Types of Magic / Sihr / Witchcraft

When Magic was first brought down in Babylon by the angels Harut & Marut, it was generalized to cause separation between man and his wife, yet people practiced it over and studied it so much that it has now evolved into different types, causing many other types of harm to mankind.

I will discuss every type individually. I will write about – How the bewitching takes place – What symptoms does it bring upon the victim, and – How to counter/cure it.

I will start writing from the magic known as Sihr al-Mahabba, the Magic to form love between two people, and the rest of the types, all one by one.

Sihr al-Mahabba (Magic for Love)
Sihr at-Tafreeq (Magic for Separation)
Sihr at-Takhyeel (Magic for Hallucinations/Illusions)
Sihr al-Hawaatif (Magic for haunting voices)
Sihr al-Junoon (Magic for Lunacy)
Sihr an-Nazeef (Magic for excess bleeding)
Sihr al-Khumool (Magic for Lethargy)
Sihr al-Maraz (Magic for sickness)

Facts about Amulets

A tradition wide spread for a long time, since the fall of Iblees till this hour. What are Amulets?

Amulets were things that the Arabs used to tie onto their children to protect them against the evil eye, or so they claimed, since pre-Islamic times.

A Hadith narrated by Musnad Ahmad, classed sahih by al-Albaani that the Messenger of Allah said:

“Whoever ties on an amulet has committed Shirk”

Refer, Zaad Al-Ma’aad, 4/170. Or al-Silsilah as-Sahihah, (492).

Imaam Ahmad collected a Hadith Narrated from Uqbah (r.a) (one of the companions of the Prophet (swt)): that once a group of men approached Allaah’s Messenger to give their allegiance to him, and he accepted the oath from nine of them but refused to accept it from one. When they asked him why he refused their companion’s oath, he replied, “Verily, he is wearing an amulet.” The man who was wearing the amulet put his hand in his cloak, pulled the amulet off, broke it, and then made the oath. The Prophet (swt) then said, “Whoever wears an amulet has committed shirk.”

With this said, binding amulets, bracelets and necklaces adorned with blue beads and metal pieces of the shape of a crescent, or animal teeth or bones etc “with the thought that they will keep one safe from Evil and bring good and bad fortune” is without a doubt – Shirk. It was commonly known among the Arabs of the pre-Islamic times that the jinn/demons fear the wolves, and that is why people would hunt for wolves and get their teeth/bones to seek refuge in them.

But one may ask, what if we were to bind verses of the Quran to our body and seek refuge in them?

What about using Quran and its Verses as Amulets?

Some people mention this issue referring to a fatwa of Ibn Taimiyya quoted below:

Sheikh-ul-Islam Ibn Taimiyya, in one of his fatwa, said,

“It is permissible for an ill or troubled person, that certain verses from the Qur’an are written with pure ink, then it is washed and given to the ill to drink. Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have mentioned a certain Dua that should be written and placed close to the woman who is experiencing hard labour at the time of giving birth.”

“And We send down of the Qur’aan that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe…” [al-Isra’ 17:82]

But there is no sign of making a Quran that fits into a Locket so one can hang it around his neck or tie it to his arm. This is obvious from the teaching of the Prophet (pbuh). For instance, Surah an-Naas and Surah al-Falaq were revealed as a Healing for the witchcraft and to ward-off Evil, but neither the Prophet (pbuh), nor his Companions ever wrote those Chapters on paper and bound it to their body to seek protection from the overcoming Evil on their people who were cured multiple times with these Chapters. They merely recited it over.

So what Ibn Tiamiya has said, does not refer to Amulets at all. It is when people interpret that Fatwa and promote the use of Quran as Amulets. We all know the degree of Evil this is going to spread, and it already has. Matter of fact is that – When we are taught a simple way of protecting ourselves form Evil, simply by reciting the Verses of the Quran and seeking refuge in Allaah, then why improvise other unnecessary methods of protection?

I am sure all of you are aware of Amulets sealed in Leather and in Tight coverings. Have you ever wondered why?

What is the difference in keeping a verse of the Quran on a paper kept in a pocket, and that piece of paper sealed inside a leather covering?

I believe the difference lies in the text written on the piece of paper which the Amulet craftsman does not want you to know! Since people started believing in Amulets with Verses of Quran in them, it opened a great opportunity for the Magicians to infiltrate our Muslim Societies. Today, we find hundreds of so called-men of god-giving people amulets for cure and protection from Evil and Witchcraft etc, claiming them to have verses of Quran when none can understand Arabic in the first place. 

Any layman that reads them will say that it is a verse from the Quran. But Just because it Apparently looks like Arabic does NOT mean it is a verse from the Quran. It may most probably be a Praise to the Demons. All of this is apparent from the condition in Bangladesh. Most people are bankrupted by these so called men of god. They bewitch people with their own jinn (Demons), and their victims come to them as patients. The magician can then relieve his pain temporarily and make him an addict and eventually bankrupt him.

