I have a problem with someone I know, who says there is a kind of magic in the religion which is not prohibited by God calls Sir al-Harf I know is that any kind of magic is prohibited, but he says I am wrong and that this magic is completely allowed, that not everyone has it, it is a secret between people having great knowledge in Islam and Qur'an.

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.

Magic is among the major sins, Allah Says (what means): {… but the devils disbelieved, teaching men magic …} [Quran 2: 102]

This is evidence that major is Kufr (disbelief). Allah made it evident that the devils have disbelieved.

Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said: “Avoid the seven great destructive sins”. They (the people) asked, “O Allah's Apostle! What are they?” He said, “To join partners in worship with Allah; to practice sorcery; to kill the life which Allah has forbidden except for a just cause (according to Islamic law); to eat up usury (Riba), to eat up the property of an orphan; to give one's back to the enemy and flee from the battlefield at the time of fighting, and to accuse chaste women who never even think of anything touching chastity and are good believers.”

So, it is prohibited for the Muslim to seek the help of magicians for their treatment. If the Muslim needs some treatment, it is enough for him to resort to the supplications in Quran and sound Sunnah. Allah Says (what means): {And We send down from the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism and act on it)…} [Quran 17: 82]

Besides, the Prophet said: “Seek treatment, O, Slaves of Allah! Indeed Allah has not sent down any illness except that He has sent down a cure for it except one illness that is death.” [Ahmad]

As for Sir al-Harf, it is a kind of magic that enables the person to use the Jinn, to treat some ill people and to cause some others to get sick. It can also be used to kill someone, cause separation between a husband and a wife or to make someone love someone else… etc.

It is widespread among the corrupt Sufis and they call it “science”. They even wrote books on it and whoever reads these can testify that it is nothing but ugly magic.

Ibn Arabi, one of the Sufis who strayed, said: “The letters are nations that are ordered like all other nations. Some of them are Prophets and they are (A D R W) and some of them are scholars …”

These magicians mention in their books “Sir al-Harf” ways of killing some people or splitting a wife and her husband. They explain these ways in detail. Then they tell you to be pious, fear Allah and not to do this as it is Kufr. This is the work of people who went out of Islam by calling to corruption and deviation, and when they get into difficulty they say: “We warned people from these things”. This is untrue and nonsense. In fact, the person who explains Kufr in details and tells people how to do it cannot be considered as a warner. He is indeed a caller to it and his mentioning in the end that one should beware of applying such things does not change the rule.

Do not get deceived by their using some verses of the Quran or writing some Attributes of Allah around such letters. This is nothing but mockery of these sacred things in order to deceive people. Following is an example of what these people suggest in order to disunite a couple claiming that it is from the secrets of the Quran: “To disunite a couple write this … on the last Saturday of the month. Then put it in woodland. Seal it. Bury it under the threshold of the person you want to harm." Add some scent, some myrrh, some onion, skin and some garlic skin.” “This is what they suggest one should write: The sun has turned upside down: As if they were frightened (wild) donkeys, until the camel goes through the eye of the needle (which is impossible). By the winds (or angels or the Messengers of Allah) sent forth one after another. O Allah cause disunity between such and such …” This is pure magic. As Allah Says (what means): {… And from these (angels) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife…} [Quran 2: 102]

As for the person who practices magic, he should be advised and warned. If he accepts to change that is what is intended. Otherwise, one should desert him and warn others against him.

Allah Knows best.