Reality and Shariah Ruling on Amulets
Written by: Saudi Fatwa Committee
Question:
Allah ﷻ says in Surah al-Baqarah:
«فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ الْكِتَابَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَٰذَا مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ لِيَشْتَرُوا بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۖ فَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا كَتَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ» [البقرة: 79]
"So woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn."
What does this verse mean? Does it also include those who write amulets and demand payment for them?
Answer:
This noble verse means that those who fabricate lies against Allah ﷻ—writing down words with their own hands and then claiming they are from Allah—with the intention of gaining some worldly benefit, such as prestige, wealth, or influence, are warned by Allah ﷻ. This warning covers both the act of writing falsehood and earning money through such false writing.
As for those who write amulets that are hung around a sick person’s neck either to cure an illness or to prevent it:
On this basis, the correct view is that nothing should be hung on the sick person, whether it contains Qur’an or not. Likewise, it is not permissible to write such amulets and place them under the pillow or near the sick person.
[Ibn ‘Uthaymeen: Nur ‘ala al-Darb: 13/231]
Written by: Saudi Fatwa Committee
Writing and Wearing Amulets
Question:
Allah ﷻ says in Surah al-Baqarah:
«فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ الْكِتَابَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَٰذَا مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ لِيَشْتَرُوا بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۖ فَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا كَتَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ» [البقرة: 79]
"So woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn."
What does this verse mean? Does it also include those who write amulets and demand payment for them?
Answer:
This noble verse means that those who fabricate lies against Allah ﷻ—writing down words with their own hands and then claiming they are from Allah—with the intention of gaining some worldly benefit, such as prestige, wealth, or influence, are warned by Allah ﷻ. This warning covers both the act of writing falsehood and earning money through such false writing.
As for those who write amulets that are hung around a sick person’s neck either to cure an illness or to prevent it:
- If it is unknown what is written inside them, or if they contain haram content such as the names of devils or jinn, then hanging such amulets is absolutely impermissible.
- If they contain Qur’anic verses or Hadith, then scholars have two opinions regarding their permissibility. The stronger opinion is that they are not permissible, because worshiping Allah in a manner not legislated by Him is a bid‘ah (innovation).
- Furthermore, believing that something is a cause of benefit when Allah has not made it a cause is a form of shirk.
On this basis, the correct view is that nothing should be hung on the sick person, whether it contains Qur’an or not. Likewise, it is not permissible to write such amulets and place them under the pillow or near the sick person.
[Ibn ‘Uthaymeen: Nur ‘ala al-Darb: 13/231]
