His second question states that there are some people among us who claim to be jurists, but they are not jurists in terms of knowledge; rather, they claim that they can harm or benefit whomever they wish, on the pretext that they have a *sharrah* by which they strike those they want, and they repeat this claim on many occasions.
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The questioner : His second question states that there are some people among us who claim to be jurists, but they are not jurists in terms of knowledge; rather, they claim that they can harm or benefit whomever they wish, on the pretext that they have a *sharrah* by which they strike those they want, and they repeat this claim on many occasions. Is this true, or is it a pre-Islamic superstition? And how do we get rid of this, knowing that some people believe what they say, such as the elderly and the ignorant?
The Shaykh : These people who claim that they benefit or harm are liars. It is not permissible for anyone to believe them or to ask them about these matters. It is obligatory for whoever knows of them to report them to the authorities so that the necessary measures are taken. No one possesses the power to benefit or harm except Allah alone, who has no partner. Even the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was told by Allah:[Al-Jinn 72:21-22] And Allah commanded him to say: [Al-A'raf 7:188] Whoever claims that someone possesses the power to harm or benefit without known, tangible causes is given the opportunity to repent; if he repents, well and good, otherwise he is killed, because he is denying Allah the Exalted and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). I say to those who imagine that what these *dajjalah* (false prophets) say is true: hold fast to your faith and your religion, and know that no one possesses the power to harm or benefit except Allah alone, who has no partner. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said to Ibn Abbas: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2516Hasan (Darussalam) And in the Noble Qur'an, when Allah mentioned the sorcerers, He said: [Al-Baqarah 2:102] The important point is that these people are liars in their claim that they possess the power to benefit and harm, for that belongs to Allah alone, who has no partner. They must repent to Allah from this act, and they must acknowledge their shortcoming and their negligence, and that they are weak before the power of Allah, and that they do not possess the ability to ward off harm from themselves, let alone from others, just as they do not possess the ability to bring benefit to themselves, let alone to others, except what Allah, the Sublime and Exalted, wills.
And those around them who imagine that they are truthful must repent to Allah the Exalted for believing them, and they must know that they are liars and have no truth or share in such matters.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The questioner : This is a message from the questioner, A.A.Y., from Taiz.
The Shaykh : These people who claim that they benefit or harm are liars. It is not permissible for anyone to believe them or to ask them about these matters. It is obligatory for whoever knows of them to report them to the authorities so that the necessary measures are taken. No one possesses the power to benefit or harm except Allah alone, who has no partner. Even the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was told by Allah:
(21) Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction." (22) Say, "Indeed, there will never protect me from Allah anyone [if I should disobey], nor will I find in other than Him a refuge.
قُلْ إِنِّي لا أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلا رَشَدًا * قُلْ إِنِّي لَنْ يُجِيرَنِي مِنَ اللَّهِ أَحَدٌ وَلَنْ أَجِدَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًاSay, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allah has willed.
قُلْ لا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُKnow that if the entire creation were to gather together to do something to benefit you- you would never get any benefit except that Allah had written for you. And if they were to gather to do something to harm you- you would never be harmed except that Allah had written for you.
واعلم أن الأمة لو اجتمعوا على أن ينفعوك بشيء لم ينفعوك إلا بشيء قد كتبه الله لك، ولو اجتمعوا على أن يضروك بشيء لم يضروك إلا بشيء قد كتبه الله عليكBut they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah.
وَمَا هُمْ بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِAnd those around them who imagine that they are truthful must repent to Allah the Exalted for believing them, and they must know that they are liars and have no truth or share in such matters.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The questioner : This is a message from the questioner, A.A.Y., from Taiz.