This excerpt is taken from the book by Fazilat-ul-Sheikh Abdul Salam Rustami From Denial of Hadith to Denial of Quran.
Hadith 9: The Hadith about Magic being done on the Holy Prophet ﷺ
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Medicine, Chapter on Magic, Hadith: 5766
Objections of the Deniers of Hadith:
➊ Magic is disbelief and polytheism; it does not affect any righteous person, especially a Prophet.
➋ If the effect of magic on the Prophet is accepted, then the Shariah cannot be trusted. In this way, it becomes unclear whether the Prophet performed a certain action under the guidance of revelation or due to the effect of magic.
➌ The Holy Quran has quoted the statement of the disbelievers of Makkah that they used to call the Messenger of Allah ﷺ "possessed by magic":
إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا رَجُلًا مَّسْحُورًا
"You follow a man upon whom is magic."
Reference: (25-Al-Furqan:8)
Therefore, accepting the effect of magic on the Holy Prophet ﷺ is to confirm the statement of the disbelievers.
Answer to the First Objection:
The prohibition of something does not imply that it has no effect; for example, if someone steals bread, eating that bread will satisfy hunger even though it is forbidden because Allah Almighty has placed efficacy in all things. Even in the forbidden, there is effect by the permission of Allah, and it serves as a test for the servants.
The affirmation of the effect of magic is mentioned in many verses of the Holy Quran. It is stated:
وَمَا هُم بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ
"They can harm none except by Allah’s permission."
Reference: (2-Al-Baqarah:102)
Also, it is stated:
مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ
"Which caused separation between a man and his wife."
Reference: (2-Al-Baqarah:102)
Also, it is stated:
فَلَمَّا أَلْقَوْا سَحَرُوا أَعْيُنَ النَّاسِ وَاسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ
"So when they cast it, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them."
Reference: (7-Al-A'raf:116)
Also, it is stated:
يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ مِن سِحْرِهِمْ أَنَّهَا تَسْعَىٰ
"Because of their magic, Moses saw (those ropes) as if they were moving."
Reference: (20-Ta-Ha:66)
Also, it is stated:
وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ
"And from the evil of the blowers in knots (I seek refuge in You)."
Reference: (113-Al-Falaq:4)
From these verses, it is established that magic and sorcery have an effect, and the Prophets, being human, can also be affected by magic. The purpose of this evil is the creation of magic. It is understood that the effects of magic appear on ordinary people as well as on the Prophets, peace be upon them. Regarding Prophet Moses, as mentioned in Surah Ta-Ha يخيل إليه, and from the authentic narration in Sahih Bukhari about the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, from the word يخيل إليه, it is understood that magic affects only their imaginative power and does not have any greater effect. Allah Almighty protects them, while a change in imagination is like an illness, as the Prophets may experience fainting spells.
Answer to the Second Objection:
When it was found that the effect of magic on the Prophets, peace be upon them, is temporary and imaginary, therefore it does not affect the Shariah. Also, the incident of magic on the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, happened only once, which Allah Almighty removed through the revelation of two angels, and during that period there is no evidence of the revelation of Wahy (divine revelation). If there had been any revelation, the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, would certainly have narrated it, or the enemies would have propagated it, but none of this happened.
Answer to the Third Objection:
The polytheists called the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم a sorcerer, but this has no connection with the incident of magic, for the following reasons:
➊ Firstly, we give a necessary response that the polytheists said about the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم that you are a human being, you eat and drink, and walk in the markets. These were the claims of the disbelievers. Should we deny these statements just because they confirm the polytheists? If a fact is proven and the polytheists say it, how is it correct to deny it?
➋ By "sorcerer" is meant a person whose mind is so disturbed by magic that he becomes insane, whereas the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم did not become insane due to magic, although the polytheists called the Prophets عليه السلام sorcerers and madmen.
➌ The disbelievers calling the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم a sorcerer is mentioned in the Meccan Surahs, while the incident of magic occurred in Madinah. No magic was done to him during the Meccan period. The polytheists called him a sorcerer based on falsehood. However, in Madinah, magic was done to him, which had no significant effect on him and was soon removed.
