A woman who remained childless for more than ten years was given a wrapped item of unknown contents to hang up, and she became pregnant; is it permissible for her to use it?
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The questioner : A woman who remained childless for more than ten years was given a wrapped item of unknown contents to hang up, and she became pregnant by the permission of Allah. Is it permissible for her to use this wrapped item when she does not know what is inside it? And is she allowed to give it to any of the women if she no longer needs it, or is this from the practice of *tawilah*, which is a form of *shirk* (associating partners with Allah)?
The Shaykh : This is from the category of amulets, and it is not permissible for a person to hang an amulet unless he knows what is inside it, because it may contain spells, the names of devils, or *ifrits* from the *jinn* (the jinn), or something similar. Therefore, it is not permissible for a person to hang anything unless he knows what is inside it. Then, if he knows what is inside and it is Qur'an or supplications from the Sunnah, the *Salaf* (the earliest generations) and the *Khalaf* (the later generations) differed regarding the permissibility of hanging such things. Some scholars said that it is not permissible to hang it even if it is from the Qur'an, and this is the report attributed to 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him). Other scholars said that if it is from the Qur'an, there is no harm, based on the general meaning of the statement of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Isra 17:82]
As for an item that is hung up without knowing what is inside it, this is *haram* (forbidden) and not permissible. The fact that pregnancy occurred after she hung it does not indicate that this was the cause. Rather, it may be that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) tested this woman by having her become pregnant after she placed it, as a trial for her.
What I see is that it is obligatory to open this wrapped item and look at what is inside. If it is Qur'an, then as you have heard, the scholars differed regarding the permissibility of hanging it. If it is not Qur'an and it is not known what it is, then it is obligatory to burn it, and it is not permissible to give it to anyone. Yes.
The questioner : What is the stronger position, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : The stronger position, if Allah wills, is that there is nothing wrong with it; the stronger position is that there is no harm if it is from the Qur'an. Yes.
The Shaykh : This is from the category of amulets, and it is not permissible for a person to hang an amulet unless he knows what is inside it, because it may contain spells, the names of devils, or *ifrits* from the *jinn* (the jinn), or something similar. Therefore, it is not permissible for a person to hang anything unless he knows what is inside it. Then, if he knows what is inside and it is Qur'an or supplications from the Sunnah, the *Salaf* (the earliest generations) and the *Khalaf* (the later generations) differed regarding the permissibility of hanging such things. Some scholars said that it is not permissible to hang it even if it is from the Qur'an, and this is the report attributed to 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him). Other scholars said that if it is from the Qur'an, there is no harm, based on the general meaning of the statement of Allah the Exalted:
And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers
وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَAs for an item that is hung up without knowing what is inside it, this is *haram* (forbidden) and not permissible. The fact that pregnancy occurred after she hung it does not indicate that this was the cause. Rather, it may be that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) tested this woman by having her become pregnant after she placed it, as a trial for her.
What I see is that it is obligatory to open this wrapped item and look at what is inside. If it is Qur'an, then as you have heard, the scholars differed regarding the permissibility of hanging it. If it is not Qur'an and it is not known what it is, then it is obligatory to burn it, and it is not permissible to give it to anyone. Yes.
The questioner : What is the stronger position, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : The stronger position, if Allah wills, is that there is nothing wrong with it; the stronger position is that there is no harm if it is from the Qur'an. Yes.