Here at Understand Quran Academy we sometimes receive letters from people saying they received help— usually in finding love or healing from an illness— from someone practising magic, and that that person will happily sell their favours to any brother or sister who has the means to pay for it.
As surprising as it is that Muslims seek help from the black arts, it’s even more shocking that they contact a Quranic educational institution to encourage other Muslims to continue in an error that the Quran strictly forbids.
On the subject of magic, there’s an amazing amount of ignorance in the ummah today. Women who dutifully don the hijab, fast, and pray regularly and men who never miss a Jumuah at the mosque are, when the going gets rough, ready to pay for some token, herb, or incantation guaranteed to bring good luck to a newborn baby or to keep a teenaged daughter from straying down the wrong road.
Especially in rural communities traditions of magic can be so entrenched that not even a millenium and a half of Islam have yet uprooted them— to our shame! Thus otherwise devout and pious families resort to consulting sorceresses and sorcerers because that’s what their parents did.
Is it All Harry Potter’s Fault?
We’re not about to condemn the wonderful literary and film productions based on a fictitious embracing of magic for entertainment purposes. Neither should we confuse black magic with the magical tricks used to amuse children at birthday parties.
The spiritual error lies with magic that attempts to sabotage, subvert, or otherwise control forces of fate and nature which belong only within the power of our creator.
So Why is Magic So Bad?
For starters, the moment we engage in magic we’ve stopped trusting in Allah (swt) and turned for help to a lesser power, setting that power up in His place. (Wake up and smell the shirk!)
When we pray ‘’Allahu akhbar’’ we’re affirming that Allah is the greatest. Why would we say this during salat and then seek help from a sorceress?
When we recite Al-Fatiha we say, You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Saying this and then turning our time and money over to a witch to see the future or to bring good luck is the worst kind of hypocrisy. Muslims must only ask help of the highest source of abundance and guidance— Allah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem.
What About Using the Quran for Magic?
The Quran was sent as a warning— and a call to worship and seek help from Allah (swt) alone. How could we even think of using it as a tool in a practice that Allah has forbidden?
9 Things the Quran Says About Magic:
Time for a deen refresher! Let’s stop taking this bad habit lightly and start by taking a careful look at what the Quran says about magic.
- It’s how the kafir accused the prophets, as a way of denouncing the signs and words that came from Allah (swt). But when there came to them Our visible signs, they said, ‘This is obvious magic.’ [Quran, 27 :13]
- Magic is taught by demonic jinn. . . . It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic . . .[Quran, 2:102]
- The jinn’s knowledge was acquired by spying on angels. . . . teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. [Quran, 2:102]
- This knowledge was unlawfully taken and unlawfully practiced, and the jinn were unable to use the knowledge properly, resulting in great harm. [Quran, 2:102]
- Practicing magic is an act of disbelief. [Quran, 2:102]
- Practicing magic works harm, such as causing marital strife. [Quran, 2:102]
- Those who buy magic won’t share in the Hereafter unless they repent and seek forgiveness. . . . But the Children of Israel certainly knew that whoever purchased the magic would not have in the Hereafter any share. . . .[Quran, 2:102]
- Buying magic is buying wretchedness. [Quran, 2:102]
- Magicians pit themselves against the messengers of Allah in tests, but won’t succeed. Moses said, ‘Do you say [thus] about the truth when it has come to you? Is this magic? But magicians will not succeed.’
[Quran, 10:77]
But My Mom Says it’s Okay!
Even when you realise that practising or buying magic is haram, it may be hard to stand up to loved ones for whom it seems a normal part of life. Especially with parents it’s important to be gentle, kind, and respectful when refusing to accept good luck charms and other magical practices.
Pursue True Spirituality
Avoiding magic also means avoiding all occult practices, that is, anything that attempts to usurp, or give information on, the will of Allah (swt), including astrology charts, tarot, cards, and the reading of coffee grounds and tea leaves. Pray regularly, strive to be obedient, and devote yourself to studying and reflecting on the Quran, and you can avoid a mountain of error!
Even better— these true spiritual practices will also form the perfect protection against the harmful intents of those who practice sorcery.
May your mind and heart be opened,
The Understand Quran Academy Team
We know that in Islam we not only leave off a sin, but we must also stay off all roads leading to that sin. Harry Potter is certainly a problem. It glamorizes magic, thus creating a desire for learning magic. Every action begins with a desire.
Salam aliakum, friend.
Thanks so much for your input! Although you may have a point about Harry Potter, we don’t make it a priority to criticise fictional works written by nonMuslims. A bigger concern is the practise of magic among brothers and sisters in the ummah, most of whom practise traditional witchcraft and have never even heard of Harry Potter.
Jazakallah khair mashallah all ur articles help me a lot n this one has immensely helped me because about magic tricks for children I used to think it’s OK but after ur this newsletter ii tt helped me a lot to guide me to straight path inshallh
Jazak Allah khair. You have discussed a very important subject. May Allah bless the team of understand quran. Ameen.
Assalamu alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.
I have 2 questions. How do you get your articles? Do you have a personal writing team or do you have volunteer writers?
If you have volunteer writers, how is it that they can submit for consideration and sharing for the sake of Allah?
May Allah reward all those involved until final content reaches people like me.
Barakallah.
Wa aliakum salam, friend.
If you’d like to submit an article to our blog, please send your inquiry to: author@understandquran.com.
Please also have a look at blog articles we’ve already published, in order to get an idea of the kind of thing we’re looking for: https://understandquran.com/blog.html.
We are unable to predict when or if your blog article will be published, but if we do publish it we will certainly let you know.
May Allah (swt) richly bless your efforts to learn and spread the message of the Quran.
Jazaka Allah khayran,
Warda Krimi (sister) UQA
Assalaamu Alaikum! JazaakAllah Khair for writing on this topic. You are so right! It is a shame that these practices still continue among our people. Such people who do it publicly/professionally, should be punished. Our folks need to be educated.
Assalaamu alaikum, JazakAllah khair for this article. It really is a sad phenomenon that this practice continues to exist today. It’s really sad when there are multiple ads in certain newspapers that publicize different people who say they can help with people trying to get married, win the lottery, and other things.
May Allah guide us all to the straight path. ameen.