Pen for Allah

[previous post in the series - # 2 : Murder]

The Third Major Sin – Practicing Magic*.

Magicians are necessarily unbelievers. Allah (swt) says in the Quran :

“But the evil ones (Shayateen) disbelieved, teaching the people magic…” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:102)

The purpose of the evil ones in teaching people magic is to lead them into polytheism. Informing us about Harut and Marut, ( the two angels sent to Babylon to test people by teaching them magic), Allah Most High says:

“But neither of these taught anyone (such magic) until they had said: ‘ We are only a test, so do not disbelieve! ‘ They (the people) learned from the two of them what would cause discord between a man and his wife. But they could not harm anyone by it except by Allah’s leave. And they (the people) learned what harmed them and not what benefited them. And they knew that anyone who deals in it (magic) would have no share in the Next.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:102)

We see many people learning magic, imagining that it is merely prohibited, but ignorant of the fact that it constitutes unbelief (Kufr). They learn how to charm, which is a form of magic through which people’s eyes are deceived so that they see something which is not really there, or which is used to produce love in a man’s heart for his wife, as likewise hatred, and to chant certain words, most of which imply polytheism.

The prescribed punishment for a magician is death, since magic constitutes unbelief in Allah (swt) and is a source of spreading unbelief among people. The Prophet (saw) said: “Avoid the seven noxious things”, and among them he mentioned magic. Of course, noxious things are fatal, and a person should fear his Lord and not dabble in things which will bring him loss in this world and in the Next.

Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) reported Allah’s Messenger (saw) as saying : “Three types of people will not enter the Garden- Those who are addicted to wine, those who break family relationships, and those who believe in magic” (Ahmad). ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (ra) , in a report going back to the Prophet (saw), said: “Wiping ( a part of the body with one’s hands) after an incantation, used charms and making spells are polytheism” (Ahmad).

Many ignorant people hang strings of beads and amulets around their own necks, or their children’s or their animal’s, and think that this will ward off the evil eye. This is from the customs of paganism, and anyone who believes in them is committing polytheism (Shirk). Others practice magic or spells, believing that someone other than Allah has the power to remove affliction, produce love in the heart of a man toward a woman, or repel the harm of the evil eye. However, if Allah’s names or his words are recited, then is it permissible, as one is invoking Allah’s help and blessing.

The Prophet (saw) used to pass his hands over Hasan’s and Husain’s heads and bodies, saying: “With Allah’s perfect words I commend you to Allah’s Protection from every deceiving devil and every envious eye”.

*In his Series of the “Lives of the Prophets”, Imam Anwar Al Awlaki gives very useful information about the misconception of Prophet Sulayman (AS) and magic. I recommend you to listen to that lecture.

O Allah protect us from the evils of Magic and save us from falling into disbelieve.

In the next post Inshallah we will explain about Major Sin # 4 – Not Praying.