Q: What is the ruling on those who practice enchantment? I mean those who write some Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) of the Glorious Qur'an and Allah's Most Beautiful Names in amulets and sell them to people telling them they will protect them. Also, when a child is born or experiences an ailment, they write on a paper then hang it around his or her neck or give it to students claiming that it makes them smart and wise especially in our country and in Africa and some Arab countries.

A: It is unlawful to write anything other than the Qur'an and Allah's Names on a paper or on anything else to be hung around a diseased person's neck, children, or animals to gain recovery or protection from diseases, evil, or envy. Likewise, it is unlawful to give it to students to wear so that they may become smart and understand quickly etc. The Prophet (peace be upon him) called this Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) saying: Whoever wears an amulet commits an act of Shirk. Also, it is unlawful (Part No. 1; Page No. 318) to buy such amulets or to hang them. Similarly, the money taken in return for these amulets is unlawful. It is the duty of those in charge to prevent such amulets and to punish those who write them and those who go to them; they should explain to people that the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade these amulets and guide them to what is right, so they may stop the unlawful practices.As for writing Ayahs of the Qur'an and Allah's Names and other authentic forms of Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) and Du`a's (supplications), it is an issue that is disputed among scholars. Some of the early scholars viewed it as unlawful; others viewed it as permissible. The right view is that it is not permissible because the Hadiths prohibiting wearing amulets are general. Also because its impermissibility would block the means of the use of amulets of anything other than the Qur'an and will protect the Qur'an and Allah's Names from being used in what does not befit them.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.