What is the ruling on practicing sorcery and going to sorcerers? Are their works real or lies and delusions? What is the punishment for the doer?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

Sorcery is a major sin that brings the Wrath of Allaah. It might even be considered apostasy and an act of disbelief, depending on the condition of its perpetrator, as clarified in Fatwa 90225.

Ahlus-Sunnah and most scholars are of the opinion that magic is a fact. However, the majority of the scholars hold the opinion that magic and sorcery do not change the facts, rather they change the way facts are perceived and seen. Therefore it becomes a kind of sickness. This is mentioned by Al-Baghawi who stated that the practice of sorcery is disbelief.

It is said that sorcery affects the hearts and vision of people, i.e. it turns humans into donkeys and donkey into dogs, although the correct view is that all of these are mere illusions. Allaah Says (what means): {Because of their sorcery they imagine them moving about} [Quran 20:66]

In fact, magic affects bodies, causing sickness, death or madness. Indeed, words have an impact on human nature and souls. For example, someone may hear bad news or insults, after which he becomes furious, angry, afflicted with fever or might even die as a result.  It can be similar to the illnesses and disease that affects the body.

It should be noted that it is prohibited to go to sorcerers, astrologers or those who claim the knowledge of the unseen. This is because the Prophet said that if a person goes to a diviner and asks him for anything, his prayers will not be accepted for 40 days. [Ahmad and Muslim] In another narration, the Prophet said that the person who goes to a soothsayer or a diviner and believes in what he tells him, then this means that he disbelieves in the Message which was revealed on  Muhammad . [Ahmad]

As for going to a Shaykh who uses Ruqyah, it is a permissible means of treatment, as stated in Fatwa 88660.

For further benefit about the signs that distinguish between a Ruqyah-therapist and other sorcerers, please refer to Fatwa 89926.