The Ruling on Breaking Sorcery with Sorcery

Question:
Is it permissible to break sorcery with sorcery if treatment is not available, given that the person seeking treatment does not believe in the sorcerers?

Answer:
The Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him) dedicated a specific chapter to this question in this book, which he titled "The Chapter on Breaking Sorcery." He mentioned that the scholars differed on whether it is permissible to break sorcery with similar sorcery or not. The correct opinion among the scholars is that it is not permissible. For this reason, al-Hasan al-Basri said, "No one can break sorcery except a sorcerer." Therefore, it is not permissible to go to a sorcerer. However, the treatment for sorcery is through the Qur'an and through permissible medicines. There are medicines from plants and from fumes that the herbalist knows; there are medicines with which sorcery is treated. And from the Qur'an, by reciting over the patient and performing ruqyah (healing by Qur'anic recitation).
So, treatment with permissible medicines, treatment with the Qur'an, and treatment with permissible amulets and Prophetic supplications is sufficient to break the sorcery. But this is on the condition that there is certainty from both sides—from the afflicted person and from the one treating him—certainty that Allah the Exalted is the Healer and the One who grants health. Also, among the treatments for sorcery is its destruction. If the sorcery is found, it is destroyed, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) destroyed the sorcery with which he was afflicted. Jibril informed him of its location, he sent for it, and it was destroyed. So, if one is able to find the sorcery with which he was afflicted, it is destroyed. This is one of the causes of healing, by the permission of Allah, along with the Qur'an and permissible medicines. As for treatment with sorcerers, it is not permissible. And this will come in the Chapter on Breaking Sorcery, if Allah wills. Yes.