Ruling on Amils, Amulets, Duration of Displeasure, and the Importance of Reconciliation
Reference: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, Page 203
❖ Question
Respected Maulana, kindly provide answers to the following questions in the light of Qur’an and Sunnah:
① Nowadays some people call themselves amils (spiritual practitioners), claiming to obtain unseen knowledge through jinn, giving amulets (taʿwīdh), and conducting such practices. To what extent are these permissible in Islam?
② For how long may a believer lawfully remain displeased with his fellow Muslim?
③ If a person comes to another’s home saying, “I have come to you, I need your kindness and compassion,” what attitude should be adopted towards him?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
① Ruling on Amils and Amulets
Those who claim to be amils, seek knowledge of the unseen through jinn, and give taʿwīdh of such kinds are frauds, deceivers, and liars.
- Knowledge of the unseen (ʿilm al-ghayb) is possessed neither by any prophet, nor by angels, nor by jinn. It belongs to Allah alone.
- The Qur’an states:
﴿قُل لا يَعلَمُ مَن فِى السَّمـٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ الغَيبَ إِلَّا اللَّـهُ﴾ (al-Naml: 65) - Even the jinn themselves admitted ignorance of the unseen at the time of Prophet Sulayman (ʿalayhi al-salām). (Saba’: 14)
Hence, fortune-tellers, astrologers, and so-called amils are false. Consulting them is destructive to one’s faith.
Regarding taʿwīdh (amulets):
- Attaching Qur’anic verses or hadith as amulets is not proven from the Prophet ﷺ.
- Reciting Qur’anic verses or supplications and blowing (ruqyah) is permissible.
- Non-Islamic charms and amulets are haram.
Hadith states: “Whoever confirms a fortune-teller has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad ﷺ.”
② Duration of Displeasure
A believer may not remain displeased with another Muslim for more than three days.
- Hadith (Abu Dawud):
“It is not permissible for a Muslim to boycott his fellow Muslim for more than three days. If he greets him thrice and receives no reply, the sin is upon the one who withholds the reply.”
If the reason is religious (for the sake of Islam) or in response to oppression, the ruling differs.
③ Importance of Reconciliation
If someone comes seeking reconciliation, apologizing or expressing the need for kindness, then:
- His gesture must be accepted,
- He should be welcomed,
- His sincerity must be valued.
Rejecting reconciliation is sinful, while accepting it is a cause of reward.
ھذا ما عندی واللہ أعلم بالصواب
