Islamic ruling concerning sorcery

It should be made clear beforehand that the word magic is used to mean different things. Concerning the Islamic Shariah, one should distinguish between the magician who seeks the help of the Devil, and performs acts of disbelief, and the magician whose trade consists of charlatanism and tricks. Although all types of magic are forbidden in Islam, the first type is considered kufr, and anyone who practices it, is a disbeliever. The proof for this ruling is in the Words of Allah:

”Solomon did not disbelieve, but the devil disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Harut and Marut, but neither of these two angels taught anyone till they had said, ‘We are for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning magic from us)’. And from them, people learn that by which they cause separation between a husband and his wife, but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah’s leave. And they learn that which harms them and profits them not. And indeed they knew tht the buyers of it (magic) would have no share in the Hereafter. And how vile was the price for with they did sell their souls, if they but knew!” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:102).

This verse shows that:

1. Learning magic is kufr (disbelief). Notice that the simple act of learning renders a person a disbeliever, even if it were for ‘good’ purposes such as to annul other magic spells.
2. Magic brings only harm and no benefit, and anything that brings only harm is forbidden.
3. The buyers of magic would have no share in the Hereafter, ie they will eternise in hell, and only those who have disbelieved will eternise in hell.

Nowadays, it can be seen that many Muslims versed into handbooks of magic, lured by the powers they might unveil, taking the matter lightly, and thinking it is only a minor sin. They do not realise that in fact they are slowly walking from the realm of Islam to the realm of disbelief!

”And the magician will never be successful, no matter whatever amount of skill he may attain!” (Surah Ta Ha, 20:69)

It is the consensus of the Muslim scholars, and the four schools of thought that if a Muslim who practiced magic has committed acts or spoken words of disbelief, then he should be killed, as he is considered a renegade. It was the punishment adopted by the companions of the Prophet s.a.w. such as Umar Ibn al-Khattab r.a., and Uthman Ibn Affan r.a. If the magician has caused the death of a person by way of magic, then he also should be killed, even if his magic does not involve disbelief, because this is the punishment of any killer. All other magicians should not be killed, but they should be reprimanded according to the harm they may cause.

As for the magician who is already non-Muslim, most of the scholars see that he should not be killed unless he causes the death of another person, because he is already a disbeliever and his magic does not change his status, while Imam Abu Hanifah makes no difference between him and the magician who was a Muslim. However, if a person who was practising magic comes out and declares his repentance, and proves that he has abandoned magic for quite a while, his repentance should be accepted and he should be spared, as Allah informed us that Pharaoh's magicians repented and Allah accepted their repentance.

(Extracted from: Weekly Gulf Times dated 6th April, 2007)

World of Magic, Sorcery and Unseen Creatures

Colour of Magic
(Extracted from: Weekly Gulf Times dated 6th April, 2007)

No matter what is the colour you pick, you lose, because all kinds of magic are forbidden in Islam. White Magic is used for ‘good’ purposes such as uniting two people, of inducing a person to fall in love with another person. Brains of hyenas and hoopoes are often used in preparing the witchcraft. Red Magic is written with the blood of animals, and menstrual blood, and is used for evil purposes, such as separating husbands from their wives, or causing diseases. Black Magic uses tar, asphalt, black goat’s hair, monkey’s hair and more artifacts and potions. It is the most dangerous kind of magic. It is used to cause dispossession, death, catastrophe, etc.


Calumny
(Extracted from Weekly Gulf Times dated 6th April 2007)

Calumny is a type of sorcery and slandering which is widespread among people. If a person comes and talks lies about another in a way that seems so truthful, one may fall into the trap, unless one seek refuge into a power superior to that person, that is, the Power of Allah. For instance, a woman wanted to separate a husband and his wife. She went to the wife and said: ”Your husband is thinking of divorcing you, but I can make him renounce his decision if you could bring me some hair from his beard that you cut yourself while he is sleeping.” Then she went to the husband and told him: "Your wife fell in love with another man, and has decided to kill you to free herself from you. I am warning you that she might do it soon, and cut your throat while you are asleep!” The husband went to bed and closed his eyes as if he were sleeping, and sure enough, here comes his wife with a sharp knife pointed toward his throat. He jumped up and killed her with the knife. He later got hanged as a punishment for his crime. Calumny is the root of many tragedies.


