Written by: Abu Abdullah
Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah al-Ansari narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was asked about Nushrah, and he replied:
"It is a satanic act."
(Musnad Ahmad: 3/294, Sunan Abi Dawood: 3868, Al-Thiqat by Ibn Hibban: 8/315, and its chain is authentic)
Hammam bin Munabbih narrates that Jabir bin Abdullah al-Ansari was asked about Nushrah, and he replied:
"It is a satanic act."
(Musannaf Abdur Razzaq: 19762, and its chain is authentic)
Hafiz Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) has explained two types of Nushrah:
"Whoever goes to a fortune-teller or soothsayer and believes in what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad (ﷺ)."
(Musnad Ahmad: 2/429, Al-Sunan Al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi: 8/135, and its chain is authentic)
Imam Hakim (1/8) has declared this Hadith as "Sahih" and Hafiz Dhahabi has agreed with him.
It is clear that treating magic with magic is never permissible; rather, it is forbidden and contrary to the oneness of worship (Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah).
Imam Ibrahim al-Nakha'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
"They used to dislike amulets, ruqyah (incantations), and Nushrah (removing magic with magic)."
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 7/375, and its chain is authentic)
Treatment with Ruqyah and supplications proven from the Quran and Sunnah is Sunnah. The statement of Imam Ibrahim al-Nakha'i refers to polytheistic incantations, amulets, and treatments.
Imam Saeed bin Al-Musayyib (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about Nushrah by Qatadah (may Allah have mercy on him), and he permitted it. Qatadah asked if he could narrate this from him, and he replied affirmatively.
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 7/386, and its chain is authentic)
It should be noted that the statement of Imam Saeed bin Al-Musayyib will be understood in the context of the second type of Nushrah as explained by Ibn Qayyim. This is because Nushrah is a satanic act, and going to magicians and soothsayers is forbidden in light of the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah al-Ansari narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was asked about Nushrah, and he replied:
من عمل الشّیطان
"It is a satanic act."
(Musnad Ahmad: 3/294, Sunan Abi Dawood: 3868, Al-Thiqat by Ibn Hibban: 8/315, and its chain is authentic)
Hammam bin Munabbih narrates that Jabir bin Abdullah al-Ansari was asked about Nushrah, and he replied:
من عمل الشّیطان
"It is a satanic act."
(Musannaf Abdur Razzaq: 19762, and its chain is authentic)
Hafiz Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) has explained two types of Nushrah:
- Treatment of magic with magic, which is a satanic act.
- Treatment of magic with Ruqyah (spiritual healing), lawful amulets, and permissible medicines, about which there is no difference of opinion regarding its permissibility, as it is proven from the Sunnah.
من أتیٰ عرّافا أو کاھنا فصدّقہ بما یقول؛ فقد کفر بما أنزل علی محمّدﷺ.
"Whoever goes to a fortune-teller or soothsayer and believes in what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad (ﷺ)."
(Musnad Ahmad: 2/429, Al-Sunan Al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi: 8/135, and its chain is authentic)
Imam Hakim (1/8) has declared this Hadith as "Sahih" and Hafiz Dhahabi has agreed with him.
It is clear that treating magic with magic is never permissible; rather, it is forbidden and contrary to the oneness of worship (Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah).
Imam Ibrahim al-Nakha'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
کانوا یکرھون التّمائم و الرّقیٰ و النّشر.
"They used to dislike amulets, ruqyah (incantations), and Nushrah (removing magic with magic)."
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 7/375, and its chain is authentic)
Treatment with Ruqyah and supplications proven from the Quran and Sunnah is Sunnah. The statement of Imam Ibrahim al-Nakha'i refers to polytheistic incantations, amulets, and treatments.
Imam Saeed bin Al-Musayyib (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about Nushrah by Qatadah (may Allah have mercy on him), and he permitted it. Qatadah asked if he could narrate this from him, and he replied affirmatively.
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 7/386, and its chain is authentic)
It should be noted that the statement of Imam Saeed bin Al-Musayyib will be understood in the context of the second type of Nushrah as explained by Ibn Qayyim. This is because Nushrah is a satanic act, and going to magicians and soothsayers is forbidden in light of the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).