❖ Question:
Is it permissible to write and hang the following poem for protection from illness and calamity?
"Lī khamsatun uṭfi bihā ḥarra al-wabā, al-Ḥāṭimah, al-Muṣṭafā, al-Mujtabā, Fāṭimah, wa abnāʾuhā”
❖ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
This poem is invalid and unacceptable for several reasons:
The author of the poem is unknown, and no authentic Hadith or reputable Islamic source confirms its use. Hence, it lacks reliability and is likely fabricated.
The word “al-Ḥāṭimah” has no clear or appropriate meaning in this context, indicating linguistic inconsistency and incoherence in the poem.
The poem appears to originate from Shia ideology, as it exclusively names five individuals:
This excludes other noble Companions, whereas Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah honor all the Ṣaḥābah, and it is impermissible to elevate a specific group without Shar‘i evidence.
Using this poem as a means of protection from harm or illness may lead to shirk, as seeking protection is a form of ʿibādah (worship), and it must be directed only to Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When you ask, ask from Allah alone, and when you seek help, seek it only from Allah.”
→ (Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 2516 – Authentic)
🗣 Mawlānā Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī (رحمه الله) stated in Aḥsan al-Fatāwā (1/48):
“This poem and hanging it as an amulet is invalid and a form of shirk.”
Amulets are categorized into two types:
If an amulet contains:
✔ Unknown phrases
✔ Strange symbols
✔ Invocation of other than Allah
✔ Magic or sorcery-related words
—such amulets are ḥarām and fall into shirk.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, incantations (ruqā), amulets (tamā’im), and love spells (tawlah) are shirk.”
→ (Sunan Abū Dāwūd: 3883, Ibn Mājah: 353, Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān: 1413, Musnad Aḥmad: 1/381, al-Mustadrak al-Ḥākim: 4/217 – Ṣaḥīḥ)
🗣 ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
“Whoever hangs an amulet, Allah leaves him to that (amulet).”
→ (Musnad Aḥmad: 4/154, Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 2072 – Ṣaḥīḥ)
🗣 Ḥudhayfah (رضي الله عنه) cut an amulet from someone’s hand and recited:
“And most of them do not believe in Allah except while associating others with Him.”
→ (Sūrah Yūsuf: 106 – Authentic)
🗣 Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said:
“Using non-Arabic phrases or unknown symbols in amulets is impermissible, as it leads to bid‘ah and shirk.”
→ (Fatāwā Ibn Taymiyyah: 1/92 – Authentic)
If the amulet contains only Qur’anic verses or authentic duʿāʾs, some scholars permit it with conditions, while others consider it disliked (makrūh).
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever feels disturbed in his sleep should say:
Bismillāh, aʿūdhu bikalimātillāhi al-tāmmati min ghaḍabihi wa ʿiqābihi wa sharri ʿibādihi wa min hamazāt al-shayāṭīn wa an yaḥḍurūn.”
→ (Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 277 – Authentic)
🗣 Shaykh al-Albānī (رحمه الله) said:
“Even if the amulet contains Qur’anic verses, it is better to recite them verbally rather than hang them, because the Prophet ﷺ never did this.”
→ (al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah: 331 – Authentic)
◈ The poem “Lī khamsatun…” is not proven by any authentic narration or credible Islamic source.
◈ Using it as protection from illness or misfortune is an innovation (bidʿah) and could lead to shirk.
◈ Permissible ruqyah is that which is recited verbally, based on Qur’an and authentic Sunnah.
◈ Hanging written amulets—even if containing Qur’anic verses—is either disliked or impermissible according to many scholars.
◈ The safest and most virtuous practice is to stick to the supplications and methods authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ.
(References: Fatāwā Ibn Taymiyyah, al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah, Musnad Aḥmad, Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Sunan Abū Dāwūd, Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, Zād al-Maʿād)
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Is it permissible to write and hang the following poem for protection from illness and calamity?
"Lī khamsatun uṭfi bihā ḥarra al-wabā, al-Ḥāṭimah, al-Muṣṭafā, al-Mujtabā, Fāṭimah, wa abnāʾuhā”
❖ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
This poem is invalid and unacceptable for several reasons:
✿ Reasons This Poem is Invalid:
➊ Unknown Origin and Unauthentic Source
The author of the poem is unknown, and no authentic Hadith or reputable Islamic source confirms its use. Hence, it lacks reliability and is likely fabricated.
