Lesson 8

RUQA (INCANTATION), TALISMANS AND AMULETS

Narrated Abu Bashir Al-Ansari (r. a.): He was in the company of Allah’s Messenger on one of his journeys. Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) sent a messenger ordering: “There shall not remain any necklace of bowstring or any other kind of necklace round the necks of camels except it is cut off” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Ibn Mas’ud (r. a.) narrated that he heard Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) saying: Ar-Ruqa, At-Tama’im and At-Tiwalah are all acts of Shirk (Polytheism).” (Musnad Ahmad; Abu Dawood).

Ar-Ruqa or Al-Aza’im is the act of reciting incantations, charm etc. Those are allowed in which there is no trace of Shirk (polytheism). Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has permitted it in case of being bitten by poisonous insects or disturbed under the effect of an evil eye.

At-Tama’im is the act of putting an amulet around the necks of children to protect them from effects of evil eye. If the amulet contains the verse of the Quran or Allah’s Name and Attribute then it is allowed by some predecessors (salaf) though equally disallowed by others too. Ibn Mas’ud (r. a.) was among those who disapproved it.

At-Tiwalah (bewitching) is something done by those who claim they can cause a woman to become more fond of her husband or vice-versa. Abdallah bin Ukaim narrated the following Marfu’ Hadeeth: “Whoever uses, attaches to himself or wears a talisman, will have that talisman put in charge of him.” (Ahmad & Tirmidhi)

Ruwaifi’ (r. a.) said that Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) said to him: “O Ruwaifi! it may be that you will live a longer time after me, so inform people that whoever ties a knot in his beard, places any string or cord around his neck (as a charm), or cleans himself (after toilet) with animal dung or bone, then Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has disowned him (has nothing to do with him).” (Ahmad)

Sa’id bin Jubair said: “Whoever cut an amulet or talisman from anyone, it would be equal to liberating a slave.”

It was Waki’ who recorded it, and he reported from Ibrahim Nakh’i that they used to dislike every type of amulet and talisman whether they contained the verse of Quran or anything else. [They were the companions of Abdullah bin Mas’ud (r. a.)].

Important issue of the Lesson

 All the three above-mentioned acts are considered ofShirk without exception.Lesson 9WHOEVER SEEKS BLESSING THROUGH A TREE,A STONE, ETC.

Allah the Most Exalted said: “Have you then considered Al-Lat and Al-Uzzah”. And Manat (idols of the pagan Arabs) the other third? (Ch53: V19-20)

At-Tirmidhi reported and declared as Sahih (sound), that Abu Waqid Al-Laithi (r. a.) said: We went out with Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) on the campaign to Hunain while we had just left disbelief (Kufr) for Islam. The Mushrikin had a Sidr (lote-tree) that they would stay there and hang their arms( weapons) on, called Dhat Anwat. When we passed a Sidr, we asked, “O Messenger of Allah, won’t you make for us another Dhat Anwat just like their Dhat Anwat?” Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) said, “Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Most Great)! By the one (Allah) Who holds my soul in His hand, verily these are the ways of earlier nations; You have said exactly as Bani Israel said to Musa (Peace be upon him) make for us a god just as their gods. ‘ He said: “Verily you are a people who know not. ‘ (Ch. 7: V138 Certainly you will follow the ways of those who went before you.)

Important Issues of the Lesson

The request by the companions (r. a.) (regarding a tree similar to Dhat Anwat).

Their intention was to become closer to Allah by their act, as they thought He would like it.

 The Prophet (Peace be upon him) rejected their request by saying: “Allahu Akbar, these are the ways of earlier nations, thereby expressing the weightiness of the matter.

If some companions (r. a.) were unaware of the nature of their intended act, it is reasonable to assume that later generations (of much lesser status) are more likely to fall into ignorance.

 The negation of this act is in the meanings of “There is no true God except Allah”, which is subtle (Hidden), and this was not perceived by them.

Shirk is of two types, i. e. major and minor because the Companions were not turned apostate due to their request alone.

 It is essential to put an end to all possible ways leading to Shirk (polytheism) and to prohibit any resemblance of people of ignorance (disbelieves).

The Prophet (pbuh) expressed the general tendency of mankind by saying: “These are the ways”.

In every place where Allah has censured the Jews and Christians in the Quran He has also warned us against those deeds.

The one who has moved from falsehood (i. e. became Muslim) and get accustomed to certain beliefs or habits is not totally safe from having remnants of these habits, as is evidenced in the Companions’ words “and we had just left disbelief (Kufr).”