Musnad Ahmad

The respected wife of Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud, Sayyidah Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her), says that when Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) would return from some work, he would stop at the door, cough, and spit, and he disliked entering upon us suddenly lest he see something that would be unpleasant to him. One day, as usual, he came and stopped at the door and coughed. At that time, an old woman was sitting with me who was performing a charm (incantation) with red wine for me. I hid her under my bed. Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) came inside and sat beside me. He saw that there was a thread hanging around my neck. He asked, "What is this thread?" I said, "A charm has been performed on it for me." He took it and broke it, and said, "The family of Abdullah is free from shirk (polytheism). I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'Incantations, amulets, and charms are all shirk.'" I said to him, "What are you saying? My eye used to water, I would go to such-and-such Jew, he would perform a charm on it and it would get better." Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "This is a satanic act. The devil presses it with his hand, and when you have a charm performed on it, he stops. It is sufficient for you to recite the supplication that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite: «أَذْهِبْ الْبَاسَ رَبَّ النَّاسِ اشْفِ أَنْتَ الشَّافِي لَا شِفَاءَ إِلَّا شِفَاؤُكَ شِفَاءً لَا يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًا» 'O Lord of the people! Remove the harm, grant me healing, You are the Healer, there is no healing except Your healing, grant such a healing that leaves no trace of illness.'"