Is there evidence in the Quran or hadith that supports the concept of ta’widh (amulet)?
Answer
The reciting of certain du’as in a particular way is advised by some ‘Ulama for the treatment of specific ailments. This is based on experience and is not necessarily classified as sunnah or mustahab. Hence there is no need for substantiation. Treatment of ailments in itself is permissible. However there are certain methods (like writing a ta’widh and hanging it around the neck) that are supported by the practice of Sahabah (radiyallahu’anhum) and those after them.
Consider the following:
1) Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said: “If any of you awakens at night in fear he should recite:
أعوذ بكلمات الله التّامّات من غضبه وعقابه وشرّ عباده ومن همزات الشّياطين وان يحضرون
A’udhu bi kalimatillahit tammati min ghadabihi wa ‘iqabihi wa sharri ‘ibadihi wa min hamazati shayatin wa ay yahdurun
Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr (radiyallahu’anhuma) used to teach his children who reached the age of understanding these Kalimat (phrases) and for those children who did not reach the age of puberty (understanding) he would write these Kalimat and hang it around their necks.
(Sunan Tirmidhi, hadith: 3528 & Abu Dawud, hadith: 3889)
Declared sound (hasan) by Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) and others. See: at-Targhib vol.2 pg.456 & Footnotes of my beloved teacher; Al-Muhaddith Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah on Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah, hadith: 24013)
2) Abu ‘Ismah said: I asked Sa’id Ibnul Musayyab (rahimahullah) about (the permissibility of) ta’widh. He replied that there was nothing wrong if it was placed in a leather covering.
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, hadith: 24009)
3) Several other Tabi’un saw nothing wrong in writing verses of the Quran or hadith to hang around the neck.
(Musannaf Ibn Abî Shaybah, hadith: 24010-24018)
4) Ibnul-Qayyim (rahimahullah) has quoted its permissibility from Sayyidah ‘Aishah (radiyallahu’anha) and other Sahabah too.
5) He also quotes that Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) would himself write ta’widh for those who were afflicted. (Zad al-Ma’ad vol. 4, pg.327-329)
Note 1: ta’widh is an Arabic word.
Note 2: The ruling of permissibility of the ta’widh only applies as long as there are no words that denote disbelief or polytheism (shirk) on the ta’widh.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar