*Monday fiqh lessons with Sheikh Ayoub (21/9/20)*
Notes for reflection
Subject: as-Sihr (black magic)
Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 102:
وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَٰكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ وَمَا هُم بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا بِهِ أَنفُسَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ
And they followed what the Shaitans chanted of sorcery in the reign of Sulaiman, and Sulaiman was not an unbeliever, but the Shaitans disbelieved, they taught men sorcery and that was sent down to the two angels at Babel, Harut and Marut, yet these two taught no man until they had said, “Surely we are only a trial, therefore do not be a disbeliever.” Even then men learned from these two, magic by which they might cause a separation between a man and his wife; and they cannot hurt with it any one except with Allah’s permission, and they learned what harmed them and did not profit them, and certainly they know that he who bought it should have no share of good in the hereafter and evil was the price for which they sold their souls; had they but known this.
Magic is known as “sihr”
This word can be used for positive or negative
But when it is black magic it is known as “as-sihr”, which is negative.
“Sahr” can also mean something that captures your attention
Suhr also refers to the time before fajr, where we eat suhoor. This word therefore also refers to the night
The time after midnight is known as an evil time. (Recommended to do wudhu before bed)
Harut and marut were sent to Babylon. They would not teach anyone the magic until they made it clear “we are fitnah to you and when we teach you don’t become disbelievers (as this power will allow you to do things that are very powerful)”
These two Angels were sent as a trial
They were able to teach magic that could make married couples divorce
The magic could do a lot of evil HOWEVER nothing could happen without the will of Allah.
These angels taught purely harmful things, and the students knew none of this would benefit them in the akhira
They would be punished from the grave to the akhira for the evil they bought for themselves, knowingly (if they used to know)
Tafsir Al anfal
Ayatollah Nasir makarul Shirazi says these names were old Persian names (harut – green, marut – someone who doesn’t die) but there’s no proof these are definitely Farsi names
Others say these were not shaitans but were people who lived in Babylon
Hadith from Al Askari up to imam al ridha
There is a story of harut and marut – people used to learn sihr from them
Nothing can affect you except that which Allah allows to happen to you
Sihr is a science that the holy Qur’an has discussed
Ayatollah Shirazi says that there
Two types of sihr:
1. Doing something really quickly to confuse someone into thinking magic has happened (khida – to trick someone with speed)
2. According to Qur’an 2:102 shihr is a science which can be applied to cause problems to people
According to scholars and Islamic opinion, It is unanimously agreed THAT:
Teaching, learning or practicing sihr is HARAM
Imam Ali (as) says:
Anyone who learns sihr, whether little or alot. When they learn this, they become kafir and will be punished by Allah.
Ayatollah Shirazi says
It is important for some people to learn this sihr many people are affected by the magic and no one knows how to deal with the effects of it
If this is the case, then it becomes wajib kifahi to learn this as a means of helping those negatively affected by sihr by battling this science hands on with the knowledge of it
There was a man called Isa who was a magician, and he would get paid for his magic
However after a time he repented and went to Imam Jaffar (as) and explained he did magic and would take people’s money for it. But he would always ask Allah to allow him to meet imam Jaffar and he would repent to Allah. He wanted to know how if he could be forgiven by Allah, and the imam said yes so long as he has repented and does not go back to it
Stay far from sihr as it will cause destruction to the community, people will feel far too powerful and will think they do not need Allah and will go far from God.
It is narrated, most of those who practice this science die a horrible death and are not able to recite shahada
If sihr has been done on you, or if you think someone has done it on you, or to generally protect yourself there are things you can do:
1. You need to go to a person who knows this science of sihr so they can help you, but make sure it is a
2. Always be on a state of wudhu (prophet Muhammad pbuh said wudhu is the weapon of a believer)
3. Pray on time! And pray properly
4. Give sadaqa regularly
5. Recite dua regularly
*Most importantly trust in Allah (SWT), He is the one who can protect you*
