The Ruling Concerning Washing with Blood

Question:

My mother was ill and she visited a numbers of hospitals but without cure. Finally, she went to a soothsayer who told her to wash herself with the blood of a goat. My mother actually did what he said, being ignorant of the religious ruling concerning such. Is there some expiation that we must perform and, if so, what is it? May Allah reward you with what is best.

Answer:

It is not allowed to go to soothsayers, astrologers, magicians or any other kind of charlatans. It is also not allowed to either put questions to or to believe them. Indeed, that is one of the greatest sins, since the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam) said,
"If a person goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about anything, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights."

Recorded by Muslim in his Sahih. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam) also 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)."

This was recorded by the compilers of the Muslim Sunan with an authentic chain. Finally, the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam) also said,

"He is not one of us: who performs magic, the one who has magic performed on him, the one who reads fortunes, the one who has his fortune read, whoever gives omens or has omens done for him. And whoever goes to a soothsayer and believes in what he has said has disbelieved in what has been revealed to Muhammed (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam)."

Recorded by al-Bazaar with a good chain.

As for washing with blood that is a clearly rejected act. Blood is an impure, forbidden object. It is not allowed to use impure items as medicine. This is based on what Abu Dawud recorded in his Sunan from Abu al-Darda, that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam) said,

"Allah has descended the illness and its remedy. And for every illness, He has created its remedy. Therefore, use medicines for each other but do not use anything forbidden as a remedy."

The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam) also said,

"Allah did not place your cures in what He has forbidden for you."

Recorded by al-Baihaqi. Ibn Hibban has declared it authentic, from the hadith narrated by Umm Salama.

It is obligatory on the aforementioned women to repent to Allah and not to repeat a similar action like the one she did. Whoever sincerely repents, Allah returns back to him. Allah has said, "And all of you repent to Allah, O Believers, that you may be successful ." (Surah al-Nur 24:31)