You may refer to the topic – Distinctive features of a Witch/Sahir for a better understanding of such men.  Most of the times when you open the sealed Amulet, you will find Figures and Diagrams and Tables of Number etc. It may even include a verse of the Quran that may not have a specific meaning but along with that you find the figures and diagrams. Now where does Islam teach us to draw diagrams in order to seek protection from Evil?

In short, the amount of evil spread through allowing Amulets in Islaam can be guess from the video bellow: 

Fact is, they (Magicians) use these diagrams as portal/key for the jinn to trace their victims. It is a generalized concept:

A devil would never bother the ones who are already misguided, and that is how they are safe from evil when wearing such amulets.

All of this is without a doubt Shirk.

I would like to repeat that, when there is already a way prescribed from the Sunnah, that we can cure ourselves and our brothers simply by reciting the Quran to them, then why seek the help of an amulet?

Sihr Al-Mahabba / At-Tiwala (Magic for Love)

Arguments between man and wife often happen and are resolved within short times, and everything is back to normal again. However, a woman who cannot show patience would immediately go to a sahir/witch and ask him to work out a sihr/witchcraft which would let her be very much loved by her husband. This may be due to a defect in her faith, or to her ignorance of the fact that it is unlawful.

The sahir/witch would ask her to provide a trace of her husband’s scent. For instance his handkerchief, clothes, garment etc, something that has been in contact with the skin of the victim, and has the slightest scent of the victim preserved on it. The Witch would take a piece or some threads from these items, blow onto them, tie knots around them and ask the woman to bury it in a deserted place. He does that so that nobody could ever come across it or mistakenly get to open it and release the demon bound to that purpose.

The Witch may also prepare some water or food/powder with blowing polytheistic incantations over it, and giving it to the woman to add those into her husband’s meal/drink. He may also blow onto a perfume which the victim may put on.

Today, the witches may simply ask for a Photo, and the victim’s mother’s name, in order to work out this practice. Bear in mind, it is not only used to get a Husband to fall in love for the wife, but most of the times it is used to get another woman in love with oneself. It is unlawful and haraam.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: 

“Ar-ruqaa, at-tamaa’im and at-tiwala are acts of polytheism.”
Refer, Imam Ahmad (1/381), Al-Haakim (4/418).

According to Ibn al-Atheer,

‘At-tiwala is a type of Magic which makes a man love his wife. The reason why this type of Ritual is classed by the Prophet (pbuh) as an act of polytheism is because those who have it done for them believe that it has an effect and does the opposite of what Allah has prescribed.’

Refer, An-Nihaaya (1/200)

The above ruqya is considered haram and we call it Sihr because it involves the assistance of Jinn and demons, and consists of acts of polytheism. However, the Ruqya which is based on the Quran and lawful supplications of Allah is lawful. It is when the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“There is no harm in using Ruqya as a means of treatment provided it DOES NOT consist of anything Polytheistic.”

Symptoms of Sihr of Love

Excessive love and passion
Extreme desire to have sexual intercourse
Extreme lust at the sight of one’s wife
Extreme obedience to one’s wife
Sihr at-Tafreeq (Magic for Seperation)

Quran in Surah Baqara:

“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, Harut and Marut. But 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 Allah. And the people learnt what harms them and does not benefit them. But the Children of Israel certainly knew that whoever purchased the magic would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew.” (al-Baqara: 102)

Jabir reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“Iblees would lay his throne on water and would send his brigade of demons. The lowest among them in rank is the one who is most notorious in stirring up Fitna(seduce, tempt, or lure). One of the demons would, after a mission, come and say to Iblees, ‘I have done so and so.’ Iblees would reply, ‘You have not done anything.’ Another one would come and say, ‘I have not left such and such person until I separated him from his wife.’ Iblees would come close to his demon and say, ‘How good you are’”

Refer, Muslim in An-Nawawee (17/157)

How is it done?

This type of witchcraft may affect relationships other than the relation between a husband and wife. It may separate a person from his/her:

Mother – Father – Brother – Friend,

Yet Separating a person from his/her spouse is the most dangerous because, Friends can become friends later on in life again, so may any other relation; But, separating a person from his/her spouse causes a huge conflict between two FAMILIES, not just two persons, and a lifetime hatred. That is why Satan/Iblees is pleased with the demon that causes it.

It is done in a way that a person goes to a sahir/witch and requests that a certain person be separated from his wife. The Witch would ask for the name of the victim and also the victim’s mother’s name, and also traces of the victim’s smell, things that have been in contact with the skin/sweat of the victim – like the victim’s hair, garment, clothes, handkerchief etc. If that is too difficult to obtain, the witch would perform Sihr/bewitch some water, then ask the client to spill it along the way which that person normally uses. If the victim crosses that place of water, knowing his name and mother’s name, he would be affected by Sihr/witchcraft. The client may even use that bewitched water/food to be added to the victim’s food/drink. If the Sahir uses the threads/pieces of clothes/garment of the victim in producing an object that has knots tied around it, he may tell the client to bury it in a desolate place where no one can open it, for that will release the jinn and unbound it from that specific purpose.