Diviners, Psychics and Fortune-tellers
(Excerpt from weekly Gulf Times dated 30th March 2007)

It is human nature to seek the knowledge of the future whether it concerns the fate of the individual, or of the entire humankind. This curiosity has been satisfied by the revelations that Allah has sent down through His Messengers. The Qur’an informed us about the Unseen; the world of the angels, and the world of the jinn, the signs of the Last Hour, the Day of Judgment, and other future events. However, some people are not satisfied, and seek to know more about the Unseen. This is where the Diviners, Psychics and Fortune-tellers come to play. But how can they know the future while Allah said:

”He (Allah) alone knows the Unseen, nor does He make anyone acquainted with His secrets,”(Surah Al-Jinn, 72:26)

”None in the heavens and the earth knows the Unseen except Allah, nor can they perceive when they shall be resurrected.”(Surah An-Naml, 27:65)

Obviously most of what they forecast is pure lies, but sometimes their predictions are accurate. Is it pure coincidence? To answer this question, let examine how these fortune-tellers arrive to their predictions.

There are two types of Diviners. The first are those who use a certain art they pretend that it helps them to unveil the secrets of the Unseen. Such arts include reading the palm of the hand, the tarot, crystal-ball gazing, casting bones or stones, and using astrology. The second type of Diviners seek the help of the jinn whom they befriend and who gather for them news from the heavens and the earth. The first type of Diviners, use their craft for the sole purpose to impress their audiences, and rely in reality on their common sense and intuition and most of the time do not give accurate predictions. It is the second type that, are the real Diviners because the devils from the jinn bring them knowledge about the Unseen. This was described in the Qur’an where the jinn said:

"And we pried into the secrets of heaven, but we found it filled with stern guards and flaming fires. We used indeed to sit there in hidden stations, to steal a hearing, but any who listens now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.”(Surah Al-Jinn, 72:8,9)

Allah also said:

''And We have guarded them (the heavens) from every accursed Satan. But any that gains a hearing by stealth, is pursued by a fiery comet, bright to see.” (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:17,18 )

Although the heavens are guarded, the devils try nonetheless to steel the news and are sometimes successful. The Prophet, s.a.w. said:

”The angels in the clouds speak a command that is in the sky, and the devils hear it. They then coo it into the ears of the diviner, and he adds a hundred lies to it.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari)


Drawing Future Prediction through Bad Omens
(Source: Weekly Gulf Times dated 6th April 2007)

Drawing bad omens (or superstition) is forbidden in Islam. The Prophet s.a.w. warned us against it, saying

”Drawing bad omens is Shirk (he said it three times) and none of us but is tempted by it, however, Allah removes it (the temptation) from those who trust Him.”(Related by Abu Dawud, at-Tirmithi)

It is advised not to act upon superstition if it occurs in the heart for it is from the whispering of Shaytan. Mu’awiyah ibn al-Hakim r.a said to the Prophet s.a.w.

”O Messenger of Allah amongst us are men that draw bad omens.” He said, ”That is something which you find in yourselves, so do not let it hold your back.”(Reported by Muslim)

"He who acts upon his superstitions, has committed Shirk.” (Reported by Ahmad)

Of the forbidden superstitions are believing that the numbers 13 and 666 bring bad luck, or believing that a black cat that crosses the way brings evil things. There are three exceptions in drawing bad omens, which the Prophet s.a.w. mentioned, saying

”If there is superstition, then it would be in the house, the spouse and the horse.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The Prophet liked the drawing of good omens. He said,

”There will be no contagion, nor drawing bad omen, and the truest of these is the drawing of good omens.” People asked him; ”What is the drawing of good omens?” He said, ” A good word that a person hears” (reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)


Drawing Future Prediction through Signs of the Zodiac
(Excerpt from Weekly Gulf Times dated 6th April 2007)

The word Zodiac may derive from Greek words meaning ‘Wheel of life’. The Zodiac is a branch of astrology based on the study of the sky. The 12 signs of the Zodiac mark the 12 compartments of the heavens. Believing that these signs can predict one’s character is kufr. So one should think twice about reading his sign in the newspapaer, and should not take this lightly.


Drawing Future Prediction through Fortune Cookies
(Excerpt from Weekly Gulf Times dated 6th April 2007)

Fortune Cookies are a kind of divination, and if any prediction is realised it is by pure coincindence. Imagine a person opening a fortune cookie just for fun. Now imagine that he reads bad news in it, one can easily read the from his face expressions that the news has influence on him. That is the evil of Magic.


