DUA FOR COUNTERING MAGIC AS THOUGHT BY OUR BELOVED IMAMS (A.S)

Many jurists are of the opinion that countering one magic spell by another is permitted. If an imposter claims prophethood by performing magical tricks; magic can be used to expose his falsehood. Or if a sorcerer casts a spell on someone or binds him, it is permitted to break this spell and unbind the victim with the help of magic.

It is related that Isa bin Shaqfi came to Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) and said,

 “May my life be sacrificed for you, I am a magician and magic is my occupation. With the earnings of magic I have even performed the Hajj and now the Almighty has honoured me by your meeting but now I am regretful of my deeds; is there any way I can achieve salvation? 

Imam (a.s.) said, “Untie and do not tie.” 

The apparent meaning of Imam’s remark is that he can use his powers to counteract the magical spells of others magicians but he must not himself initiate sorcery.  Initially invocations and amulets must be tried to nullify magical spells.

Let us look at a couple of such incidents in the book Bihār al-Anwār.
A person came to Amir ul-Mu’minīn ‘Ali (a.s.) and complained that a spell has been cast on him. ‘Ali (a.s.) told him to write the following Du’a on the skin of deer and keep it with him so that the spell may not affect him:

بِسْمِ اللهِ ِبسْمِ الله وَما شَاءَ اَللهُ ِبسْمِ اللهِ لاَحَوْلَ ولاَقُوَّةَ اِلاَّ بِااللهِ قًََالَ مُوْس

ٰ

ماَ جئْتُمْ بِه السَّحْرَ اِنَّ اللهَ سَيُبْطِلُة اِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يُصْلحُ عَمَلَ الْمُفْسِدِيْنَ فَوَقََعَ الْحَقُّ وَ بَطَلَ ماَ كَانُوْأ

يَعْمَلُوْنَ فَغُلِبُوْا هُنَالِكَ وَ انْقَلَبُوْا صَاغِرِيْنَ .

In the Name of Allah and by Allah. In the Name of Allah and as Allah willed. In the Name of Allah. There is no power or might except by Allah. Musa (a.s.) said Allah shall soon falsify the magic of those who have come with magic. Indeed Allah does not improve the affairs of transgressors. Then the truth became manifested and falsified what they had done. The truth triumphed and they were disgraced.

Moreover he advised reciting the following Du’a seven times to safeguard against magic and the tyranny of the ruler. The same Du’a can be recited seven times after Salāt al-Shab and before the morning prayers. It will protect one from the evils of magic:

بِسْمِ اللهِ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِاَخِيْكَ وَ نَجْعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلُطَانًا فَلاَ يَصِلُوْنَ بِآيَاتِناَ اَنْتُماَ وَ مَنِ اتَّبعَكُمَا الْغَالِبُوْنَ

In the Name of Allah and by the help of Allah. Soon We shall strengthen your hand by your brother. And appoint for you a force. By which their mischief would not harm you. Move ahead with our signs. You and your followers shall triumph.

In the book Qasasul Ulama there is an anecdote of the period of Abbas the Safawid. A Christian king sent a messenger to Abbas with the message that he may be given a chance to debate with Muslim scholars and if he defeats the Muslim scholars they must all accept Christianity. Now the person sent by the Christian king had some powers by which he was able to guess accurately what others held in their fists. The scholars were invited to debate with him and they included Mulla Mohsin Faiz. When the debate began Mulla Mohsin remarked that the Christian king has sent an ordinary man instead of a religious scholar for debate. The envoy brushed the remark aside and told him to hide something in his fist so that he can prove his miraculous powers.

Mulla Mohsin kept the tasbih made of dust from Imam Husain (a.s.)’s grave in his fist and challenged him to guess. The man thought for sometime but kept quiet. When Mulla urged him to speak up he said, “According to my knowledge there is a piece of Paradise soil in your hand but I am astonished as to where it was and how it came into your hands.”
Mulla Mohsin said, “You are correct! It is the dust from the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.) who was the grandson of our Prophet (S). Your statement itself proves that the Imam of Muslims was on the right. Hence, you must accept Islam.”

The Christian followed his conscience and became a Muslim. A very suitable method was employed by the late Mulla Faiz to guide the Christian towards salvation. But it must be kept in mind that even under circumstances like the one described, where the person proved superior to the Christians who had extraordinary powers, it is necessary that the person has the Three necessary qualifications described earlier, otherwise he is nothing but a sorcerer.

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