Understanding Sihr (Magic) and Its Reality:

Sihr, commonly translated as magic, is a hidden and deceptive practice that involves knots, incantations, written or spoken words, or certain actions that influence an individual’s body, mind, or emotions without any physical contact. It is a reality confirmed in both the Qur’ān and Sunnah, and its effects can range from causing illness, separating spouses, preventing intimacy between a husband and wife, or even instilling unnatural love or hatred between people. Some forms of sihr can be life-threatening, while others serve as obstacles in one’s personal and spiritual life.

The Qur’ān acknowledges the existence and dangers of sihr in

Surah Al-Falaq, where Allāh commands the believers to seek refuge from its harm: “Say: ‘I seek refuge with (Allāh), the Lord of the day break… And from the evil of the witchcrafts when they blow in the knots, and from the evil of the envier when he envies.” This verse highlights the act of blowing on knots, which is a common practice in many forms of magic, demonstrating that such acts do have an impact but only by Allāh’s will.

Another explicit reference to magic is found in Surah Al-Baqarah, where Allāh recounts how sihr was taught by devils and how it was misattributed to Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon). However, the verse clarifies that Sulaiman did not engage in disbelief—rather, it was the devils who led people astray:

“They followed what the Shayatin (devils) gave out (falsely of the magic) in the lifetime of Sulaiman (Solomon). Sulaiman did not disbelieve, but the Shayatin (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Harut and Marut, but neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, ‘We are only for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us).’ And from these (angels) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife, but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allāh’s Leave.”

This verse makes it clear that sihr can cause significant harm, such as destroying marriages, but it also reinforces that magic does not have independent power—its effects only occur with the permission of Allāh. Despite this, those who engage in learning and practicing magic are warned that they gain nothing beneficial from it, and they are ultimately ruining their Hereafter.

The Danger of Sihr and Seeking Its Services:

For those who deny or trivialize the existence of sihr, their claims are refuted not only by Qur’ānic verses but also by authentic hadiths of the Prophet ﷺ. He strongly warned against engaging in magic, fortune-telling, and other occult practices, stating:

“He is not one of us who practices tatayyur (ominousness) or has it done for him; who practices takahhun (clairvoyance) or has it done for him; who practices sihr or has it done for him, and whosoever has sought the services of a clairvoyant and believed in what he has come up with, has in fact disbelieved in the Message sent to Muhammad.”

This hadith makes it clear that magic is not only forbidden but also an act of disbelief. Those who actively engage in sihr or seek its services are distancing themselves from the teachings of Islam. Another strong warning states:

“He who has hired a clairvoyant, a sāhir or a soothsayer, and has believed in what they came up with, has in fact disbelieved in the Message sent to Muhammad.”

These warnings serve as a reminder that seeking help from magicians, soothsayers, or any individuals who claim to use supernatural means outside of Qur’ān and Sunnah is a severe transgression.

Precautions When Seeking Spiritual Healing:

Due to the reality of sihr and its harmful effects, many people seek spiritual healers for treatment. However, it is crucial to ensure that the healer follows Islamic guidelines. Many individuals claim to offer help but, in reality, engage in unverified or impermissible practices. Before approaching a spiritual healer, one must take precautions.

If a person claiming to treat sihr-related conditions exhibits any characteristics of a magician—such as asking for personal items, using unknown symbols, or performing rituals not found in the Qur’ān or Sunnah—then they should be avoided, as they may be a sāhir. True healing comes only through Allāh’s guidance, and any method that contradicts Islamic teachings should be rejected.