be put to death. Seeking treatment through human medical doctors and using permissible medicines is sufficient.

It was narrated in a saheeh report that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty days.” Narrated by Muslim.

And it was narrated by the authors of al-Sunan and by al-Haakim, who classed it as saheeh, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever goes to a soothsayer and believes what he says has disbelieved in that which was revealed to Muhammad.”

This man and his companions from among the jinn are regarded as being among the fortune-tellers and soothsayers, so it is not permissible to ask them anything or to believe them. The ruling on these people is that they are kaafirs and misguided, because they claim to have knowledge of the unseen.

Muslim narrated in his Saheeh that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty days.”

And it was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever goes to a soothsayer and believes what he says has disbelieved in that which was revealed to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).”

Narrated by Abu Dawood and by the four authors of al-Sunan; classed as saheeh by al-Haakim who narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Whoever goes to a fortune-teller or soothsayer and believes what he says has disbelieved in that which was revealed to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).”

And it was narrated that ‘Imraan ibn Husayn (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“He does not belong to us who observes bird omens or has that done for him, or who seeks divination or who has that done for him, or who practices witchcraft or has that done for him. Whoever goes to a soothsayer and believes what he says has disbelieved in that which was revealed to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).” Narrated by al-Bazzaar with a jayyid isnaad.

Secondly:

With regard to witchcraft (sihr), it is real and is not an illusion, and it may have an effect by Allaah’s leave.

Al-Quraafi said: Sihr is real, and the person against whom it is done may die, or his nature or habits may be changed, even if he does not deal with it himself. This was the view of al-Shaafa’i and Ibn Hanbal…

The evidence of Ahl al-Sunnah concerning that is as follows:

1. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“but the Shayaateen (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Haaroot and Maaroot, but neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, “We are for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us).” And from these (angels) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife, but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allaah’s Leave. And they learn that which harms them and profits them not” [al-Baqarah 2:102]

This verse clearly indicates what we are trying to say, which is that sihr (witchcraft) is real, and that the practitioner of witchcraft may create a division between a man and his wife thereby, and that he may harm people by means of his witchcraft, but he cannot do any harm except by Allaah’s leave.

2. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And from the evil of those who practise witchcraft when they blow in the knots”[al-Falaq 113:4]

“those who practise witchcraft when they blow in the knots” refers to female [male too] witches whose witchcraft involved tying knots then blowing into them. If witchcraft were not something real, Allaah would not have commanded us to seek refuge from it.

Ibn al-Qayyim said: The witchcraft which can cause sickness, lethargy, mental sickness, love, hatred and delusions is something that does exist and is known by the masses. Many people know it from experience.

Al-Tafseer al-Qayyim, p. 571

Thirdly:

There are many kinds of witchcraft, including illusions and deceiving the eyes. But not all sihr is like that. Some of the scholars listed different kinds of witchcraft, and counted eight kinds, the most well known of which are:

1. Knots and incantations

i.e., reciting words and mumbo-jumbo by means of which the witch is able to use the devils to do what he wants of harming the person being bewitched. But Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“… but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allaah’s Leave” [al-Baqarah 2:102]

2. Sleight of hand.

They become skilled in this by means of practice and training to do things quickly, and bring out something hidden. For example, the magician may bring a dove and strange it in front of the audience, then he hits it with his hand and it gets up and flies. But in fact there was a kind of anaesthetic in his hand and he made it smell it and made the audience think that he had strangled it and killed it, then when he hits it, he wakes it up from that stupor.

3. Bewitching the eyes.

This is very common among the liars; the magician does not really put a sword in his body, rather he bewitches the eyes of the audience, and puts the sword by his side, but the bewitched people think that he puts it through his middle.

These tricksters have become well known among us, because among the audience there are those who protected themselves with Qur’aan and dhikr, and remembered Allaah a great deal whilst sitting in the gathering watching the magician, so they saw what really happened, unlike what those who were bewitched saw.

4. Using chemicals

This is done well by those who know how substances react with one another, thus producing a substance that is not affected by some other substances, such as the Sufi Rifaa’iyyah who make people think that they are not affected by fire, when in fact they coat themselves with some fireproof substances. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) challenged them to wash with hot water before entering the fire and they refused because this would have exposed their deceit.

And there are many other things that the practitioners of witchcraft do, which could not happen unless Allaah decreed it. Astrology, horoscopes, superstition and fortune-telling are all actions of jaahiliyyah (ignorance) which Islam came to show as false and to explain that they are shirk, because they involve depending on something other than Allaah and believing that benefit and harm come from something other than Him, and believing the words of fortune-tellers and soothsayers who falsely claim to have knowledge of the unseen in order to cheat people of their money and change their beliefs.

The evidence (daleel) for that is the hadeeth narrated by Abu Dawood in his Sunan with a saheeh isnaad from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Whoever learns anything of astrology has learned a branch of witchcraft (al-sihr)…”

And al-Bazzaar narrated with a jayyid isnaad from ‘Imraan ibn Husayn that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“He is not one of us who practises augury or has it done for him, who tells fortunes or has his fortune told, or who practises witchcraft or has that done for him.” Whoever claims to know some matter of the unseen either is a fortune-teller or is acting like a fortune-teller in some sense, because Allaah is the only One Who has knowledge of the unseen.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning);

“Say: ‘None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghayb (Unseen) except Allaah…’” [al-Naml 27:65]

Hazrat `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: Some people asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) about soothsayers. He (PBUH) said, "They are of no account.'' Upon this they said to him, "O Messenger of Allah! But they sometimes make true predictions.'' Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "That is a word pertaining to truth which a jinn snatches (from the angels) and whispers into the ears of his friend (the soothsayers) who will then mix more than a hundred lies with it.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

"The angels descend in the clouds and mention matters which has been decreed in heaven; Satan steals a hearing (listens to it stealthily) and communicates it to the soothsayers who tell along with it a hundred lies.'' [Al-Bukhari]

References

Quran

Hadiths (Traditions) of the Prophet Mohammad [PBUH]

Muqaddama Ibn-e-Khaldoon [Chapter on Sufiism, Kahanat, Arraf, Magic and Astrology]

Adapted from Majmoo’ Fataawa Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him), 2/123

See Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 1/146; Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 2/178; al-Sihr by Shaykh ‘Umar al-Ashqar.

Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li’l-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 6/371

Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat al-Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him), vol. 8, p. 112.

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 1/408, 409

From Majmoo’ Fataawaa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat al-Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him), p. 65