➋ Ambiguity in Language
The word “al-Ḥāṭimah” has no clear or appropriate meaning in this context, indicating linguistic inconsistency and incoherence in the poem.
➌ Rooted in Shiite Beliefs
The poem appears to originate from Shia ideology, as it exclusively names five individuals:
- The Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ
- ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib
- Fāṭimah
- al-Ḥasan
- al-Ḥusayn (رضي الله عنهم)
This excludes other noble Companions, whereas Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah honor all the Ṣaḥābah, and it is impermissible to elevate a specific group without Shar‘i evidence.
➍ A Path Toward Shirk
Using this poem as a means of protection from harm or illness may lead to shirk, as seeking protection is a form of ʿibādah (worship), and it must be directed only to Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said:“When you ask, ask from Allah alone, and when you seek help, seek it only from Allah.”
→ (Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 2516 – Authentic)
🗣 Mawlānā Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī (رحمه الله) stated in Aḥsan al-Fatāwā (1/48):
“This poem and hanging it as an amulet is invalid and a form of shirk.”
✿ Shar‘i Ruling on Amulets (Taʿwīdhāt)
Amulets are categorized into two types:
➊ Shirk-Based and Forbidden Amulets
If an amulet contains:
✔ Unknown phrases
✔ Strange symbols
✔ Invocation of other than Allah
✔ Magic or sorcery-related words
—such amulets are ḥarām and fall into shirk.
The Prophet ﷺ said:“Indeed, incantations (ruqā), amulets (tamā’im), and love spells (tawlah) are shirk.”
→ (Sunan Abū Dāwūd: 3883, Ibn Mājah: 353, Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān: 1413, Musnad Aḥmad: 1/381, al-Mustadrak al-Ḥākim: 4/217 – Ṣaḥīḥ)
🗣 ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
“Whoever hangs an amulet, Allah leaves him to that (amulet).”
→ (Musnad Aḥmad: 4/154, Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 2072 – Ṣaḥīḥ)
🗣 Ḥudhayfah (رضي الله عنه) cut an amulet from someone’s hand and recited:
“And most of them do not believe in Allah except while associating others with Him.”
→ (Sūrah Yūsuf: 106 – Authentic)
🗣 Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said:
“Using non-Arabic phrases or unknown symbols in amulets is impermissible, as it leads to bid‘ah and shirk.”
→ (Fatāwā Ibn Taymiyyah: 1/92 – Authentic)
➋ Permissible Amulets (Qur’anic Ruqyah & Adhkār)
If the amulet contains only Qur’anic verses or authentic duʿāʾs, some scholars permit it with conditions, while others consider it disliked (makrūh).
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (رضي الله عنه) narrated:The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever feels disturbed in his sleep should say:
Bismillāh, aʿūdhu bikalimātillāhi al-tāmmati min ghaḍabihi wa ʿiqābihi wa sharri ʿibādihi wa min hamazāt al-shayāṭīn wa an yaḥḍurūn.”
→ (Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 277 – Authentic)
🗣 Shaykh al-Albānī (رحمه الله) said:
“Even if the amulet contains Qur’anic verses, it is better to recite them verbally rather than hang them, because the Prophet ﷺ never did this.”
→ (al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah: 331 – Authentic)
Conclusion:
◈ The poem “Lī khamsatun…” is not proven by any authentic narration or credible Islamic source.
◈ Using it as protection from illness or misfortune is an innovation (bidʿah) and could lead to shirk.
◈ Permissible ruqyah is that which is recited verbally, based on Qur’an and authentic Sunnah.
◈ Hanging written amulets—even if containing Qur’anic verses—is either disliked or impermissible according to many scholars.
◈ The safest and most virtuous practice is to stick to the supplications and methods authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ.
(References: Fatāwā Ibn Taymiyyah, al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah, Musnad Aḥmad, Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Sunan Abū Dāwūd, Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, Zād al-Maʿād)
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
