MAGIC AND SOOTHSAYING

One of the cultural practice common to most third world countries predominated by Muslims is magic and soothsaying. However, many Muslims would pray that "Olohun bawa pana elebo, ko gbe Sunnah Anabi ga" meaning: "may God quench the light of idol worshipping and give rise to the Prophetic practices". But unfortunately, Muslims still fell into the idolatry practices. People who are supposed to be Muslims scholars with a divine mission of establishing correct Tawheed (faith) are mostly found in foretelling of future and magics.

It is dispiriting that they give the ignorant majority the impression that these cultural practices are Islamic as they use texts written in Arabic, in their trade. Worse still, those who patronize then are Muslims who are quite oblivious of the gross violation of fundamental Islamic principles.

As far as Islam is concerned, these cultural practices is condemned in a very strong term. In fact according to a tradition, both the attendant and the practitioner of magic and soothsaying is condemned to hell.

To this end, we should hold to our believe that Allah only knows and have the knowledge of unseen. Allah says:
      Al-Quran
Surah 31 - Luqman - Ayah 34

أَعـوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْـطانِ الرَّجيـم
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عِنۡدَهٗ عِلۡمُ السَّاعَةِ‌ ۚ وَيُنَزِّلُ الۡغَيۡثَ‌ ۚ وَيَعۡلَمُ مَا فِى الۡاَرۡحَامِ‌ ؕ وَمَا تَدۡرِىۡ نَفۡسٌ مَّاذَا تَكۡسِبُ غَدًا‌ ؕ وَّمَا تَدۡرِىۡ نَـفۡسٌۢ بِاَىِّ اَرۡضٍ تَمُوۡتُ ‌ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلِيۡمٌ خَبِيۡرٌ

"Surely, it is Allah with whom rests the knowledge of the Hour; and He sends down the rain and He knows what is in the wombs. And no one knows what he will earn tomorrow and no one knows in which land he will die. Surely, Allah is All Knowing, All Aware"

Cumulatively, in prohibition of magic and soothsaying, Allah provided us with divine alternative which is easier and effective without any risk. Thus, Istikhara which would restrain one from following soothsayer or even going to their shops. Notably, by way of Salat and Dua, Allah's guidance is ascertain and we wouldn't wallow in deceptive magics.

May we be guided.

Faisal A.