The Nature of Magic and Its Effect on the Prophet

Question

What is magic? Was magic performed against the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him?

Answer (English translation)

Answer: Magic has many forms. Some involve knots and blowing upon them, as Allah, exalted is He, says, 'And from the evil of those who blow upon knots' [al-Falaq 113:4]. Other forms involve particular substances and particular acts that the magician prepares and performs until his purpose is achieved, by the permission of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. As He says, 'They do not harm anyone through it except by Allah's permission' [al-Baqarah 2:102].

Magicians have many methods involving knots and the harm they seek to inflict on the person subjected to magic. Its effects may occur, by Allah's permission and decree, or may not occur. It is subject to Allah's permission and will, exalted is He.

Magic was performed against the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Labid ibn al-A'sam, a Jewish man, performed magic against him, so that he imagined he had done something in his home when he had not done it. However, it did not affect his reason or his conveyance of the message and his mission. It had only a slight effect concerning matters of his home, his family and similar things. This is the correct view. It is established from the Prophet in authentic hadiths and accepted by the scholars. Some writers who have denied it are mistaken. It did occur, but Allah removed it from him and disclosed its causes to him until it was brought to an end.