This content is extracted from the book "500 Questions and Answers for Women", based on the fatwas of the scholars of Haramain and translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) has explicitly mentioned the use of magic in the Quran:
وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ ۖ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ ۚ وَمَا هُم بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ ۚ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ
(“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. 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.”)
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 102)
This verse clearly demonstrates that the use of magic to cause harm, separation, or reconciliation is forbidden and harmful both in this world and the Hereafter.
(Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih al-Uthaymeen, رحمه الله)
Question
What is the ruling on using magic to reconcile between a husband and wife?Answer
Using magic to reconcile between a husband and wife is impermissible and prohibited (haram). This practice is referred to as Atf (turning the spouse’s affection towards the other). Similarly, causing separation between a husband and wife through magic is known as Sarf (turning the spouse away). Both practices are haram and, in some cases, can lead to kufr (disbelief) and shirk (associating partners with Allah).Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) has explicitly mentioned the use of magic in the Quran:
وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ ۖ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ ۚ وَمَا هُم بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ ۚ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ
(“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. 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.”)
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 102)
This verse clearly demonstrates that the use of magic to cause harm, separation, or reconciliation is forbidden and harmful both in this world and the Hereafter.
Key Points
- Magic in Reconciliation (Atf):
- Forbidden (haram) and may lead to disbelief.
- It involves manipulation and reliance on forbidden practices.
- Magic in Separation (Sarf):
- Similarly forbidden and a grave sin.
- Islamic Remedy:
- Reconciliation should be sought through lawful means, such as open communication, counseling, and Quranic Ruqyah (spiritual healing).
- Rely on supplication (dua) and trust in Allah for resolution.
Conclusion
Both causing separation (Sarf) and reconciliation (Atf) through magic are haram and severe violations of Islamic law. Such practices contradict reliance on Allah and often lead to greater harm than benefit. Instead, believers should resort to lawful means and rely on Allah for guidance and healing.(Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih al-Uthaymeen, رحمه الله)