Shaykh Ibn Baz on the Two Types of Magic and That It Occurs Through Worship of the Devils
Monday, November 05 2012 - by Abu.Iyaad
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In his explanation of the chapter on the types of magic in Kitab al-Tawheed, Shaykh Ibn Baz (rahimahullaah) states in Sharh Kitab al-Tawheed (Dar al-Diyaa, 1422H, p. 135):

And magic (sihr) is of two types:

  • A type which occurs through knots, blowing and harmful potions, and this is present

  • A type that occurs through takhyeel (making someone imagine or perceive something), and talbees (deception) and tazweer (fabrication), as the Exalted said about the magicians of Pharoah, "Then behold, their ropes and their sticks, by their magic, appeared to him as though they moved fast." (20:66) and He said, "And they displayed a great magic." (7:116). Hence, he labelled it as "great" on account of what it comprises of deception and making people imagine, perceive things (upon other than the reality).

And whoever performed magic has committed Shirk, whoever engaged in magic, because it occurs through the worship of the devils (shayaateen) and invoking them, and for this reason, Allaah said, "Sulaimaan did not disbelieve, but the Shayaateen (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic..." (2:102), and He said, "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)'." (2:102). So this indicates that learning it necessitates disbelief.

Sulaymaan Aal al-Shaykh said in Tayseer al-Azeez al-Hameed (p. 297):

And his saying, "Whoever does magic has committed shirk" is a text that the magician is a mushrik since he does not bring his magic without (committing) shirk as has been cited by al-Haafidh from some of them.

And Shaykh Ibn al-Uthaymeen said in al-Qawl al-Mufeed (2/47-48):

(Whoever) is a conditional particle, and the action of the condition is (does magic) and the answer to the condition is (has committed shirk). And this does not apply to all magic, since the intent behind (Whoever does magic) is that with satanic routes. As for magic through potions and medications and what is like them, then it has already preceded that he is not a mushrik, however the one who does magic through obeying the devils and using them for what he desires (of goals), then there is no doubt this one is a mushrik.

Refer to Mughnee al-Mureed al-Jaami' Li Shurooh Kitaab al-Tawhid of Abd al-Mun'im Ibraaheem (1420H, p. 1850).