Drawing Future Prediction through Theory of Millennium
(Excerpt from Weekly Gulf Times dated 6th April 2007)

One of the evils that gained strength in recent times was the theory of the Millennium. At the end of every millennium diviners are busy predicting the end of the world. The same frenetic predictions were prophesied a thousand years ago when most of the diviners expected the world to end on the year 999, and guess what? It was all a big lie. The end of the world could not be known by others than Allah, because Allah said,

”Verily the knowledge of the Hour is with Allah alone.”(Surah Luqman, 31:34)

Forms of Magic

According to an article that I read in the Weekly Gulf Times published in 2007, there are several forms of Magic. Some are all illusions and trickery, while others are real, occurring with the help of the Devil. Muslim scholars generally define Magic as any phenomenon that has invisible causes or that is seen or imagined differently from its reality due to disguise or trickery. Other scholars define Magic as the art of producing in nature, with the help of the demons, things beyond the power of men. Below are the excerpts / summary written in the article ….

Astrology

(Excerpt from Weekly Gulf Times dated 30th March 2007)

The roots of astrology go back to the Babylonians who worshiped the stars. Nowadays, magicians who use talismans based on astrology, fall into three categories:

1. Those who worship the heavenly bodies, offer prayers to them and ask them favours.
2. Those who use special calculations and allocate to each word a number that they pretend is related to the positions of the stars. They then perform calculations taking into account the name of the person, his date and place of birth, and claim that this allows them to know his future.
3. Those who study the movements of the heavenly bodies, and their conjunctions, believing that this has an influence on the natural phenomena such as rain, wind , volcanoes or earthquakes.

Anybody who is dealing in these practices is dealing in Magic, for the Prophet s.a.w. said:

”Whoever acquires knowledge about astrology, has acquired knowledge about magic.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

Illusions, the Magic of Imagination
(Source: Weekly Gulf Times dated 30th March 2007)

In Illusions, the magician may influence the imagination of the bewitched, to the point of making him believe that what he has imagined is true. In such cases, the magician may rely on hypnotic, or other powers of suggestions often used by some mediums to invoke the spirit of a dead person. The bewitched may think that he sees or hears the dead person but in reality, it is all in his imagination. During the time of Prophet Musa a.s., the Pharaoh's sorcerers used Optic Illusions to bewitch the eyes of people by giving the illusion that the sticks looked like moving snakes. This was a great magic as described by the Qur’an:

”So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them and they displayed a great magic.” (Surah Al-A’raf, 7:116)

Trickery, the Magic of Tricks
(Source: Weekly Gulf Times dated 30th March 2007)

Trickery relies on tricks that the magician has learned, usually performed in circus and on television for the purpose of entertainment. However, sometimes it is used by charlatans for evil purposes. Learning sleight of hand, using the properties of special metal, and chemistry, along with a good amount of lies are all part of the trade of this magician.

Sorcery, the Real Magic of witchcraft
(Source: Weekly Gulf Times dated 30th March 2007)

Sorcery has a concrete physical reality. It is the craft of the sorcerer who gets help from the devil, either by direct influence to inflict harm on the victims or by way of talismans to harm others in their health or property. The power of the sorcerer is drawn from his union with the devil, enabling him to have the power to fly in the air, walk on water, inflict disease or even death in others, and other extraordinary things. The more united and close his relationship is, the more powerful he becomes. However, most scholars agree that the power of a sorcerer has limitation; he cannot induce rain or other natural phenomena, nor can he resurrect the dead, nor can he turn a human into an animal, nor can he make an animal talk, and most of all a sorcerer’s spell is only realised by the will of Allah, and he can never change the destiny of a person.

Baweanese and Black Magic

Black Magic has always been associated with the Baweanese. Mentioned the word ''Boyanese'' the next words will be ''Be careful! They are good at Black Magic!''. Even though the notion of practicing Black Magic directed to the Baweanese still exist today, it is not as bad as in the past where they are being labeled as powerful sorcerers.

I remember during my childhood days in the early 1970s when I was alienated by my classmates due to my race. I was in primary four, when a group of Muslim friends in school suddenly distanced themselves from me after knowing about my racial background through the school register. They told the rest of the class that I came from a very bad race – ''A race that practices Black Magic''. I overheard in their conversations that their parents had warned them not to befriend with the Baweanese so as to avoid black magic being performed on them. From that day onwards I kept to myself and not bothered with what they thought of my people. During this incident, I came to realise that I was not Malay by race, as I used to think, but a Baweanese, speaking Malay language, living in the Singapore Malay community like the other Indonesian Muslim descents from different ethnic group such as the Javanese, Bugis, and Banjar.

