Can a bewitched person read Quran and perform the five prayer?

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.

Practicing magic is forbidden. It is one of the seven fatal grave major sins and goes against sound faith.

This question has three probabilities:

First, the questioner is asking about whether the bewitched person can perform prayers and read Quran or not, or about whether the acts of worship are obligatory for the bewitched person or not, or about whether these acts will be valid and effective or not.

Answering the first probability, we say that there are many types and levels of magic. Some of these types can lead the person to the extent of losing his mind or to physical weakness. This can make him unable to perform prayers, read Quran, or do any act of worship. Unlike some other kinds which do not prevent him from doing the acts of worship.

As for the obligation of these acts of worship for the bewitched, we say that if he has a sound mind, then prayer and similar acts of worship will be obligatory for him. As for reading Quran, it will not be obligatory for him except what is necessary for the validity of the prayer such as Al-Faatihah.

However, if he lost his mental abilities, then he would be like the insane person i.e. he would not be held accountable for his deeds. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Three kinds of people will not be held accountable: The sleeping person until he wakes up, the insane person until he comes to his senses and the minor until he grows up.” [Ahmad, Abu Daawood, An-Nassa’i, At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah]

As for the validity of his prayers and reciting the Quran, we say that they are valid. Rather, performing prayers is obligatory for him as long as he has a sound mind.

Allaah Knows best.