Magic is the Greatest of Major Sins after Shirk

Magic is from the greatest of the major sins, as the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

“Stay far away from the seven destructive sins.”

The people inquired, ‘O Allah’s Messenger! What are they?’

He said,

“To join others in worship along with Allah, magic, to kill the life which Allah has forbidden…” (1)

Magic was counted among the (seven) destructive sins, and came (directly) after joining others in worship (shirk) with Allah (azza wa jal).

Magic is from the Devils

Magic is disbelief, because Allah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) mentioned about the Jews that they exchanged the book of Allah with magic.

As Allah said:

وَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ نَبَذَ} فَرِيقٌ مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَٰكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ

And when there came to them a Messenger from Allah (i.e. Muhammad Peace be upon him) confirming what was with them, a party of those who were given the Scripture threw away the Book of Allah behind their backs as if they did not know! They followed what the Shayatin (devils) gave out (falsely of the magic) in the lifetime of Sulaiman (Solomon). Sulaiman did not disbelieve, but the Shayatin (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic (Al-Baqarah 101-102)

Therefore, magic is from the actions of the devils and it is disbelief.

Ruling of Teaching Magic

In the verse, Allah says:

{وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ}

But neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, “We are only for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us).”

So, (the ayah) shows that teaching magic is disbelief.

And at the end of the verse He says:

‌ وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمُواْ لَمَنِ ٱشۡتَرَٮٰهُ مَا لَهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ مِنۡ خَلَـٰقٍ۬‌ۚ

And indeed they knew that the buyers of it (magic) would have no share in the Hereafter. 

(Al-Baqarah 102)

Meaning they have no portion (of rewards and delights of Jannah).

So, this shows that the magician if he does not repent to Allah, then he has no portion in the hereafter (Jannah), and this is the disbeliever. Magic is disbelief and based upon this prayer behind a magician is impermissible, except if he repents to Allah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) and abandons magic and repents with a correct repentance, and whoever believes in magic (even if he doesn’t perform it himself) … then this is his ruling too (i.e. that he is a disbeliever just as the magician is), and refuge is sought with Allah.

Summarising:

Magic is the greatest of the major sins after shirk, it is disbelief in Allah (azza wa jal), it is the partner crime which has been mentioned alongside shirk with Allah  because it is disbelief in Allah (azza wa jal), as Allah has mentioned in His Noble Book, so the magician and the one who believes in magic, both are the same (in ruling).

As for the issue of curing magic with magic and its likes (from the other affairs which are haram), then that which is correct from the two positions of the Scholars is that it is not permissible, because curing is only (allowed) with that which is Halaal (permissible) or Mubaah (allowed), and Allah did not place a cure (for) the Muslims in that which He has made impermissible for them.

The Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

“Treat yourselves (medically), but do not treat yourselves with haram.”(2)

And on the authority of ibn Masood (radia Allaahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

“Indeed, Allaah has not made your cure to be found in anything that He has forbidden you from.” (3)

And from the greatest of impermissible affairs is magic, so it is not permissible to treat illnesses with it, nor to undo magic with magic. Indeed magic is only cured with permissible medicine, Quranic verses, (authentically) transmitted supplications. These are the permissible ways with which magic is cured -permissible medicine, supplications and Quraanic verses, and this suffices the Muslim.

Majmoo’ Al-Fataawa lish Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan (hafidahullah) Vol.1 Pages 42-43 Daar ibn Khuzaymah

1. Al-Bukhaari 2767 and Muslim 89
2. Sunan Abee Dawood 3874, Silsilah Al-Ahadeeth As-Saheehah 1633
3. Al-Haakim’s Al-Mustadrak Vol. 4 page 242, Abdur Razzaq’s Al-Musannaf 17097, Silsilah Al-Ahadeeth As-Saheehah Vol.4 Page 175

• Subheadings are by the Translator for ease of reading.