“One who learns magic...

“One who learns magic, less or more, has become an infidel and his association with Allah (s.w.t.) s completely severed.”[^6] However, as we have mentioned, if it is for the purpose of nullifying the sorcery of the sorcerers, then there is no harm in it.

Rather, at times, on the basis of general obligation (wajib kifa’i) some individuals must necessarily learn it so that they can nullify the sorcery of a false claimant (to prophethood), should he desire to mislead the people by means of sorcery, and thus lay bare his lies and false claims.

And testifying to this is a tradition of Imam as-Sadiq (a.s.), which states that one of the magicians, who used to take money for performing his magic, approached the Imam (a.s.) and said: Sorcery had been my profession; I would take money for it and in this manner managed to meet the expenses of my life. I even performed the Hajj by means of this income, however now I have abandoned it and have repented. Is there a way for me to achieve deliverance?

The Imam (a.s.) replied: Open the knots of magic but do not tie the knots of sorcery.[^7] From this tradition it can be inferred that it is permissible to learn and practice magic if it is for the purpose of nullifying the (evil) effects of magic.[^8] [^1]: al-Mufradat of Raghib (سحر) [^2]: Surat Taha (20), Verse 66 [^3]: Suratul A'raf (7), Verse 116 [^4]: Suratul Baqarah (2), Verse 102 [^5]: Suratul Baqarah (2), Verse 102 [^6]: Wasa’il ash-Shi'a, Chapter 25 from the chapters of Ma Yuktasabu bihi, no.

7 [^7]: Wasa’il ash-Shi'a, Chapter 25 from the chapters of Ma Yuktasabu bihi, no. 1 [^8]: Tafsir-e-Namuna, vol. 1, pg. 377 Previous…