Q: One night, my brother who is fifteen years old, was walking in one of the valleys in the southern desert. He said that he found a strange being that looked like an animal and this animal accompanied him for approximately one kilometer. He felt great fear and his jaws stuck together. This animal kept walking with him for a while to his left, to his right, behind him, and in front of him. He said that he tried many times to perform Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) but he could not. Moreover, he tried to do anything that might drive this strange thing away from him but he could not. Then, according to him, this being suddenly disappeared. He kept walking until he reached his house. He suffered disorders in his mental and nervous systems for two weeks. Then, he suffered epilepsy and we moved to Al-Dammam. I took him to hospital. Some of my friends told me that my brother was suffering from insanity due to seeing jinn (creatures created from fire) and that the hospital treatment would not cure him. They told me to take him to a diviner. Then, due to my brother's state, I was obliged to consult someone in Al-Dammam. He claimed that he treats these kinds of illnesses. When we got there, he seated my brother before him and began to pronounce Tahlil (saying, "La ilaha illa Allah [there is no god but Allah]") and asked Allah to bestow peace and blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) in a loud voice. Then he began to mumble words in a low voice so that we could not understand what he said. (Part No. 1; Page No. 288) He put water in a cup and recited Surah Al-Fatihah and some words that I did not hear. Then, he gave it to the boy to drink. He gave us a certain type of gum to burn as incense to perfume my brother with. We went to this person again and he did the same thing he had done in the previous session. He said that we had to have with him six sessions; one session per week, then he would record his name in order to know if he could treat him or not. He said that he observed the boy while the latter was being perfumed with incense. He also said that he could see other people in Najran, Abha, and other places. Besides, he said that he knew the status of another patient who lives in Kuwait. Moreover, he does not receive money except for what one gives to him. As for the boy, he began to recover with the Will of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). I, all praise be to Allah, have a firm belief and creed. I have no doubt that Allah is the only One Who causes harm and brings benefit. Going to this person does not mean that I believe that he will cure my brother. I believe that no one will cure my brother except Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) Alone. I would like you to guide me as to what I should do. Can I follow up with this person or not?Secondly: What is the Shari`ah (Islamic law) ruling on this method of treatment used by such a person?

A: In case that the reality is what you have mentioned; your brother is thus possessed by Jinn. (Part No. 1; Page No. 289) You have to treat him with Shar`y (Islamically lawful) Ruqyah (reciting Qur'an and saying supplications over the sick seeking healing), reciting Surah Al-Fatihah, or Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "He is Allâh, (the) One. , or Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh), the Lord of the daybreak, , or Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh) the Lord of mankind, , or Ayat-ul-Kursy (the Qur’anic Verse of the Throne, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:255) and other Ayahs (Qur'anic verses). One can also recite Dhikr and Du`a' (supplication) said by the Prophet (peace be upon him) such as: O Allah! I seek Refuge with Your Perfect Words from every devil, poisonous pests and every evil, harmful, envious eye. And O Lord of people! Remove the difficulty and bring about healing as You are the Healer. There is no healing but Your Healing, a healing that will leave no ailment. You can go back to the book of Al-Kalim Al-Tayyib by Ibn Tayymiyah, Al-Wabil Al-Sayyib by Ibn Al-Qayyim and Al-Adhkar Al-Nawawiyyah by Al-Nawawy in order to know the Dhikr and Du`a' that best deal with the illness of your brother. (Part No. 1; Page No. 290) He may recite them himself or you may recite them for him. We advise you not to go to this man again or anyone like him to treat your brother because even if he was right in reciting Al-Fatihah, he secretly recited other unknown words upon the water in the cup. Then, he gave this water to your brother to drink. He might secretly have said devilish incantations and sought help from jinn. These are types of soothsaying. The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade consulting diviners and soothsayers. The Shar`y Ruqyah is sufficient. Moreover, what he said about following up with other cases in Najran, Abha and other places denotes that he is a diviner and seeks the help of the jinn. May Allah cure your brother and keep us firm with the truth!May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.