What is Sihr (magic) in Islam?

Sihr in Islam refers to forbidden magic or sorcery, which involves seeking the aid of devils (shayatin) or jinn to cause harm or create illusions. According to the Quran (2:102) and scholarly consensus from authorities like Ibn Kathir, practicing or learning Sihr is a major sin and an act of disbelief (kufr).

Is magic real according to the Quran?

Yes, Islam affirms that magic (Sihr) is real and can have an effect, but only by the permission of Allah. Quran 2:102 details how magic can be used to cause discord, such as separating a man and his wife, confirming its reality while simultaneously stating its power is entirely subordinate to God's will.

What is the story of the angels Harut and Marut?

According to Quran 2:102, Harut and Marut were two angels sent to Babylon by Allah as a trial for humanity. They taught people magic but always warned them beforehand, 'We are only a trial, so do not disbelieve.' Their purpose was to test people's faith, demonstrating that this knowledge was a temptation leading to disbelief if acted upon.

Magic (Sihr) in Islam: Quranic Prohibition and Divine Trial

magic

Explore Verses Related to magic

🕌Al-Baqarah2:102

At a Glance

According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, Magic (السحر - al-Sihr) is a forbidden reality that involves seeking the aid of hidden forces, such as devils (shayatin) and jinn, to cause harm, create illusions, or manipulate reality. The definitive Quranic passage, Surah Al-Baqarah verse 102, establishes that Sihr was taught by devils as an act of disbelief (kufr). Ibn Kathir's tafsir clarifies that Prophet Sulayman (Solomon) was free from this practice, and it was the devils who spread it. Al-Qurtubi and Al-Tabari concur that the verse details a divine trial in Babylon through two angels, Harut and Marut, who taught this knowledge but always with the explicit warning: 'We are only a trial, so do not disbelieve.' This scholarly consensus confirms that learning or practicing Sihr is a major sin that severs one's connection to Allah and results in a complete loss of any share in the Hereafter.

📖 Quranic Context

Presented as a major sin, an act of disbelief (kufr), and a practice taught by devils (shayatin) to cause harm and discord.

Strictly forbidden as it involves seeking help from beings other than Allah, such as jinn and devils, and represents a rejection of divine guidance.

References: Primarily detailed in 2:102, with other mentions in contexts like the story of Prophet Musa (Moses) and Pharaoh's magicians.

💭 Theological Perspective

A great trial (fitnah) that tests a person's faith and reliance on Allah alone.

Associated with deception, illusion, and causing real harm to people's minds, bodies, and relationships, particularly separating spouses.

Explicitly warned against as a path that leads to loss in the Hereafter, with no share of divine reward.

Learning or practicing magic is considered an act of disbelief that nullifies faith. Protection against it is sought through faith, prayer, and recitation of the Quran.

📜 Hadith Perspective

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) listed magic (Sihr) as one of the seven great destructive sins.

prohibition of visiting soothsayers and magicians
methods of protection (Ruqyah) using Quranic verses
punishment for magicians

Universal agreement among all major schools of Islamic law that practicing magic is unequivocally haram (forbidden), with many scholars ruling it as an act of apostasy.

💎 Deeper Insights

Search grounding reveals a profound concept in 2:102: the angels Harut and Marut didn't just teach a subject; their very existence and mission *was* the test. Their statement, 'We are only a trial (fitnah),' means their presence itself was the temptation. Unlike a normal teacher who is separate from their subject, the angels embodied the test. This insight, synthesized from Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, shows that interacting with them for this knowledge was, by definition, engaging in the trial and failing it by choosing disbelief.

— Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurtubi

Cross-verse synthesis highlights a critical distinction: magic causes 'separation between a man and his wife,' yet its power is nullified 'except by permission of Allah.' This reveals a 'Spiritual Sovereignty Principle': while Allah allows the secondary cause (magic) to function as a test, He retains ultimate control. Ibn Kathir explains this means no magician can harm anyone unless it aligns with Allah's universal will and foreknowledge. This gem provides immense comfort, reframing magic from an independent evil power to a subordinate phenomenon completely governed by divine decree.

— Ibn Kathir, Consensus of Ahlus-Sunnah