What Does Islam Say About Evil Curses?

What Does Islam Say About Evil Curses?

Question - My Muslim friend says I put a ‘curse’ on him and he no longer wants to be around me. I talked to him, and he said I did this to him. I wonder if Islam teaches superstitions and such things?

“It is not correct for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.”
(Quran, surah Al Ahzab 33:36)

Answer -

Thank you for a good question and for havingthegood sense and courtesyto ask Muslims to explain about Islam and for giving us the chanceto bring about a better understanding of what Islam actually teaches on such subjects as magic, demons and evil curses.

Does Islam teach anything about evil ‘curses’? – Yes.

Black magic or witchcraft does exist. But it is not an opposing force against Allah (as in some religions that teach the devilhas power and is working against God). Rather, this issomething that Allah has placed here on earth centuries ago, only to test the people. Similar to the idea of the apple that Adam, peace be upon him, was commanded not to eat. It is a test.

Evidence for this is in the Quran in surah (chapter) Baqarah (the cow) in verse #102:

They followed what the Shayatin (devils) gave out (falsely of the magic) in the lifetime of Sulaiman (Solomon). Sulaiman did not disbelieve, but the Shayatin (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Harut and Marut, but neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, “We are only for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us).” And from these (angels) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife, but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah’s Leave. And they learn that which harms them and profits them not. And indeed they knew that the buyers of it (magic) would have no share in the Hereafter. And how bad indeed was that for which they sold their ownselves, if they but knew.

Just as there are other forms of evil, there is also malignant witchcraft as well. This includes spells, curses and ‘evil eye.’

Allah tells us how to protect ourselves from it by calling upon Him alone and not any others:

Surah (chapter)113. Al-Falaq : The Daybreak
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

113:1Say: “I seek refuge[1]with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak[2],

113:2″From the evil of what He has created;

113:3″And from the evil[3] of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness[4]; (or the moon as it sets or goes away).

113:4″And from the evil of the witchcraft (black magic)when they blow in the knots[5],

113:5″And from the evil of the envier when he envies.”[6]

Commentary: Muslims are taught what torecite when seeking help from Allah against apparent evils such as black magic, witchcraft and curses. These can come about in different manifestations, but in reality it is only happening by the Permission of Almighty Allah as a test for all of us.
Some explanations:
#1 Notice the words “seek refuge” this implies that only Allah is to be invoked in times of danger or distress.

#2 The “Lord of daybreak” is of course, Allah, as He is the Lord who created every single day.

#3 Next verse is clear, evil exists and it can only come from Allah, as He is the only One with the Power to Create anything. He is Good and He is Pure in every aspect, yet He did create evil, although He is not evil. Again, this was a part of His creation just as sickness and disease is, a test for humanity.

#4 The “overshadowing darkness” can apply to the approach of night or the moon’s light as it goes out of sight. Darkness is something compared in Quran to being lost or not on the right path.

#5 “Blowing on knots” is a part of what people who practice this evil art do when making curses on someone. They tie a piece of string or rope with a knot, utter some evil words or incantation and then blow upon the knot to place the curse there.

#6 Envy is forbidden in Islam just as it was in previous revelations (Old Testament – last two commandments). This is one of the worst types of evil as it is so easy for it to exist and difficult to spot it coming. All of us could fall into this evil practice if we are not careful.

Yet all of this is really from Allah as a test for those who practice black magic as well as those who are afflicted with it.Therefore, the actual believe in this according to Islam does not mean Muslims should participate in it, nor should they seek help from the magicians. Rather we should all ask only Allah.

Advise: Have your friend explain exactly what he thinks you did or said to cause this problem. Then have him write to me or read this email. He could simply recite the verses above (In Arabic) as well as the next and the preceding chapters (Al Insaan and Al Ikhlaas) and the verse in surah Baqarah called “Ayatul Kursee” (verse of the chair), 2:255.