Q: I would like to inform you that I live in Al-Ta'if and my wife suffers from a mental disorder. I took her to some practitioners of Ruqyah (reciting Qur'an and saying supplications over the sick as a cure) to whom most of the people in Al-Ta'if resort for treatment. However, I noticed that they commit some acts which arouse suspicions. For example:Firstly: Some of those practitioners, who recite the Qur'an over the patients afflicted with Sihr (sorcery) or Jinn (creatures created from the fire) possession, put their fingers on the patient's eyes - whether they are males or females - and recite Ayat-ul-Kursy (the Qur’anic Verse of Allah’s Chair, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:255) and Ayah (22) of Surah Qaf. After this, the patient sees the type of Sihr, those who have cast the Sihr on them, and where the Sihr is hidden. In addition, they claim seeing other things such as snakes, persons and other places which they know. What confuses me is that the practitioner knows that he will see things of that sort and this is called "revelation". Some of those practitioners recite the Qur'an in a low voice while standing before the patient. They then stretch their hand toward the patient and blow over it, saying "The patient (Part No. 1; Page No. 247) is afflicted with Sihr which is sentinelled by a male, female or a flying jinni.Secondly: My wife is afflicted with Sihr - as they claim and Allah knows best. When the practitioner recited the Qur'an over her, something strange took place; she vomited pieces of fabric and blood. She sometimes vomited small plants, three nails wrapped in a piece of fabric, and locks of hair and fingernails placed in a plastic bag. Some other patients vomited pieces of leather sewn and placed in a bag with some fingernails, nails, and locks of hair. The practitioners of Ruqyah claim that these items are Sihr placed in the stomach of the patient by the Jinn. We, thus, thought of presenting this matter to Your Eminence seeking your explanation. Should we believe such things and consult these practitioners? Do these acts represent Islamically lawful Ruqyah? Is it true what the patient sees and what comes out from them? May Allah preserve you!

A: If what you have stated in the question about those practitioners is true, it will be Haram (prohibited) to consult them. What they are doing can never be classified as lawful Ruqyah; rather, it is a way of swindling, false talk, and guesswork which are not based on truth or sound evidence. Such practices may indicate that those people employ Satan and engage in soothsaying and sorcery, and thus the patients (Part No. 1; Page No. 248) do not see what is really there. Moreover, they can bring tangible items and make the patient falsely think that they are coming out of their stomachs, by managing to do this through the help of Satan and Jinn. Accordingly, it is not permissible to consult these practitioners, seek treatment from them, or even to treat sorcery with sorcery. You are required to sincerely repent to Allah from consulting such people and not do this again in the future. It is not permissible to believe what they are doing, because it was reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, If anyone resorts to a diviner or a soothsayer and believes in what he says, they will be disbelievers in what was revealed to Muhammad. (Related by the four Ahl-ul-Sunan (authors of Hadith compilations classified by jurisprudential themes), and Al-Hakim who ranked it as Sahih (authentic)). Also, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, Anyone who sees omens or has omens seen for them; predicts or has the future predicted for them; performs Sihr or has Sihr performed for them is not one of us. (Related by Al-Tabarany on the authority of `Imran ibn Husayn, and Al-Munawy commented that its Sanad (chain of narrators) is good) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said when asked about Al-Nushrah: It is from the acts of Satan. (Related by Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud with a good Sanad) Al-Nushrah means treating Sihr with Sihr.We advise you to treat your wife using the Islamically acceptable Ruqyah from the Qur'an, Adhkar (invocations and remembrances said at certain times on a regular basis), Prophetic supplications, or prescribed medications which do not include unlawful ingredients. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, Treat yourselves medically for there is no disease that Allah has created except that He also has created its treatment, about which some people know and other do not know. (Related by Imam Ahmad, Al-Tirmidhy, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah) Abu Dawud added: Treat yourselves medically, but use nothing unlawful. If you know where the Sihr is hidden, you are permitted to dig it out - if it is buried underground - (Part No. 1; Page No. 249) and destroy it by burning or by any other means to nullify its effect. That was done by the Prophet (peace be upon him) when a spell was cast on him and he learned where it was hidden.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.