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Seeking Black Magic Cure from a Hindu Guru

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Daruliftaa.com

Someone has a daughter who is sick and dying. A Hindu acquaintance of theirs offered the services of her Hindu guru who specializes in curing “black” magic. The parents are desperate, and despite my trying to convince them otherwise, they insist that going to this Hindu guru is halal under their life and death circumstances. What should I tell them?

ANSWER

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

If one is afflicted with black magic or any other illness and seeks the help of a Hindu or any other non-Muslim because he/she happens to be a qualified expert in the field of treating illnesses, such as a non-Muslim doctor, Hakim or practitioner, and one merely takes benefit of their expertise in this area, then there is nothing wrong in resorting to the non-Muslim’s treatment. It is similar to a Muslim seeking the aid and help of a qualified non-Muslim barrister.

However, if one resorts to the treatment of a non-Muslim with the belief and conviction that he/she is pious, Godly, and a devout religious person, hence there is great effect in the treatment carried out by him/her, then in such a case, it will be unlawful to resort to his/her treatment.

The reason being is that, in this case, one considers the healer to be pious and Godly without even being a Muslim, hence it could lead to a person’s belief in Allah becoming weak. One will also be showing respect to the beliefs and values of a non-Muslim healer, which is unlawful.

The third situation is where the non-Muslim treats people from black magic and other illnesses by using spells, charms and amulets that represent disbelief (kufr), or uses spells the meaning of which is unknown. In such a case, it will be completely unlawful (haram) for one to resort to this type of treatment, and could even lead one to disbelief.

The great Hanafi Jurist, Imam Ibn Abidin (Allah have mercy on him) states:

“Using of amulets (ta’wiz) will not be permissible if they are written in a non-Arabic language, in that its meaning is unknown. They may consist of black magic, disbelief or impermissible invocations. However, if they consist of Qur’anic verses or prescribed supplications (duas), then there is nothing wrong with using them.” (Radd al-Muhtar, 6/363)

The reason why non-Arabic charms have been forbidden is because one will be unaware of their meaning; hence it may consist of utterances of disbelief, such as seeking the help of the devil and other such matters.

In other words, there are two things that must be avoided when resorting to the treatment carried out by a non-Muslim:

Firstly, one must not believe the non-Muslim healer to be some Godly and devout person, because of which he/she has the power to heal others,

Secondly, and more importantly, the healing methods employed by the non-Muslim must not constitute any utterances or acts of disbelief (kufr).

Moreover, one should always refer to a pious and upright Muslim who deals with curing people from black magic within the confines of Shariah. Such a person (amil) would use invocations from the Qur’an and Sunnah, and amulets that are permissible and based on the Qur’an and Sunnah.

One should also resort to supplicating Allah to remove the illness from one’s self. The recitation of Qur’anic invocations (such as the Mu’awwadhatayn) and those that have been mentioned by the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) are also very beneficial.

You state that this friend of yours intends to see a Hindu Guru for the treatment of black magic. Hence, in light of the above, if this Guru treats people by using charms connected to his religion, then it would be unlawful for one to seek his treatment. Similarly, it will be wrong to resort to the treatment of this Guru by thinking him to be a devout and Godly person. In most of the cases (especially connected to black magic), the aforementioned two aspects are found, hence one must avoid seeking help from a non-Muslim.

Explain to your friends that there are many lawful ways and means in order to cure their daughter from black magic. Cure is only in the Hands of Allah Almighty, hence there is no logic in trying to cure one’s self from illness by disobeying Allah to the point that one comes close to acts of disbelief.

And Allah knows best

[Mufti] Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK

This answer was collected from Daruliftaa.com, which is headed by Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam Al-Kawthari. He’s based in the United Kingdom.

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