The Ruling Concerning Posing Questions to the Fortune-tellers and Soothsayers

Question:

My father suffered from a psychological disease. This disease stayed with him for some time. There were visits to the hospital during that time. Some of our relatives advised us to visit a specific women as they said that she knew a cure for that kind of disease. They also said all you need to do is give her his name and she will tell you what is afflicting him and will give you a cure. Is it allowed for us to visit that women? Help us, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:

It is not allowed to either put questions to or to believe in that women or any other like her. This is because she is from the fortune-tellers and soothsayers, who claim to have knowledge of the unseen and who seek the help of the jinn for their cures and their information about people. It has been authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam) said,
"If a person goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights.”

Muslim recorded this in his Sahih. It is authentically narrated that he said,

"Whoever goes to a fortune-teller or a soothsayer and believes in what he says, he has then disbelieved in what has been revealed to Muhammed (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam).”

There are many Ahadith with that meaning. Therefore, it is a must to stop such people and those who visit them. They should not be questioned nor should they be believed. They should be taken to the people in authority in order to receive the punishment they deserve. Allowing them to be present and not taking them to the authorities harms society as a whole. Leaving them would also help them in deceiving the ignorant people, who will ask them questions and believe in them.

The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam) said : "If anyone of you sees an evil, he must change it with his hand. If he is not able to, then he should do so with his tongue. And if he still not able to, then with his heart and that is the weakest of faith.”

This was recorded by Muslim in his Sahih. There is no doubt that taking them to the authorities, such as the mayor of the city, the people whose job it is to enforce right and eradicate evil, and the courts, is part of the general concept of removing them by one’s tongue. It is also part of helping another in righteousness and piety. May Allah support all the Muslims in that which is best for them and protect them from every evil.

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