قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ مَلِكِ النَّاسِ إِلَهِ النَّاسِ مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَ النَّاسِ

Prophet’s guidance on treating sorcery ~ Magic

Some people have erroneously denied that SEHR ~ sorcery (magic) could affect Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam; they believed that it was not befitting his grade and status. Actually, being effected by SEHR ~ sorcery illustrates the human side of the Prophet, just like he suffered from various other illnesses, and sorcery is an ailment just like poison.

وقد ثبت فى "الصحيحين" عن عائشة رضى الله عنها، أنها قالت: "سُحِرَ رسولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حتى إنْ كان لَيُخَيَّلُ إليه أنه يأتى نِساءه، ولم يَأتِهِنَّ"، وذلك أشدُّ ما يكون مِن السِّحر

In the Sahihain, it is narrated that Aishah Radi Allaho Anha said: "The Messenger of Allah Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam was affected by SEHR ~ sorcery until he thought that he had slept with his wives, while in fact he did not".

This is the worst type of magical spell. Qazi Eyadh said, SEHR ~ sorcery is just like any other ailment that our beloved Prophet had suffered from, and this fact by no means affects his status as a Prophet. Furthermore, the fact that Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam had imagined something which he did not perform, does not detract from his truthfulness regarding religion; there is a consensus that he is immune from error in this regard. SEHR ~ sorcery is just like any other matter of this life, which has nothing to do with the reason why he was sent and preferred above mankind. Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam was subject to come down with all types of ailments that would touch other people. Therefore, it is not surprising that he would imagine doing something which in fact he did not do, and that he was soon cured.

Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam used two methods to treat sorcery, first by finding the spell and neutralizing it. Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam supplicated to his Lord and Allah Showed him that the evil spell was hidden in a well. Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam removed the evil spell, which consisted of a comb, combed material (hair) and a dry male spathe. When he discarded these objects, he was immediately cured, as if he was restrained and then suddenly released. This is the best cure from sorcery and is similar to removing septic materials by complete disgorging. The second type, extracting harmful substances from the organ is most touched by magic works. Evil spells aggravate nature, produce harmful substances and adversely affect the mood. Disgorging the alien substance (that affected a certain organ as a result of evil spells) becomes necessary.

Abu Ubaid has mentioned in his book, on the authority of Abdul Rahman Bin Abi Layla that Prophet Muhammad Sallalllaho Alaihe Wasallam had HIJAMAH performed on his head by a thorn when he was affected by Tubb, & Abu Ubaid says that Tubb means magic.

The effect of Sehr ~ sorcery reached our beloved Prophet's head and affected one of his senses; he imagined he did something while in fact he had not. The sorcerer, therefore, affects some of the natural powers of the body so that it does not function normally. SEHR ~ sorcery is a combination of the powers of evil spirits and the adverse effects they have on the normal functions of the body. The worst type of magic is that which affects the senses of the affected organ. Drawing blood from the organ most affected by magic is the most beneficial cure, if used in the proper manner.

Some people also said that when Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam suffered from this condition, he first thought that it was caused by spoiled blood that reached the brain and affected the senses. In such cases, HJAMAH ~ cupping is the best medicine, and this is what Prophet Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam did. Then, when Allah Revealed to him that it was the effect of magic that caused his condition, he asked Allah to Show him where the evil spell was hidden; and then he retrieved and discarded it. When he did so, he was cured as if released after being restrained. Further, the magic spell only affected our beloved Prophet’s senses; not his sanity or heart. This is why he did not believe what he imagined of sleeping with his wives because he knew that this sensation was not real.

Divine cures are the best remedies against SEHR ~ sorcery. Since sorcery is the work of evil spirits, then its best cure is that which neutralizes it, such as certain prayers and recitations of the Quran. The more powerful the defending army is, the more powerful the adversary it will be able to remove and neutralize. This case is similar to two opposing armies, each of which carries its own weapons and armaments. Army that has more weapons and supplies; is the army that will prevail in the war. When the heart is full of Allah’s remembrance and invokes Him often for its needs, and when the heart is joined by the tongue and righteous deeds, these acts will be the best medicine available against sorcery and magic spells. The sorcerers and magicians admit that their magic is most effective against those who have weak hearts that are busy satisfying the desires and lusts of the life of this world. That is why magic usually affects women, children, nomads, ignorant people, those who have weak Faith, lack trust in Allah (Tawakkul) and lack the fundamentals of oneness of Allah (Taauheed), and those who neither remember Allah often nor use the various Prophetic supplications and Islamic prayer formulas (Ruqyah). In general, the effect of sorcery and magic is more powerful against weak hearts that lean towards the lower desires of this world.

When the heart leans towards this earthly life, sorcery and magic become most effective against it, because evil spirits only search for evil in the soul that is prone to submit to their power. Surely, evil in the heart deprives one of divine power that is necessary to provide it with sufficient weapons of defense against these evil spirits. That is why these evil spirits, which seek evil, find the hearts weakened by evil unarmed and prone to submit to evil and this is when sorcery and magic spells are most effective. And Allah Knows the best.