Incantations and Amulets

Note:The term 'incantations' is used throughout the book to refer to a recitation formula for healing, whereas 'amulet' is the written formula for the same purpose.

Question:

There are some people who write amulets for sick, insane, and psychiatric patients including in them parts of the Qur'an and Sunnah. We never vouch for the sound creed of such people. We advised them against doing so, but they refused to listen saying: "We write only what is in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, which is not prohibited." Some of these amulets are worn by the patients themselves, or by an impure woman such as menstruating woman, or a woman in her postnatal, or an insane, an under age child who doesn't know how to clean himself. Is this permissible?

Answer:

The Prophet permitted incantations with Qur'anic recitation, and supplications, as long as they do not include Shirk, or meaningless words. Muslim narrated in his Sahih that Auf bin Malik said: We used to use incantations in pre-Islamic era, so we asked the Messenger of Allah: "What formula should we recite for that purpose?" He said:
"Let me hear what you say. There is no harm in incantations as long they do not include Shirk in them.

Scholars are unanimously agreed on the permissibility of incantations provided they meet the above condition, and believing that it has no effect without the Will of Allah.

It is rather, Shirk according to the Hadith which is narrated by Imam Ahmad in which Imran bin Husain, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet saw a man wearing a copper bangle on his arm, and he asked him:
"What is this?»

He said: "I am wearing it for cephalic weakness." The Prophet said:
«Remove it, for it will not increase you in anything except weakness, and if you should die while you are wearing it, you
would never be successful. In another version narrated by Ahmad, the Prophet said:
"He who wears an amulet commits Shirk".

It is also narrated by Ahmad and others that Ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said: I heard the Messenger of Allah saying:
«Verily, icantations amulets and Tiwalah! are Shirk.

If the worn amulet contains Qur'anic words, then it is, prohibited according to the preponderant opinion for three reasons:

The general prohibition of wearing any kind of amulets according to the Prophetic traditions with no exception.

Leaving no excuse for wearing amulets that contain other than Qur'anic formulas.

Amulets that are worn are usually subject to disrespect by taking them into washrooms, or wearing them during an intercourse or the like.

As for writing a Surah or a Verse on a slate or on a sheet, and washing the writing with water and saffron, to drink that water, for the hope of gaining blessings, knowledge, wealth, good health, or the like, we have never heard that such was done by the Prophet for himself or for someone else. He neither permitted any of his Companions to do so, nor did he give the permission to his Ummah to do so, even though the needs for doing so are existent.

Based on the above, it is better to avoid doing so, and be content with what is authentically approved of incantations of Qur'anic recitation, the beautiful Names of Allah, the authentic supplications, or the like, whose meaning are clear and they are free from the blemishes of Shirk.

One should seek nearness to Allah by doing only the permissible things for the hope of gaining reward, relief, and gaining beneficial knowledge. This should be sufficient, and he who is content with what Allah has legitimized, Allah renders him free from the need of someone else. It is only Allah Who grants success.

Source:
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 1 Pages 34-35-36-37