My Muslim classmates continued to say hurtful things. I felt sad but angry - angry for being accused of something that I had not done and no knowledge of. Never in my life during the period living in Pondok Kelompang Gubuk, that I came across the pondok residents practicing Black Magic. Instead what I saw were a group of devout Muslims, trying to please Almighty Allah. I saw them performing Sholat, fasting in the month of Ramadhan, giving out Zakat and most of them, especially the elderly ones, had performed Haj.

It was not long ago that I befriended a Muslim woman who was judgmental towards the Baweanese. Without knowing my racial background, she criticized my people and told me to be extra careful with them. When I asked for her reasons, she answered that the 'Boyanese' practiced Black Magic, performing it to harm others. After she had finished with her little story, I politely highlighted to her that those who practiced black magic, inflicting harm to others were evil and this group of people existed in every race. I disclosed my racial background and related to her my near death experience being a victim of black magic performed by a Non-Baweanese. Feeling embarrassed, she immediately appologised to me.

Today, the Baweanese are still being feared by others for possessing Black Magic. It seems to me most people in the society that I am living in, failed to accept the fact that Black Magic comes from evil people existed in every races. However recently, I received a pleasant comment from a Non-Baweanese who visited the Bawean Island organised by PBS (Baweanese Association of Singapore) in mid June, this year. She said, "Oh, rupanya orang-orang Boyan ini banyak yang alim-alim" which means ''Oh, in reality the majority of the Bawean people are devout Muslims". In Singapore itself, there are several Baweanese religious educators. There are also many others with tertiary Islamic education who either work or active with MUIS (The Muslim Council of Singapore), Madrasah, Mosque and other Muslim bodies.

Facing trials in Ramadhan

Alhamdulillah, Ramadhan is here again! Ramadhan Kareem to all Muslims. May this year Ramadhan is better than the last time. The most meaningful Ramadhan I had was in December 2000 spending the last two weeks in the holy land of Makkah and Madinah. The most challenging Ramadhan I encountered was in 1998, the time I knew deep in my heart, I was a victim of Black Magic.

During Ramadhan 1418H in late 1998, I was able to fast for only five days. The rest of the days were disastrous. I was lying in my bed most of the time groaning in pain, feeling being squeezed with tremendous force. Strangely, the pain only occurred during a specific time frame. It was always during Asar that my right eardrum started to hurt tremendously due to the buzzing, distressing noise blowing into it. The pain stopped abruptly as soon as the azan Maghrib was heard. Suspected that black magic was performed on me, I sought Allah's protection. Through mid-night prayers, I prayed for Allah's guidance in handling the situation.


Then one night, I had a dream about the person who did the unspeakable act on me. In my vision, I saw her sitting in my room in front of my bed performing her witchcraft. I could see her face clearly chanting and holding some leaves with lots of smoke all over the place. I woke up, coughing uncontrollably. With Almighty Allah's guidance and mercy, I got through with the black magic performed on me.


Ramadhan is a blessed month in which true Muslims are chasing to earn rewarding deeds. However, the woman who put a spell on me chose to earn abundance of sins practicing Black Magic, making a pact with the Devils. All this while, she was hiding her evil intentions behind her Hijab mask, projecting herself as a true servant of Almighty Allah. According to Islam, practicing, believing and relying on Black Magic are Shirk - Magic has no place in Islam and learning it is Kufr.

Holding firmly to the Singapore Pledge

Today, Singapore celebrates the 44th year of Independence. Happy Birthday Singapore! Happy National Day Singaporeans! It is time to say the Singapore Pledge – ''Say what you mean. Mean what you say''.

The Singapore Pledge

We, the citizens of Singapore,
Pledge ourselves as one united people,
Regardless of race, language or religion,
To build a democratic society,
Based on justice and equality,
So as to achieve happiness,
Prosperity and progress for our nation.

The Singapore Pledge was written in 1966 by the late S.Rajaratnam. From that year onwards, students in primary, secondary and post-secondary recite the Singapore pledge after singing the National Anthem during flag ceremony at the beginning of every school day. Every year during the National Day Celebration, Singaporeans say the pledge at the National Day Parade.

Today, after more than four decades, the words in the pledge are still strong holding Singaporeans together as one united nation, continuing to work for prosperity and progress so as to keep on achieving peace, stability and happiness. The words need not be updated for they still speak strongly to the Singaporeans. Indeed, the Singapore pledge is the Singaporeans' National identity in which the ideas, sentiment and spirit in it speaks to the Singaporeans through the years.

