Under the guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (may Allah be his Helper), question-and-answer sessions are being held across Canada with Respected Amir Sahib. As not all questions can be addressed during these gatherings, selected questions and their answers, prepared by the National Tarbiyat Department, are published in the Gazette for readers’ benefit.
QUESTION: “What is the Islamic ruling on black magic? What do we make of the hadith that directly mentions it?”
ANSWER:
Black magic does not possess real or independent power. Islam does not deny that people claim to practice magic; however, it categorically rejects the belief that magic can overpower divine will, harm prophets, or control reality. Any attribution of independent power to such practices contradicts the fundamental Islamic principle of tawhid (Oneness of God).
In regard to magic and its perceived effect, the Holy Qur’an decisively states:
A magician shall not thrive, come where he may. (20:70)
The Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be upon him), stated:
“Sorcery also is from Satan. It does not behove the Messengers and Prophets for sorcery to affect them, rather it fades when encountering them.” [Malfuzat: English Translation of Urdu Volume 9, pp. 506–507, 2024 ed.]
Thus, while Islam strictly forbids engaging in magic, it also decisively denies its alleged supernatural efficacy, particularly against the chosen servants of Allah.
Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (may Allah be his Helper) explained this narration and resolved this matter in his Friday Sermon of March 08, 2019.
The narrations that mention magic in relation to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) have been widely misunderstood. According to the explanation of Hazrat Musleh-e-Mau’ud (may Allah be pleased with him), there was no magic involved whatsoever. The illness referred to in these narrations was a temporary physical weakness and anxiety-related lapse of memory, caused by the Holy Prophet’s intense concern for the weaker companions who, after the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah, had been unable to perform Umrah. During this period of physical strain and mental worry, when the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) appeared unwell, the Jews and hypocrites took advantage of the situation and falsely announced that they had cast a spell upon him, attributing his temporary forgetfulness to sorcery.
As was their longstanding custom, they further staged a physical demonstration by tying hair around a comb and placing it in a well. When the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) became aware of this mischief, he turned to Allah in prayer so that this false propaganda might be brought to an end. Allah Almighty then revealed the plot to him in a vision, not because any magic had taken effect, but in order to expose the deception and silence the agitators. The “two men” mentioned in the relevant traditions (ahadith) were angels who appeared in a vision and conveyed what people were claiming; they were not declaring that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had been affected by magic.
Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) related that she asked the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) why he did not retrieve and destroy the comb and its related objects, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied that Allah had already protected him and cured him, and that bringing the matter into public view would only risk spreading unnecessary confusion and cause weak-minded people to believe that sorcery had real power. Consequently, the well was sealed.
The temporary lapse of memory mentioned in these narrations was therefore the result of illness, physical weakness, and mental strain, not magic. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) himself said:
“I am human like you; I forget as you forget. If I forget, remind me.” [Abu Dawud, 1020]
The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) concluded decisively:
“The matter that the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was affected by sorcery, God forbid, is such that faith becomes questionable.” [Malfuzat – English Translation of Urdu Volume 9, pp. 507–508, 2024 ed.
Islam thus forbids magic, rejects its supposed power, and exposes it as deception. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was never under sorcery, and Allah Himself exposed and nullified the false propaganda of his enemies. No magic can harm a prophet, no magic can override Allah’s decree, and no magic possesses intrinsic power. Any perceived effects occur only through superstition, fear, psychological suggestion, or coincidence.
Thus, any supposed “effect” of magic is illusory rather than real metaphysical control. True protection lies not in charms, rituals, or counter-magic, but in firm faith, prayer, righteous conduct, and complete trust in Allah.
