Sihr: Is it lawful?

Q 2: Is Sihr (witchcraft) lawful? Take into consideration that most of the Guadeloupe Island population where I live, believe in it. For example, a girl will take a part of the clothing of a young man she loves and gives it to a sorcerer who casts a spell and makes the young man fall in love with her. A good sorcerer may prevent you from gambling or smoking, is this true? Can a sorcerer do these things?

A: Sihr is anything including practicing things with fine, abstruse, and causeless characters. There are different types. The ruling on approaching it differs according to the difference of types. Likewise, it differs according to its existence in reality. For example, Sihr applies to eloquence and articulacy. Thus, if it is used for clarifying the truth and refuting falsehood, it is permissible and praiseworthy, for its effect on people who hear heedfully. But if it is used for deceiving people and turning the facts upside down, it is illegal and may be tantamount to Kufr (disbelief). It affects all those who turn away from their Din (religion) and are too arrogant to hear the truth and accept it. (Part No. 1; Page No. 545) It may also refer to Namimah (calumny) which is one of the major sins except if a person does it to reconcile people. It has an effect on the souls of those who listen to it. Sihr may also indicate illusion and anything that may deceive people's eyes to make them see inanimate objects moving, and thus they are illusionary perceived against reality. For example, as for what the sorcerers did in front of Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) and Pharaoh (may the curse of Allah be upon him) when they threw their ropes and sticks, the audience thought that they were moving but it was not real. It was just an illusion. The ropes and sticks did not change even if people thought they saw them as moving snakes. Allah (the Exalted) says in this concern: ...their sticks, by their magic, appeared to him as though they moved fast. He also says: ...they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them This kind of Sihr is unlawful because it deceives and manipulates minds. It may be taken as a profession to earn money and take people's money falsely. It is a kind of Al-Kufr-ul-Akbar (major form of disbelief) like the sorcery of Pharaoh's sorcerers.Sihr may also mean seeking refuge with Jinn (creatures created from fire) and seeking their help to benefit someone, harm them, or inflict on them diseases, separation, hatred, love, (Part No. 1; Page No. 546) terminating a spell, etc. The case mentioned in the question is of this type. It is an act of Al-Kufr-ul-Akbar due to people seeking refuge and help from people other than Allah and drawing closer to Jinn to achieve this desire. Whoever goes to a sorcerer who practices this and believes him, is considered a Kafir (disbeliever). Allah (the Exalted) says: They followed what the Shayâtîn (devils) gave out (falsely of the magic) in the lifetime of Sulaimân (Solomon). Sulaimân did not disbelieve, but the Shayâtîn (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Hârût and Mârût, 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 There is no effect of this type except by the Will of Allah because of Allah's saying: ...but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allâh’s Leave. Allah knows best.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.