Present days Singapore is greatly different from it's past. Singapore had progressed so much through the years; from a trading port into a city-state with strong reserves; from having a very small defense force, relying on the British during the early years, to having robust defense force that is one of the most modern and cohesive in the world. Indeed, Singaporeans had gone through hard times and good times together, moving beyond the three Ps; Peace, Prosperity and Progress to the five Cs; Cash, Credit Card, Career, Car, and Condo.

Singaporeans have been staying united since the early days of independence, building the country, fighting together as one nation against poverty in the 1960s, working hard for developments in 1970s, coping with economic recessions in the 1980s, combating the currency crisis in 1997, battling against SARs in 2003 and now continuing working together, staying vigilant against H1N1 while at the same time, together they are coping up with the economic recession.

Personally, the pledge had worked well for me. I am truly thankful to Almighty Allah for giving me the chance to be part of Singapore’s transformation into one of a World-Class city. I was born in Singapore during the 1960s when Singapore was struggling to rise up to build an independent country. I was there in the 1970s as a student with an aspiration to make a difference when Singapore was progressing and developing rapidly, moving forward leaving the other Third World countries. I was there in the 1980s and 1990s joining the work force in full swing contributing to the economy of Singapore. And now here I am, truly transformed and all grown-up as mature as my Singapore, living in it peacefully in total happiness enjoying the fruits of success.

Truly, Singapore is my homeland. I am proud to be called Singaporean. I am proud to hold a pink NRIC with ''Race: Boyanese" printed on it. I feel blessed to have forefathers, the immigrants from Bawean Island, who were brave to undertake the chances of many uncertainties against all odds in an attempt to make a difference, choosing Singapore as the homeland of their future generations. If these pioneer immigrants did not take the chances, Singaporeans of Baweanese descent, will not be what they are today! I will not be what I am today!

... my Singapore

This is home truly
Where I know I must be
Where my dreams wait for me
Where the river always flows

This is home surely
As my senses tell me
This is where I won't be alone
For this is where I know it's home

(Extracted from Singapore National Day Song – 'Home' by Kit Chan)

My Memories of Sungai Rokam

Jalan Sungai Rokam and Jalan Dato' Keramat are the two places in Malaysia that I am familiar with, in connection to my Baweanese roots. These are the two places where the early generation of my ancestors used to settle when they first came to the Malay Peninsula. Flashes of memories I had with my relatives still remain lingering in my mind. Memories of my visits to their homes during childhood keep coming back as I refreshes them by looking back at the pictures in my dad's photo album.

(Aunt Nuri and Aunt Yati - Sungai Rokam1970s)

I remember basking under the hot afternoon sun of Ipoh, playing with the other Baweanese kids in the playground until I got myself tanned. They spoke the Baweanese language fluently. The kindness showed by my Grand-uncle Hodri, husband of Grand-aunt Moya, cannot be forgotten. He gave me a bar of chocolate with a big smile on his face as he stood at the doorway after returning home from his work place. Back then I was a little girl not more than seven years old.

(Nenek Moya at my home)

I was very much curious with the things in the home of my dear Grand-aunt Moya. They were very much different from those used by Grandma Ramlah at Pondok Kelompang Gubuk. I was particularly fascinated with the stool-like grater and was always the first to volunteer grating the coconuts! I remember Aunt Yati teaching me the correct method of using it as Aunt Nuri and Uncle Taqim watched with lots of smiling on their faces. With my small little hands, it was not an easy task for me to perform. However, I was happy to be of great assistance in the house. Back then I was their faithful apprentice who was willing to do as told. Appreciated I was, they taught me lots of 'kampong' stuff which could not be found in my hometown, the Town of Little India, the area in which Pondok Kelampong Gubuk was situated.

(Uncle Tapa and Dyan - Orchard Road 1987)

It has been more than twenty years since the last time I met my relatives in Ipoh and yearning to meet them again. I regretted very much for not able to attend the wedding held by Aunt Yati in the occasion of her daughter's marriage. It was the period when I was living in the middle-east. I miss my relatives in Ipoh greatly and hope very much to visit them in the future, Insha'Allah. Below are photographs of Nenek Moya's visit to Singapore with her family in late 1960s. We were having picnic at Changi Beach.

(This post is dedicated to my relatives in Ipoh, especially to Aunt Yati, Aunt Nuri and Uncle Taqim. To Aunt Nuri: I never forgotten the warmth that you gave me during my visits to your home in 1960s. To Aunt Yati: Your kind assistance in the preparation of my wedding as well as my sisters are always in my mind.)