Today, the Sahir often ask for a Photo and the mother’s name of the victim, in order for this act to complete.

Symptoms

A sudden change in attitude from love to hate
A great deal of suspicion is aroused between the two victims
No excuses are accepted and there is always a conflict in arguments between the two.
The person affect by sihr hates anything the other party does. He tries to stay away from where the other party stays. Like a husband may be in good mood when he is outside home, but feel depressed when at home with his wife.

According to Ibn-Khatir,

“The cause of separation between two spouses through this sihr is that each of them appears to the other as an ugly and ill-mannered person.”

Refer, Tafseer Ibn-Khatir (1/144)

Sihr at-Takhyeel (Magic of Illusions)

It is categorized into two types:

1 – Displaying tricks but with the help of Jinn.
2 – Bewitching the eyes of the crowd to make them see things other than reality.

“He [Musa (Moses)] said: ‘Throw you (first)(staves)’. So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them, and they displayed a great magic. And We inspired to Moses, ‘Throw your staff,’ and at once it devoured what they were falsifying.” [Al-A’raaf: 16-17]

We often notice magician/s displaying the art of magic/witchcraft at places like Gatherings in Villages and Markets. They call them tricks when in fact most of them are with the help of the Jinn. They do, however, display simple tricks in order to keep the people from considering them as Witch/es, when in fact their work has a lot to do with Jinn. The above rope trick is a good example.

Today, we see David Blaine and other magicians, who would sometimes perform tricks that cannot be explained through any natural cause. Yet, they also perform simple tricks that are easy to figure out. The reason why they perform simple tricks is because they don’t want the viewers to delve deep into the mysteries of their oddest tricks. Because once a person knows how magic is performed with the help of Jinn, they would start to question the magician and that would cause more people to believe in the supernatural, and eventually, demote David Blaine.

However, the 2nd type is defined as the magic that makes things appear in a form other than its original one. If you read about the Types and Categories of Jinn from the contents page, you will notice the type called Si’la and Ghoul. These were the type of jinn which would come in contact with travellers mostly, and they would make the travellers see weird objects in the desert of Egypt, which would vanish soon as they were approached. They are called the Magicians of the Jinn; Magicians who make things appear in forms other than what they really are.

I also mentioned the Hadith on how to protect oneself from the above type of Jinn; one can announce Azaan (call to prayers) in a loud voice, or recite Ayat-ul-Kursi (al-baqara 255).

The Main issue is that, the second category of this type of magic is used within the other types of magic like – magic of love/separation. It makes either of the couple appear ugly/beautiful to the other. It may also be used in Magic of Lunacy, to drive people mad by making them see illusion/s of objects.
Distinctive Features of a Witch /Sahir /Black-Magician

If you find one of the following characteristics in a person who treats people suffering from sihr (Witchcraft) or other related illnesses, then this person is definitely a sahir (Witch).

He asks the patient his and his Mother’s names.

He takes a sweaty garment from the patient e.g. a piece of cloth that is in contact with skin, like a vest, cap, handkerchief etc. He takes it as a tracker for the jinn [Demon] to follow.
He sometimes asks for an animal, with certain specifications, in order to slaughter it without initiating the slaughter with the Name of Allah, He may use the sacrificial blood to stain some painful areas of the patient, or throw the carcass in on a ruined site. One of the Methods to bring about a Demon (See Contents Above).

He writes incantations. Mostly Polytheistic and full of Praise to the Chief Demon.
He recites unclear incantations. He might recite Qur’anic verses, only to take the trust of the Patient, but then he starts to recite the polytheistic words to praise the demons.

He gives the patient a hijab (incantation written on a piece of paper), which contains squares within which letters or figures are written. Figures and mixture of Integers also act as a Portal for the jinn, also called ‘KEY’ or ‘CHARM’.

He instructs the patient to isolate himself/herself in a dark room and not to talk to people for a specific period of time. The common people call it alhijba (act of remaining indoors for a long time).

He sometimes instructs the patient not to touch water for a specific period of time, usually forty days. This indicates that this particular Jinn, working for the sahir, is Christian.
He gives the patient some items to bury in the ground. It is always the KEY/CHARM (portal for the jinn).

He gives the patient some pieces of paper to burn and use as incense for his or her body. Jinn are attracted and also repelled by incense, depending upon what kind of incense is burnt.

He murmurs unclear words.

He sometimes informs the patient of his name, his town and the purpose of the visit. That he knows from the Qareen of that person (see Types of Jinn in Contents).

He writes broken letters on a piece of paper (hijab) or on a plate made of white porcelain, and instructs the patient to dissolve the writing in water, and then drink it.

If you discover that this man is a sahir, do not go to him; or else you are the person whom the Prophet (pbuh) describes in the following hadith:

“Whoever goes to a soothsayer and believes what he says, has disbelieved in the Message sent to Muhammad (pbuh); and his prayers will not be accepted for forty days.”