In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Ever-Merciful…

The Permanent Committee of Scholars in Saudi Arabia discussed the issue of sihr (magic) in an official published verdict (fatwaa) signed by:

Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ibn Manee’

Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ibn Ghudayyaan

Shaykh ‘Abdur-Razzaaq ‘Afeefee

May Allaah have Mercy on all of them. In this fatwaa, they explained the meaning of illusionary magic and its ruling, saying:

The word sihr (magic) also refers to illusions and tricks done to make someone think that an inanimate object is moving, while it is really not. Such a person is shown the object in a way that changes his perception of its reality, and so he really believes it is like that (moving). An example of this would be what the magicians did in the presence of Moosaa (Moses, peace be upon him) and Fir’own (Pharoah, may Allaah curse him). They threw their ropes and sticks, and the people were made to believe that they were moving about, while they were really still and not moving at all. This (illusion) had no reality to it, rather it was merely trickery and deception. The ropes and sticks did not actually change states, even while the people perceived them as snakes slithering about!

Allaah, the Most High, has said:

يخيل إليه من سحرهم أنها تسعى

( It was made to seem from their magic that they were moving ) [20:66]

سحروا أعين الناس واسترهبوهم

( They put magic on the people’s eyes and sought to frighten them ) [7:116]

This type of magic is haraam (impermissible), due to the trickery, deception, and playing with people’s minds involved in it. It could even be taken as a profession as a magician earns a living from it, conning the people out of their money with falsehood.

It is from the kinds of major kufr (apostasy), and it was the magic of Pharoah’s magicians.

Magic also refers to those who seek nearness to Jinn and ask for their help in benefitting or harming people… [The Committee then goes on to discuss another kind of magic, sihr haqeeqee, which involves the use of Jinn.]

Source: The Permanent Council’s Official Fatwaa Collection (1/545) [Click here for the Arabic source.]

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING:

Apply the understanding you have gained from the words of the Permanent Committee of Scholars above to the actions of some of the charlatans of (so-called) Islamic da’wah today.

For example, Muhammad Shareef’s Almaghrib Institute has produced an official video trailer used to promote one of their short courses. In this video, the magician, Kamal el-Mekki, performs not one, but three illusionary magic tricks, including levitation, to draw attention to the $145 seminar and lead people into registration and payment.

The same Kamal el-Mekki (may Allaah guide him) boasts openly and without shame that he can teach you ALL the magic tricks of Criss Angel and Dynamo (two famous illusionary magicians of today)!

Source: An interview with Kamal el-Mekki at Green Lane Masjid (transcript)

Disclaimer: We do not advise anyone to seek out the videos of Kamal el-Mekki’s magic tricks, except for those who have decision making roles in Muslim communities and they want to uphold the trust on their shoulders by preventing him from coming to their community and by warning the people from him. In such a case, when verification is needed to prevent the spread of evil, only then should someone watch those videos. Watching magic tricks for mere entertainment is something that can nullify a person’s Islaam (as explained here), so take heed.

And Allaah knows best.

Written by: Moosaa Richardson