What Some Sorcerers Do, Such as Breaking Stones
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa No. ( 20520 )
Q: Some newspapers and magazines present us with news about some players and clowns who claim to have superhuman abilities, such as breaking rocks on their chests, sleeping on nails and sharp instruments, bending iron and rods with their eyes, and pulling cars with their fingers, among other such
astonishing feats. What is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding these acts and those who perform them, and what is the ruling on hosting them and watching them?
A: What some foolish people do, such as breaking rocks on their chests, sleeping on nails and sharp instruments, bending iron with their eyes, pulling cars with their hair or teeth, and eating razors and glass... among other matters that go beyond human custom—all of this is considered deception, sorcery, and magic. It is the work of the sorcerers of Pharaoh, as Allah Mighty and Majestic said in Surat al-A'raf:[Al-A'raf 7:116], and He the Exalted said in Surat Ta-Ha: [Taha 20:66]. Accordingly, it is not permissible to perform these acts, nor to teach them, nor to spread them, nor to encourage them. It is obligatory to combat them, report those who do them, and punish them in a way that deters them and restrains their harm from the people. Their games and acts contain deception, sorcery, trickery, and mockery of people's minds, as well as corruption of faith and the consumption of wealth by false means, which is not hidden.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: Some newspapers and magazines present us with news about some players and clowns who claim to have superhuman abilities, such as breaking rocks on their chests, sleeping on nails and sharp instruments, bending iron and rods with their eyes, and pulling cars with their fingers, among other such
astonishing feats. What is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding these acts and those who perform them, and what is the ruling on hosting them and watching them?
A: What some foolish people do, such as breaking rocks on their chests, sleeping on nails and sharp instruments, bending iron with their eyes, pulling cars with their hair or teeth, and eating razors and glass... among other matters that go beyond human custom—all of this is considered deception, sorcery, and magic. It is the work of the sorcerers of Pharaoh, as Allah Mighty and Majestic said in Surat al-A'raf:
and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic.
فَلَمَّا أَلْقَوْا سَحَرُوا أَعْيُنَ النَّاسِ وَاسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ وَجَاءُوا بِسِحْرٍ عَظِيمٍAnd suddenly their ropes and staffs seemed to him from their magic that they were moving [like snakes].
فَإِذَا حِبَالُهُمْ وَعِصِيُّهُمْ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ سِحْرِهِمْ أَنَّهَا تَسْعَىAnd success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.