Seeking Healing from Fortune-Tellers
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Fatwa No. ( 7173 ):
Q: I live in a village, and most of the people in this village seek healing from fortune-tellers who treat patients using talismans, disjointed letters, and certain herbal recipes that, when mixed, produce a very foul smell. They also treat using al-hajbah, which is hiding the patient for a specific period, sometimes lasting more than forty days, in a dark room, and preventing visitors from seeing him. They also require the slaughter of animals with specific characteristics, such as a black goat or a black bull. Most of the residents of this village, if not all of them, believe that the fortune-tellers know who has harmed them and punish them with illness and loss of reason. They also attribute the causes of some illnesses to the revenge of the fortune-teller. I inform your Eminence that their attachment to the fortune-tellers is not open to discussion, and one who argues with them will not reach a result other than their blind attachment. Now: Is it permissible for me to accept the invitations of the residents of this village and eat the meat of what they slaughter on occasions such as festivals and weddings? Is it permissible for me to mix with them, eat with them, and deal with them? And does what I mentioned about them take them out of the religion, or are they excused due to their ignorance of matters of their religion?
A: First: If the condition of these people is as you described, they are disbelievers, and whoever goes to them for healing and believes in their fortune-telling is a disbeliever. Second: It is not permissible to accept the invitations of these people or to eat from their slaughtered animals on festivals, weddings, or otherwise; because they are disbelievers, so their slaughtered animals are not eaten until
they repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) with a sincere repentance. Third: It is not permissible to mix with them except to guide them, offer them advice, explain the ruling on fortune-telling, and warn them against going to fortune-tellers and believing them. And finally, it is clear from what has been mentioned that these fortune-tellers and those who go to them and believe them have exited the religion of Islam by committing what you mentioned about them. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I live in a village, and most of the people in this village seek healing from fortune-tellers who treat patients using talismans, disjointed letters, and certain herbal recipes that, when mixed, produce a very foul smell. They also treat using al-hajbah, which is hiding the patient for a specific period, sometimes lasting more than forty days, in a dark room, and preventing visitors from seeing him. They also require the slaughter of animals with specific characteristics, such as a black goat or a black bull. Most of the residents of this village, if not all of them, believe that the fortune-tellers know who has harmed them and punish them with illness and loss of reason. They also attribute the causes of some illnesses to the revenge of the fortune-teller. I inform your Eminence that their attachment to the fortune-tellers is not open to discussion, and one who argues with them will not reach a result other than their blind attachment. Now: Is it permissible for me to accept the invitations of the residents of this village and eat the meat of what they slaughter on occasions such as festivals and weddings? Is it permissible for me to mix with them, eat with them, and deal with them? And does what I mentioned about them take them out of the religion, or are they excused due to their ignorance of matters of their religion?
A: First: If the condition of these people is as you described, they are disbelievers, and whoever goes to them for healing and believes in their fortune-telling is a disbeliever. Second: It is not permissible to accept the invitations of these people or to eat from their slaughtered animals on festivals, weddings, or otherwise; because they are disbelievers, so their slaughtered animals are not eaten until
they repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) with a sincere repentance. Third: It is not permissible to mix with them except to guide them, offer them advice, explain the ruling on fortune-telling, and warn them against going to fortune-tellers and believing them. And finally, it is clear from what has been mentioned that these fortune-tellers and those who go to them and believe them have exited the religion of Islam by committing what you mentioned about them. And success is from Allah. 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.