Compiled by: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha (Hafizahullah)
"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, Harut and Marut, in Babylon. But neither of these two [angels] taught anyone unless they had said, 'We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic].' Yet they learned 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 learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But they certainly knew that whoever purchased it would have no share in the Hereafter. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew."
[Al-Baqarah: 102]
Bujalah ibn 'Abdah narrated:
"Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) wrote a letter ordering: ‘Kill every male and female magician.’"
[Nayl al-Awtar, Kitab al-Hudud, Bab Ma Ja’a fi Hadd al-Sahir wa Dhamm al-Sihr wa al-Kahana 7/3201]
This narration has been reported by Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawood.
✔ The Incident of Hafsah (رضي الله عنها), the Wife of the Prophet (ﷺ):
It is narrated that Hafsah (رضي الله عنها) commanded the execution of her slave girl who performed magic on her.
"She ordered the killing of her slave girl who had cast magic on her, and she was executed."
[Nayl al-Awtar 7/3202, Reported by Malik in Al-Muwatta]
✔ The Punishment for a Magician in Islam:
Jundub (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"The punishment for a magician is a strike with the sword."
[Nayl al-Awtar 7/3200]
This hadith has been reported by Imam al-Tirmidhi and al-Daraqutni. However, Imam al-Tirmidhi classified its chain as weak and stated that the correct view is that this ruling is attributed to Jundub (رضي الله عنه) as a statement of a Companion.
Magic (Sihr) is a major sin in Islam and is considered an act of disbelief.
The punishment for a magician, according to classical Islamic rulings, is execution, as stated in the actions of the Companions and early scholars.
Muslims should avoid all forms of sorcery, magic, and superstition and seek protection through the Qur'an, Sunnah, and authentic Ruqyah.
Answer:
The ruling on a magician (sorcerer) is clearly stated in the following verse of the Holy Qur'an:"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, Harut and Marut, in Babylon. But neither of these two [angels] taught anyone unless they had said, 'We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic].' Yet they learned 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 learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But they certainly knew that whoever purchased it would have no share in the Hereafter. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew."
[Al-Baqarah: 102]
Islamic Rulings and Hadith on Sorcery and Magicians
✔ The Order of Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) Regarding Magicians:Bujalah ibn 'Abdah narrated:
"Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) wrote a letter ordering: ‘Kill every male and female magician.’"
[Nayl al-Awtar, Kitab al-Hudud, Bab Ma Ja’a fi Hadd al-Sahir wa Dhamm al-Sihr wa al-Kahana 7/3201]
This narration has been reported by Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawood.
✔ The Incident of Hafsah (رضي الله عنها), the Wife of the Prophet (ﷺ):
It is narrated that Hafsah (رضي الله عنها) commanded the execution of her slave girl who performed magic on her.
"She ordered the killing of her slave girl who had cast magic on her, and she was executed."
[Nayl al-Awtar 7/3202, Reported by Malik in Al-Muwatta]
✔ The Punishment for a Magician in Islam:
Jundub (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"The punishment for a magician is a strike with the sword."
[Nayl al-Awtar 7/3200]
This hadith has been reported by Imam al-Tirmidhi and al-Daraqutni. However, Imam al-Tirmidhi classified its chain as weak and stated that the correct view is that this ruling is attributed to Jundub (رضي الله عنه) as a statement of a Companion.
Conclusion:
Magic (Sihr) is a major sin in Islam and is considered an act of disbelief. The punishment for a magician, according to classical Islamic rulings, is execution, as stated in the actions of the Companions and early scholars. Muslims should avoid all forms of sorcery, magic, and superstition and seek protection through the Qur'an, Sunnah, and authentic Ruqyah.