Authored by: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha (حفظه الله)
Some people do not believe in unseen matters such as jinn, magic, and envy. What is their ruling in the Shari‘ah?
Belief in the unseen (ghayb) is obligatory in Islam. Denying matters clearly mentioned in the Qur’an, such as jinn, magic, and envy, is a serious violation of Islamic creed and can lead to disbelief (kufr).
Allah Almighty says:
"الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ"
“[They are] those who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them.”
[Al-Baqarah: 3]
This verse highlights that among the first qualities of the believers is their belief in unseen matters.
Allah Almighty says:
"قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ..."
“Say, [O Muhammad], ‘It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, “Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur’an. It guides to the right course, and we have believed in it. And we will never associate anyone with our Lord.”’”
[Surah Al-Jinn: 1-2]
This verse explicitly affirms the existence of jinn, who are a real creation and have the capacity to hear and believe.
Allah Almighty says:
"وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ..."
“And they followed 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 they 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...”
[Al-Baqarah: 102]
This verse proves the existence of magic (sihr) and that it is a real phenomenon, though its effect is only by the permission of Allah.
Allah Almighty says:
"قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ... وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ"
“Say, ‘I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak... from the evil of an envier when he envies.’”
[Surah Al-Falaq: 1–5]
This verse confirms that envy is a real evil from which protection must be sought from Allah.
If someone denies these realities—despite their clear and explicit mention in the Qur'an—then, if they do so knowingly and stubbornly, it amounts to disbelief (kufr).
If the person is ignorant, then they must be educated and guided, as it is obligatory to believe in everything mentioned in the Qur’an. Denying any established tenet of belief that is clearly proven by the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah constitutes a serious deviation from the Islamic faith.
✿ Question:
Some people do not believe in unseen matters such as jinn, magic, and envy. What is their ruling in the Shari‘ah?
✿ Answer:
Belief in the unseen (ghayb) is obligatory in Islam. Denying matters clearly mentioned in the Qur’an, such as jinn, magic, and envy, is a serious violation of Islamic creed and can lead to disbelief (kufr).
✿ ① Belief in the Unseen is Obligatory:
Allah Almighty says:
"الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ"
“[They are] those who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them.”
[Al-Baqarah: 3]
This verse highlights that among the first qualities of the believers is their belief in unseen matters.
✿ ② Belief in the Existence of Jinn is Obligatory:
Allah Almighty says:
"قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ..."
“Say, [O Muhammad], ‘It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, “Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur’an. It guides to the right course, and we have believed in it. And we will never associate anyone with our Lord.”’”
[Surah Al-Jinn: 1-2]
This verse explicitly affirms the existence of jinn, who are a real creation and have the capacity to hear and believe.
✿ ③ Belief in the Reality of Magic is Obligatory:
Allah Almighty says:
"وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ..."
“And they followed 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 they 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...”
[Al-Baqarah: 102]
This verse proves the existence of magic (sihr) and that it is a real phenomenon, though its effect is only by the permission of Allah.
✿ ④ Belief in the Reality of Envy (Hasad) is Obligatory:
Allah Almighty says:
"قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ... وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ"
“Say, ‘I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak... from the evil of an envier when he envies.’”
[Surah Al-Falaq: 1–5]
This verse confirms that envy is a real evil from which protection must be sought from Allah.
✿ Final Verdict:
If someone denies these realities—despite their clear and explicit mention in the Qur'an—then, if they do so knowingly and stubbornly, it amounts to disbelief (kufr).
If the person is ignorant, then they must be educated and guided, as it is obligatory to believe in everything mentioned in the Qur’an. Denying any established tenet of belief that is clearly proven by the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah constitutes a serious deviation from the Islamic faith.
