The Definition of Sorcery and Its Ruling
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The second question of Fatwa No. ( 845 ):
Q2: Is sorcery forbidden, knowing that the majority of the residents of Guadalupe Island , where I live, believe in sorcery? For example, a girl brings a piece of clothing from a young man she loves and gives it to a sorcerer who makes the young man fall in love with this girl, or a skilled sorcerer can prevent you from gambling or smoking. Is this true, and can a sorcerer perform these acts?
A2: Sorcery: is everything that is subtle, fine, and whose cause is hidden. It has different types, and the ruling on engaging in it varies according to these types, as the ruling varies regarding its existence in reality or its non-existence depending on its types. The term sorcery is applied to eloquence and the power of expression. If that is used to manifest the truth and refute falsehood, it is prescribed and praiseworthy, and it has an effect on the hearts of everyone who listens while being a witness. If it is used to deceive people and invert the truth, it is prohibited and may reach the level of disbelief. It has an effect on everyone who turns away from their religion and is arrogant about listening to the truth and accepting it.
It is also applied to talebearing, which is one of the major sins, unless one conveys good to reconcile people. It has a reality and an effect on the heart of the one who listens to it. The term sorcery is also applied to illusion and deluding the observer into thinking that an object is moving, for example, when it is not moving, until the onlooker sees it in a delusional vision that differs from its reality and believes it to be contrary to its actual state. An example of this is what the sorcerers did in the presence of Musa (peace be upon him) and Pharaoh, may Allah curse him, when they threw their ropes and staffs, so that it was deluded to the onlookers that they were moving, while they were stationary and had not moved. This has no reality; rather, it is illusion and deception. The ropes and staffs did not change from their reality, even if the observers saw them with their eyes as snakes moving. Allah the Exalted said regarding that:[Taha 20:66] And He said: [Al-A'raf 7:116] This type of sorcery is forbidden because of the deception, confusion, and playing with minds involved in it. It may be taken as a profession from which one earns a living, exploiting people's money unjustly. It is one of the types of major shirk (associating partners with Allah), and it is the sorcery of the sorcerers of Pharaoh. The term sorcery is also applied to seeking protection from the jinn and seeking their help to benefit a person or harm him with illness, separation, hatred, or love.
or to undo sorcery or the like, which is what the questioner mentioned of this type. Its ruling is that it is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) because of seeking refuge and help from other than Allah and approaching the jinn to fulfill the desire. Whoever goes to one of the fortune-tellers who does this and believes him is a disbeliever. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Baqarah 2:102] This type has no effect except by the permission of Allah, the Creator and Decider; as He said: [Al-Baqarah 2:102] And Allah knows best. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q2: Is sorcery forbidden, knowing that the majority of the residents of Guadalupe Island , where I live, believe in sorcery? For example, a girl brings a piece of clothing from a young man she loves and gives it to a sorcerer who makes the young man fall in love with this girl, or a skilled sorcerer can prevent you from gambling or smoking. Is this true, and can a sorcerer perform these acts?
A2: Sorcery: is everything that is subtle, fine, and whose cause is hidden. It has different types, and the ruling on engaging in it varies according to these types, as the ruling varies regarding its existence in reality or its non-existence depending on its types. The term sorcery is applied to eloquence and the power of expression. If that is used to manifest the truth and refute falsehood, it is prescribed and praiseworthy, and it has an effect on the hearts of everyone who listens while being a witness. If it is used to deceive people and invert the truth, it is prohibited and may reach the level of disbelief. It has an effect on everyone who turns away from their religion and is arrogant about listening to the truth and accepting it.
It is also applied to talebearing, which is one of the major sins, unless one conveys good to reconcile people. It has a reality and an effect on the heart of the one who listens to it. The term sorcery is also applied to illusion and deluding the observer into thinking that an object is moving, for example, when it is not moving, until the onlooker sees it in a delusional vision that differs from its reality and believes it to be contrary to its actual state. An example of this is what the sorcerers did in the presence of Musa (peace be upon him) and Pharaoh, may Allah curse him, when they threw their ropes and staffs, so that it was deluded to the onlookers that they were moving, while they were stationary and had not moved. This has no reality; rather, it is illusion and deception. The ropes and staffs did not change from their reality, even if the observers saw them with their eyes as snakes moving. Allah the Exalted said regarding that:
seemed to him from their magic that they were moving
يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ سِحْرِهِمْ أَنَّهَا تَسْعَىthey bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them
سَحَرُوا أَعْيُنَ النَّاسِ وَاسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْor to undo sorcery or the like, which is what the questioner mentioned of this type. Its ruling is that it is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) because of seeking refuge and help from other than Allah and approaching the jinn to fulfill the desire. Whoever goes to one of the fortune-tellers who does this and believes him is a disbeliever. Allah the Exalted said:
And they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, "We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic]." And [yet] they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife
وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِBut they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah.
وَمَا هُمْ بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.