Adapted from the book "Shirk ke Chaur Darwazay" by Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi and Hafiz Mahmood al-Khudri
Sayyiduna ‘Awf bin Malik (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
“In the days of ignorance, we used to perform incantations (mantras), so we asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, ‘O Messenger of Allah! What do you say about this?’ He ﷺ said:
(( اِعْرِضُوا عَلَى رُقَاكُمْ ، لَا بَأْسَ بِالرُّقَى مَالَمْ يَكُنْ فِيْهِ شِرْكٌ . ))
(Sahih Muslim, Book of Peace, Hadith 5732; Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Medicine, Hadith 3886)
“Present your incantations to me; there is nothing wrong with incantations so long as there is no element of shirk in them.”
A vivid example can be seen in the book “Shama-e-Shabistan-e-Raza”, which includes extremely shirk-based incantations. These can destroy a person’s Iman and Islam, leading to deprivation in this world and the Hereafter.
One such incantation is:
(بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ نَادِ عَلِيًّا مَظْهَرَ الْعَجَائِبِ تَجِدُهُ عَوْنًا لَكَ فِي النَّوَائِبِ ، كُلُّ هَم وَ غَمّ سَيَنْجَلِي بِنَبُوَّتِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ وَبِولَا يَتِكَ يَا عَلِيٌّ يَا عَلِيُّ يَا عَلِيٌّ)
Its so-called "virtues" listed include:➊ Solving great difficulties by reciting it 41 times daily.
➋ Healing critical patients by reciting it 7 times over rainwater.
➌ Gaining others’ obedience by reciting it 47 times and blowing over one’s body.
(Shama-e-Shabistan-e-Raza, Vol. 1, pg. 60)
Any intelligent individual can discern that this is not Islamic, but a pure shirk-based spell. It has nothing to do with the teachings of Islam. May Allah protect all of us from such filthy practices.
آمِيْن
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Present your incantations to me; there is no harm in those that are free from shirk.”
🖋 Imam al-Khattabi (رحمه الله) said:
“The Prophet ﷺ himself performed and permitted ruqyah. If the incantation is based on Qur’anic verses or Allah’s Names and Attributes, it is allowed. If it's in a non-Arabic language or unintelligible, it becomes forbidden, and sometimes even crosses into kufr.”
🖋 Ibn al-Tin said:
“Ruqyah with Mu‘awwidhat and the Names and Attributes of Allah is divine medicine.”
🖋 Imam al-Suyuti (رحمه الله) stated:
“There is consensus among scholars that ruqyah is permissible with three conditions:
➊ It must consist of Allah’s words or His Names and Attributes.
➋ It must be in the Arabic language, with a clear and understood meaning.
➌ Both the reciter and the recipient must believe that the cure comes only by Allah’s command.”
(Tayseer al-‘Aziz al-Hameed, p. 165–167; Fath al-Majeed, p. 108; Mughni al-Mureed 3/932; Kitab at-Tawheed by Dr. Salih al-Fawzan, p. 136; Dar al-Andalus)
Imam Muhammad wrote in Muwatta Muhammad:
“There is no harm in ruqyah using Qur’anic verses or remembrance of Allah, but if the incantation is in an unknown language, it is impermissible.”
Rather than turning to shirk-based incantations, one should sincerely seek healing from Allah, the Lord of all, and place full reliance on His supreme power and mercy.
✿ Shirk-Based Incantations and Charms
One hidden gateway to shirk is through shirk-based incantations and charms (شرکیہ دم و منتر). When a person is afflicted with a hardship or disease, he wanders from place to place in search of a cure. Eventually, some do not hesitate to resort to shirk-based incantations — a practice rooted in the traditions of the Age of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah).Sayyiduna ‘Awf bin Malik (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
“In the days of ignorance, we used to perform incantations (mantras), so we asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, ‘O Messenger of Allah! What do you say about this?’ He ﷺ said:
(( اِعْرِضُوا عَلَى رُقَاكُمْ ، لَا بَأْسَ بِالرُّقَى مَالَمْ يَكُنْ فِيْهِ شِرْكٌ . ))
(Sahih Muslim, Book of Peace, Hadith 5732; Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Medicine, Hadith 3886)
“Present your incantations to me; there is nothing wrong with incantations so long as there is no element of shirk in them.”
⚠ Why Shirk-Based Incantations Are Impermissible
This Hadith clearly shows that incantations involving shirk are not permissible. Such practices involve:- Seeking help from other than Allah
- Supplicating to other than Allah
- Asking for healing from other than Allah
A vivid example can be seen in the book “Shama-e-Shabistan-e-Raza”, which includes extremely shirk-based incantations. These can destroy a person’s Iman and Islam, leading to deprivation in this world and the Hereafter.One such incantation is:
(بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ نَادِ عَلِيًّا مَظْهَرَ الْعَجَائِبِ تَجِدُهُ عَوْنًا لَكَ فِي النَّوَائِبِ ، كُلُّ هَم وَ غَمّ سَيَنْجَلِي بِنَبُوَّتِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ وَبِولَا يَتِكَ يَا عَلِيٌّ يَا عَلِيُّ يَا عَلِيٌّ)
Its so-called "virtues" listed include:➊ Solving great difficulties by reciting it 41 times daily.
➋ Healing critical patients by reciting it 7 times over rainwater.
➌ Gaining others’ obedience by reciting it 47 times and blowing over one’s body.
(Shama-e-Shabistan-e-Raza, Vol. 1, pg. 60)Any intelligent individual can discern that this is not Islamic, but a pure shirk-based spell. It has nothing to do with the teachings of Islam. May Allah protect all of us from such filthy practices.
آمِيْن
✔ Permissible and Legislated Incantations
On the other hand, incantations consisting of:- Verses from the Qur'an
- Names and Attributes of Allah
- Duas and supplications made directly to Allah
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Present your incantations to me; there is no harm in those that are free from shirk.”
🖋 Imam al-Khattabi (رحمه الله) said:
“The Prophet ﷺ himself performed and permitted ruqyah. If the incantation is based on Qur’anic verses or Allah’s Names and Attributes, it is allowed. If it's in a non-Arabic language or unintelligible, it becomes forbidden, and sometimes even crosses into kufr.”
🖋 Ibn al-Tin said:
“Ruqyah with Mu‘awwidhat and the Names and Attributes of Allah is divine medicine.”
🖋 Imam al-Suyuti (رحمه الله) stated:
“There is consensus among scholars that ruqyah is permissible with three conditions:
➊ It must consist of Allah’s words or His Names and Attributes.
➋ It must be in the Arabic language, with a clear and understood meaning.
➌ Both the reciter and the recipient must believe that the cure comes only by Allah’s command.”
(Tayseer al-‘Aziz al-Hameed, p. 165–167; Fath al-Majeed, p. 108; Mughni al-Mureed 3/932; Kitab at-Tawheed by Dr. Salih al-Fawzan, p. 136; Dar al-Andalus) Imam Muhammad wrote in Muwatta Muhammad:“There is no harm in ruqyah using Qur’anic verses or remembrance of Allah, but if the incantation is in an unknown language, it is impermissible.”
Conclusion