Stalled Affairs: When It Is Sihr (Magic), and When It Is Not

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

A marriage was settled three times and fell through three times. The job interview goes well, but the call never comes. A business gets stuck just as it is about to begin. From such experiences the question naturally arises — has something been done to me? The question is valid. But there is an order to follow in reaching the answer.

Sihr is real — the Qur'an itself says so

Magic is not imagination. The Qur'an says directly that magicians learn knowledge by which separation is caused between husband and wife — and it also says that they cannot harm anyone except by Allah's permission.

Surah Al-Baqara 2:102

وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُوا الشَّيٰطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمٰنَ ۖ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمٰنُ وَلٰكِنَّ الشَّيٰطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هٰرُوتَ وَمٰرُوتَ ۚ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ ۖ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِۦ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِۦ ۚ وَمَا هُم بِضَارِّينَ بِهِۦ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ ۚ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا لَمَنِ اشْتَرَىٰهُ مَا لَهُۥ فِى الْءَاخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلٰقٍ ۚ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا بِهِۦ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ ۝۱۰۲

And they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Hārūt and Mārūt. But they [i.e., the two angels] do not teach anyone unless they say, "We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic]." And [yet] they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allāh. And they [i.e., people] learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But they [i.e., the Children of Israel] certainly knew that whoever purchased it [i.e., magic] would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew.

Both the existence of sihr and its limit are in the same verse (ayah).

The verse (ayah) of the knots

In Surah Al-Falaq we are told to seek refuge from the evil of those who blow on knots. This one verse (ayah) alone makes clear that the kind of magic that binds is a real thing, and that its remedy is also with Allah alone.

Surah Al-Falaq 113:4

وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفّٰثٰتِ فِى الْعُقَدِ ۝۴

And from the evil of the blowers in knots

Refuge from the evil of the women who blow on knots.

But first rule out the ordinary causes

The most common reason for a marriage breaking off is not sihr (magic) — it is haggling over dowry, the family's disapproval, or dissatisfaction after inquiries. The most common reason for not getting a job is competition, the CV, or a lack of connections.

As a raqi I can say that if one turns to ruqyah without first honestly examining these ordinary causes, people lose two things — time, and the chance to actually solve the problem.

The Shariah teaches this as well. Taking means is not opposed to tawakkul (reliance on Allah); rather, it is part of it. The saying about tying the camel and then relying on Allah applies right here.

When the likelihood of sihr (magic) increases

When the obstacle is unusually consistent — a different reason each time, but the same result. When, at the moment of decision, the attitude of the people concerned changes suddenly and without explanation. When physical signs accompany it — nightmares, pressure on the chest, unusual laziness in worship.

These too are not definite proof, but when many of them are present together, it is reasonable to begin ruqyah.

What must not be done

When magic is suspected, the greatest danger is not in the remedy but in taking the wrong road to a remedy. If you hear any one of these three promises — "I will break the magic," "I will tell you who did it," "I will send it back on them" — you should get up and leave.

Removing magic by means of magic (nushra) is forbidden. The practice of sending magic back is itself magic. And claiming to give news of the unseen directly oversteps the limits of the Shariah. There is only one lawful path — the words of Allah, authentic duas, and patience.

Mistakes to avoid

First, honestly examine the ordinary and practical causes.
Do not go to anyone who offers to "send the magic back" or "tell you who did it."
Do not accept amulets, charms, threads or written designs.
Along with continuing ruqyah, do not give up effort and means.

Sihr is real, but not every obstacle is sihr. Look for the cause with honesty, take the remedy within the bounds of the Shariah, and leave the outcome in Allah's hands. What He opens, no one can bind.