Salam alaikum,my husband uses black soap gotten from so called mallams for protection,he brings papers that are wrapped and tighed with rope,he also brings papers that something like Arabic is written on it but they are not readable. Now he and his mum are forcing me to use the soap to bath our child. I disagree but they said I must use it. I even tried to enlighten them but they refused. I reported to people that talked to them but no changes. What can I do? Can I leave the marriage? Am scared for my self and my child's future.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is impermissible to use that soap or those papers, the use of which is claimed to provide protection (against evils). This is because using them with such a belief takes the ruling of wearing amulets that are hung for the purpose of protection, which is prohibited under the Sharee‘ah. Before Islam, the Arabs believed amulets to be means of protection against predestination and death, and sought to ward them off by such amulets. They resorted to other than Allah, The Exalted, to ward off evils, while it is Allah Alone Who is Able to ward them off, so it is as if they associated partners to Him with regard to His Decrees and the time of death He appointed for His Slaves and regarding the afflictions that befall them. None can repel the Decree of Allah and He has no partners – Glorified and Exalted be He – in what He Decrees.

If the things you mentioned in the question are used for that purpose, then they take the ruling of amulets, and it is impermissible to use them. Shaykh Ibn Baaz said: “Amulets refer to all that is hung on the bodies of young children and sick persons, such as trinkets, seashells, rags, and papers on which some talismans or unknown words are inscribed, and the same applies to the ones bearing Quranic verses, according to the most likely correct opinion of scholars. All of these items are called amulets or charms, and they are all prohibited. Rather, they fall into the category of minor Shirk (associating partners with Allah) as evidenced by the relevant Hadeeth; the Prophet said: “Incantations, amulets, and Tiwalah (love-charms) are all Shirk.” [Ahmad; and Abu Daawood with a Hasan chain of narration] He also said: “Whoever wears an amulet, may Allah not fulfill his need; whoever wears a seashell, may Allah not give him peace; and whoever wears an amulet has committed Shirk.” Ibraaheem ibn Yazeed An-Nakha‘i, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “They – i.e. the students of ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood – held that all amulets, whether those that contain verses from the Quran or otherwise, are disliked, in a sense that denotes prohibition […] What I mentioned is the chosen opinion of well-versed researching scholars regarding the amulets bearing Quranic verses. However, if the amulets bear non-Quranic writings, then there is no disagreement among the scholars regarding their prohibition due to the mentioned evidence.” [End of quote]

Our advice to the sister who sent this question is to strive in advising her husband, reminding him of Allah, The Exalted, and warning him of the gravity of using such amulets. If he insists on forcing her to use them, she has the right to ask for divorce and separate from him; there is no good in staying with him (in this case).

Allah Knows best.