The hadith states that the Holy Prophet ﷺ was affected by magic, due to which he ﷺ would forget.
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 5765, Sahih Muslim: 2189)
Accepting this hadith raises doubts and suspicions about the preservation of Islam, and it is also not logically possible that the Holy Prophet ﷺ would be overcome by satanic effects or the effects of magic.
① First Point
The reality of magic and its effects are established from the Holy Quran, as mentioned in the following Quranic verses which describe magic and its effects.
Reference: Al-Baqarah: 102, Yunus: 81, Taha: 71, 73, Al-Anbiya: 03, Ash-Shu'ara: 49
And in many verses, there is mention of the disbelievers saying that they considered the Quran and miracles to be magic.
② Second Point
Most scholars accept the effects and reality of magic, while some scholars have narrated the consensus (Ijma) of the Ummah, i.e., complete agreement, on the effectiveness of magic.
Statement of Imam Al-Baghawi, may Allah have mercy on him
Imam Al-Baghawi states in his Tafsir:
والسحر وجوده حقيقة عند أهل السنة وعليه أكثر الأمم، ولكن العمل به كفر
Reference: (Sharh As-Sunnah 12/188)
Translation: Among Ahl al-Sunnah and most communities, magic is a reality; however, practicing it is disbelief.
Imam Khattabi, may Allah have mercy on him, said
Imam Khattabi says:
قد أنكر قوم من أصحاب الطبائع السحرَ، وأبطلوا حقيقته، والجواب: أن السحر ثابت، وحقيقته موجودة، اتفق أكثرُ الأمم من العرب والفُرْس والهند وبعض الروم على إثباته، وهؤلاء أفضل سكان أهل الأرض، وأكثرهم علمًا وحكمة
Reference: (Sharh al-Sunnah 12/188)
Translation: Among the people of natural sciences, a group has denied magic, while magic is established and its reality exists. Arabs, Persians, Indians, and some Romans, including most nations, accept it, and these nations are considered superior in the world and more advanced in knowledge and wisdom.
Imam Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him, said
Imam Qurtubi says:
ذهب أهل السنة إلى أن السحر ثابت وله حقيقة
Reference: (Tafsir al-Qurtubi 2/46)
Translation: Ahl al-Sunnah acknowledge the reality of magic.
Imam Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, said
Imam Nawawi says:
والصحيح أن السحر له حقيقة، وبه قطع الجمهور، وعليه عامة العلماء، ويدل عليه الكتاب والسنة الصحيحة المشهورة
Reference: (Fath al-Bari 10/222)
Translation: The correct view is that magic is a reality, and this is the position of the majority of scholars, and the Qur'an and authentic hadiths indicate this.
Ibn Abi al-Izz al-Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him, said
Ibn Abi al-Izz al-Hanafi says:
وقد تنازع العلماء في حقيقة السحر وأنواعه، والأكثرون يقولون: إنه قد يؤثِّر في موت المسحور، ومرضه، من غير وصول شيء ظاهر إليه
Reference: (Sharh al-‘Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah)
Translation: Scholars have differed regarding the reality and types of magic, and the majority of the learned hold the view that a person who is bewitched can become ill and even approach death, while no apparent effects are visible.
From the aforementioned statements, it is proven that the effect of magic is accepted among Muslims as well as other nations, except for a few individuals who are considered negligible or almost nonexistent.
③ Third Point
Despite the magic that was done on the Holy Prophet ﷺ, no significant matter, especially no important issue related to Shariah, was lost from the Prophet ﷺ due to its effects.
④ Fourth Point
The reason given for denying the effects of magic is that accepting magic would equate miracles and magic. Therefore, the reality of magic was denied. This viewpoint is not correct because there is a very clear difference between magic and miracles, which can be understood through a few points.
◄ What the Prophet says is true and cannot be denied, whereas magicians rely on lies.
Reference: (Ash-Shu'ara: 221, 222)
◄ There is a great difference between the invitation and actions of the Prophets and the deeds and movements of magicians. The Prophets command goodness, justice, worship of Allah Almighty, and preparation for the Hereafter, while the actions of magicians show polytheism, superstitions, and sin.
◄ The actions, incantations, and special methods of magicians and soothsayers are distinct, whereas the Prophets completely avoid such methods.
◄ Magic can be learned and acquired through experience, whereas miracles are purely by the grace and granting of Allah Almighty.
◄ The reports, actions, and incantations of magicians may contradict each other, whereas the reports of the Prophets are revelation from Allah Almighty and contain no contradictions.
◄ When it became possible to learn magic, its effects also appeared, whereas miracles cannot be learned nor can anyone other than the Prophets perform them.
◄ The commands and instructions of the noble Prophets are aimed at the welfare and benefit of the people, whereas such expectations cannot be placed on a magician.
In light of these points, it is clear that there is a distinct difference between magic and miracles, so how can their equivalence be used as a standard to deny miracles!?
⑤ Fifth Point
It is not correct to reject this hadith by declaring it contrary to the Quranic verse
وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ
Reference: (Al-Ma'idah: 67)
Translation: And Allah will protect you from the people.
Rather, the Quran mentions the protection of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from the hardships of the people; the matter of magic is different from this.
⑥ Sixth Point
Some people say that magic is a satanic and evil act, therefore it cannot affect the pure body of the Prophet ﷺ. To refute this claim, we refer to the Quran, which states:
فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ لِيُبْدِيَ لَهُمَا مَا وُورِيَ عَنْهُمَا مِنْ سَوْآتِهِمَا
Reference: (Al-A'raf: 20)
Translation: Then Satan caused them to slip out of it and brought to their attention that which was hidden from them of their private parts.
Regarding Sayyiduna Ayyub (peace be upon him), it is mentioned:
وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا أَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الشَّيْطَانُ بِنُصْبٍ وَعَذَابٍ
Reference: (ص: 41)
Translation: And remember Our servant Ayyub, when he called upon his Lord, saying, "Indeed, Satan has afflicted me with hardship and torment."
From these verses of the Holy Quran, it is understood that Satan's primary enmity is towards the people of Allah, against whom he tries every possible means. Therefore, magic did affect the Holy Prophet ﷺ, but it could not and cannot affect to the extent that it would influence religious rulings or matters of revelation.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim states:
The magic that was done to you ﷺ was among those illnesses from which Allah Almighty later healed you, and there is no flaw in this because prophets do suffer from illnesses. You ﷺ sometimes lost consciousness due to the severity of the illness, your shoulder was dislocated from falling off a horse, and similarly, you ﷺ and previous prophets were greatly afflicted. Some prophets were even killed. Therefore, it is not surprising that you ﷺ were attacked by the enemy through magic, just as some enemies threw camel dung on your shoulder during prayer. These matters increase the reward and merit of the prophets, and the greatest hardships befall the prophets among people.
Reference: Bada'i al-Fawa'id (2/742)
