Q: In Pakistan, there is a Shaykh who is apparently righteous, but Allah knows best. This Shaykh says that he knows righteous Jinn (creatures created from fire) and speaks to them through a person (Part No. 1; Page No. 586) who suffered from epilepsy and then recovered. They exorcise the Jinn from epileptic people. The Shaykh says that he has a prison in which he imprisons the guilty Jinn through the help of righteous Jinn. He claims that they do not help him with worldly activities and that he is certified to teach Arabs, and that whoever wishes to learn how to deal with Jinn, should learn the following Adhkar (forms of Allah's Remembrance): 'I believe in Allah, the Ever-Great and disbelieve in Jibt (superstition) and Taghut (false gods) and grasp the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower'. A person should say this seven times immediately after Salah (Prayer) and before moving from their place. Then before going to bed, the person should cup his hands together and blow over them while reciting Al-Salah Al-Ibrahimiyyah (the second half of Tashahud i.e. invoking Allah's peace upon the Prophet), Surah Al-Kafirun, Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Nas, the first five Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) of Surah Al-Baqarh, and Al-Salah Al-Ibrahimiyyah, and then rub his hands against his body. He should repeat this practice for 41 days. If the person makes a mistake, they should repeat it all over again until the 41 days are over. Upon completion, a person should go to the Shaykh who nominates a group of ten males and ten females from Jinn to stay in the person's company. He calls this group of Jinn from Makkah. The person neither sees this group nor hears their voices, but they follow his orders. However, they do not obey him in doing worldly activities like bringing or lifting something or the like. Jinn only protect him from other evil Jinn and if there is someone suffering from epilepsy, they arrest the evil Jinn possessing him. The Shaykh also says that if any of the imprisoned Jinn professes Islam, he sends them with the group of good Jinn to Makkah. If the Jinn are faithful, they are allowed to enter Makkah but if they are liars, they are denied entry, because (Part No. 1; Page No. 587) there are angels at the doors of Makkah who prevent the unbelieving Jinn from entering it. What is the detailed opinion of Your Eminence on this? What is the ruling on marrying a female Jinny (a creature created from fire)? Does the Ayah (Qur'anic verse): ...then marry (other) women of your choice refer to human women in particular? As Allah also calls the male Jinn "men", so the meaning applies to them. By the same token, would the word 'women' be applied to both humans and Jinn? May Allah reward you with the best!

A: After examining the question, the answer of the Committee is as follows: The man you have mentioned is a diviner and soothsayer. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade Muslims to go to, ask, or believe them even if they claim righteous behavior and devotion. It is a duty to advise such people and warn them against their acts and to make Tawbah (repentance to Allah). People should also be warned against going to, asking, or believing these diviners. According to the Prophet (peace be upon him), Whoever resorts to a diviner and asks him about anything, his Salahs (Prayers) will not be accepted for forty nights. (Related by Muslim in his Sahih 'authentic' Book of Hadith). He (peace be upon him) also says: Whoever resorts to a diviner or a soothsayer and believes in what he says, they disbelieve in what was revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him). (Related by the Four Compilers of Hadith [Imams Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhy, Al-Nasa'y and Ibn Majah] and Al-Hakim who said: 'It is a Sahih report according to the conditions of Al-Bukhari and Muslim'). Moreover, the Prophet (peace be upon him) is quoted by `Imran to have said: He is not of us: The one who sees omens or has omens seen for him; predicts or has the future predicted for him; performs magic or has magic performed for him, and the one who resorts to a diviner (Part No. 1; Page No. 588) and believes in what he says, then he disbelieves in what was revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him). (Related by Al-Bazzar with a good Sanad 'chain of narrators').May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.