Q: Please be notified that I live in Zambia where there is a Muslim claiming to use (Part No. 1; Page No. 604) the Jinn. People visit him seeking treatment from their diseases by (the power of) the Jinn, is this permissible?When I come to tell people that this is impermissible, they get angry with me. So, I hope that Your Eminence would kindly answer me as soon as possible.

A: It is not permissible for this man to use Jinn. It is also not permissible for people to go to him and follow his ways whether to seek treatment or to fulfill their needs. Instead, they may resort to permissible methods of treatment such as visiting doctors and taking permissible medication. This is sufficient for them and free from the augury of soothsayers. It is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that he said: Anyone who visits a diviner and asks him about anything, his Salah (prayer) will not be accepted for forty nights. Related by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic book of Hadith). The four compilers of Sunan Books of Hadith along with Al-Hakim - who judged the Hadith as being authentic - narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, If anyone resorts to a diviner and believes in what he says, then he has disbelieved in what is revealed to Muhammad. This man along with his Jinn companions are considered to be soothsayers and diviners. Therefore, it is not permissible to ask or believe them.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.