The Ruling on Breaking Sorcery with Sorcery

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, if we are unable to break the sorcery, is it permissible for us to break it with similar sorcery? And what is meant by lawful sorcery?

Answer:
No, it is not permissible. This is called *nashrah*. *Nashrah* is the removal of sorcery from the one who has been bewitched. There are two ways to remove sorcery: one is forbidden, which is removing it with similar sorcery, and this is what the texts refer to when they say, "No sorcerer can remove sorcery except a sorcerer." The second is removing it with permissible *nashrah*, by using verses from the Qur'an, or Prophetic supplications prescribed by the Shari'ah, or permissible supplications, or medical remedies. There is nothing wrong with this. Examples of what is used to remove it include reciting the two *Mu'awwidhat* and the Verse of the Throne. This is effective for a man who is prevented from having relations with his wife; it is a proven remedy. If he takes seven dried leaves of the sidr tree, strikes them with a stick, and recites over them, this is a proven and beneficial remedy, according to a group of scholars.
And it is a proven remedy that benefits a man if he is confined to his wife. Likewise, the verses containing references to sorcery are also among the permissible means of healing, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted in Surat al-A'raf: "And he said, the truth has come, and what will annul the magic?" , and the verse in Surat Ta-Ha: "And they were not patient" , and the two verses in Surat Yunus: "And the magicians said, 'The truth has come...'" . These verses are recited over a vessel containing water, and the water is then poured over the head of the one afflicted with sorcery. This is an example of permissible healing. This is repeated after seeking health from Allah and supplicating to Him, and it is repeated along with reciting verses from the Qur'an, such as Ayat al-Kursi, the two chapters of protection (al-Mu'awwidhatayn), and others.
Likewise, the Shari'ah-prescribed *ruqyah*, such as what came in the hadith: "O Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the hardship and grant healing; You are the Healer. There is no healing except Your healing, a healing that leaves no illness." "In the name of Allah, I seek healing for you from everything that harms you, from the evil of every soul, or of an envier who envies. May Allah heal you. In the name of Allah, I seek healing for you." "And I seek protection in the words of Allah, the perfect ones, from the evil of what He created." This is the permissible *nashrah*. As for going to sorcerers, it is not permissible to go to sorcerers. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Whoever goes to a diviner and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty days." He said, "Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and believes in what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to the Messenger." This path is blocked.
You have two paths for removing sorcery: one is a forbidden, blocked path, which is going to sorcerers; and the other is a permissible, prescribed path, which is removing it with verses from the Qur'an, Shari'ah-prescribed Prophetic supplications, medical remedies, and popular medicines that are not harmful.