(Part No. 9; Page No. 453)

  Ruling on wearing amulets by young boys and the sick

and hanging Ayahs

in offices or Masjids [6]

From `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz to the honorable brother, may Allah guide him to whatever pleases Him and increase his knowledge and faith!

Amen!

As-salamu `alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!)You have asked - may Allah grant you success - about the ruling on hanging amulet on boys and the sick and on hanging Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) and Adhkar (invocations) on the walls of offices and Masjids (mosques). The answer: It is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated: Spells, amulets and love charms are (forms of) Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). [1] Commenting on this Hadith, the scholars pointed out that the spells which are prohibited are those whose meanings are unknown or which are given the names of Jinn (creatures created from fire) or anonymous names.With regard to Ruqyah (reciting the Qur'an and saying supplications over the sick seeking healing), this is permissible and there is no harm in it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “There is nothing wrong with Ruqyah that does not involve Shirk.” [2] (Related by Muslim in his Sahih Book of Hadith) It is also authentically reported that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) fell sick, Jibril (Gabriel, peace be upon him) recited for him Ruqyah saying, “In the name of Allah, I recite Ruqyah for you, from everything that is harming you, from the evil of every soul, or (envious) eye, may Allah heal you! In the name of Allah, I recite Ruqyah for you.” [3] He repeated this thrice.

(Part No. 9; Page No. 454)

 It is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to treat some of his Companions with the Ruqyah. With regard to love charms, they are magic spells that cause a person to hate or love someone/something. They are a kind of Sihr (sorcery) and are prohibited. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states: They followed what the Shayâtîn (devils) gave out (falsely of the magic) in the lifetime of Sulaimân (Solomon). Sulaimân did not disbelieve, but the Shayâtîn (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Hârût and Mârût, 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)." [7] He (Glorified be He) points out here that learning Sihr is a satanic act and is Kufr (disbelief), for it is a means of worshipping them and drawing close to them by doing what pleases them. With regard to amulets, they are what are hung on boys and sick persons such as earrings, shells, tapestries and papers that contain talismans or unknown writings or Ayahs (Qur'anic verses), according to the soundest of the opinions of scholars. All thes are called Al-Jawami` or Al-Huruz (protective amulet). All these amulets are not permissible; rather, they are considered a form of minor Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) based upon the Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him): Spells, amulets and love charms are Shirk. [4] [Related by Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud through a good Sanad (chain of narrators)] The Prophet (peace be upon him) also says: "If one ties an amulet, Allah will not accomplish his affairs for him and if one ties a cowries shell, Allah will not protect him.'' And "Whoever wears an amulet commits an act of Shirk." [5] Ibrahim ibn Yazid Al-Nakh`y (may Allah be merciful to him) said: "They

(Part No. 9; Page No. 455)

 (the companions of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud - may Allah be pleased with him) regarded as Makruh (disliked) all amulets whether they contain writings of the Qur'an or not. Makruh here gives the sense of being Haram (prohibited)." The eminent Sheikh `Abdul-Rahman ibn Hasan (may Allah be merciful to him) elaborated on this point in his book entitled "Fath Al-Majid Sharh Kitab Al-Tawhid", you may refer to chapter entitled "Ma Ja'a Fi Al-Ruqa Wal-Tama'im."I mentioned here the opinion approved by the most trustworthy scholars regarding wearing amulets containing the Qur'an, as for those which contain anything other than the Qur'an, they are indisputably prohibited, according to the aforementioned evidences. The correct opinion is that amulets which contain the Qur'an are prohibited, based upon the generality of the aforementioned Hadith, to be on the safe side, and to work upon the rule of Sadd-ul-Dhara'i` (blocking the means) leading to minor Shirk. It could be an act of major Shirk, if one who believes that they ward off calamities.With regard to hanging Ayahs and Hadiths in offices and schools, there is nothing wrong with this as a means of reminding and admonition. However, it is Makruh to hang them in Masjids, for this entails disturbing the people praying. May Allah guide us all to all good and to understand His Religion, remain adherent to it and to keep us all and all Muslims from the evils of ourselves and our misdeeds and from delusive Fitnah (trial). He is the One able to do so. As-salamu `alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!)

Grand Mufty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

and Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars

and the Departments of Scholarly Research and Ifta'