Belief in the Unseen, Jinn, Magic, and Envy in Sharīʿah
✍ Compiled by: Dr. Rida Abdullah Pasha (ḥafiẓahullāh)
Question:
Some people do not believe in unseen matters such as jinn, magic, and envy. What is their ruling in Sharīʿah?
Answer:
Belief in the Unseen is Obligatory
Allāh Almighty says:
«الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ» [Al-Baqarah: 3]
“Those who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them.”
Belief in the Existence of Jinn is Obligatory
Allāh Almighty says:
«قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا ﴿١﴾ يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَن نُّشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا ﴿٢﴾» [Al-Jinn: 1–2]
“Say, it has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, ‘Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur’ān. It guides to the right course, so we have believed in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord.’”
Belief in Magic is Obligatory
Allāh Almighty says:
«وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ... وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا بِهِ أَنفُسَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ» [Al-Baqarah: 102]
“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, Hārūt and Mārūt, in Babylon. But they (the two angels) did not teach anyone until they said, ‘We are only a trial, so do not disbelieve.’ 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 Allāh. And they learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But they certainly knew that whoever purchased it would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew.”
Belief in Envy (Ḥasad) is Obligatory
Allāh Almighty says:
«قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ ﴿١﴾ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ﴿٢﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ﴿٣﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ ﴿٤﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ﴿٥﴾» [Al-Falaq: 1–5]
“Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak, from the evil of what He has created, from the evil of darkness when it settles, from the evil of those who blow on knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies.”
If the person is ignorant of these matters, they must be taught, because it is obligatory to believe in everything mentioned in the Qur’ān. Whoever denies any part of it has committed disbelief (kufr).
✍ Compiled by: Dr. Rida Abdullah Pasha (ḥafiẓahullāh)
Question:
Some people do not believe in unseen matters such as jinn, magic, and envy. What is their ruling in Sharīʿah?
Answer:
Belief in the Unseen is Obligatory
Allāh Almighty says:
«الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ» [Al-Baqarah: 3]
“Those who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them.”
Belief in the Existence of Jinn is Obligatory
Allāh Almighty says:
«قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا ﴿١﴾ يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَن نُّشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا ﴿٢﴾» [Al-Jinn: 1–2]
“Say, it has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, ‘Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur’ān. It guides to the right course, so we have believed in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord.’”
Belief in Magic is Obligatory
Allāh Almighty says:
«وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ... وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا بِهِ أَنفُسَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ» [Al-Baqarah: 102]
“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, Hārūt and Mārūt, in Babylon. But they (the two angels) did not teach anyone until they said, ‘We are only a trial, so do not disbelieve.’ 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 Allāh. And they learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But they certainly knew that whoever purchased it would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew.”
Belief in Envy (Ḥasad) is Obligatory
Allāh Almighty says:
«قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ ﴿١﴾ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ﴿٢﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ﴿٣﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ ﴿٤﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ﴿٥﴾» [Al-Falaq: 1–5]
“Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak, from the evil of what He has created, from the evil of darkness when it settles, from the evil of those who blow on knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies.”
If the person is ignorant of these matters, they must be taught, because it is obligatory to believe in everything mentioned in the Qur’ān. Whoever denies any part of it has committed disbelief (kufr).
