MAGIC - FORTUNE TELLERS

1) The Holy Qur'an is the living miracle bestowed by Allah upon Prophet Muhammad and this, Allah's Book, was revealed to him through the (Gabriel). Today 1400 years have passed and nobody has been able to change a single letter or produce its imitation, as it is said in the Qur an (See Surah Hijr, V.15:9) and the statement of the Prophet : "Before me, every Prophet was given a miracle and they practised it during their lifetime: e.g., 'Iesa (Jesus) used to cure the sick and make the dead alive, etc., Musa (Moses) was given the stick etc., and I have been given the permanent miracle of the Qur'an till the Hour is established, so I hope that my followers will be more in number than all the other Messengers' as my miracle will last till the Day of Resurrection, and it is a Glorious Book; when anyone reads it, even if he is a pagan, etc., he is convinced that it is produced by none but by the Creator of the heavens and the earth."

2) The splitting of the moon: Narrated Anas, that the Makkans requested Allah's Messenger to show them a miracle, so he showed the splitting of the moon. ( See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.4, Hadith No. 831).

3) The crying of the stem of the date-palm tree in the Prophet's Mosque: Narrated Ibn 'Umar, that the prophet used to deliver his Khutba (religious talk) while leaning against a trunk of a date-palm tree. When he had the pulpit made and used it instead, the trunk started crying and the Prophet went to it, rubbing his hand over it (to stop its crying). (See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.4, Hadith No. 783).

4) The flowing of the water from among the fingers of Allah's Messenger (See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.4, Hadith No. 779.)
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah: I was with the Prophet and the time for the 'Asr prayer became due. We had no water with us except a little which was put in a vessel and was brought to perform ablution. The blessing is from Allah." I saw the water gushing out from his fingers. So the people performed the ablution and drank, and I tried to drink more of that water (beyond my thirst and capacity), for I knew that it was a blessing. The subnarrator said : I asked Jabir, "How many persons were you then?" He replied, " "We were one thousand four hundred men." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.7, Hadith No. 543.)

5) The Prophet's meals used to glorify Allah while he ate, and this glorification was heard by the companions of the Prophet (See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.4, Hadith No. 779).

6) Stones used to greet the Prophet whenever he passed by through the lanes of Makka.

7) The throwing out of a dead body of a Christian by the earth: Narrated Anas: There was a Christian who embraced Islam and read Surat Al-Baqarah and Al-Imran and he used to write the revelation for the Prophet. Later on he reverted to Christianity and used to say, "Muhammad knows nothing but what I have written for him." Then Allah caused him to die and the people buried him but in the morning they found that the earth had thrown out his body. They said, "This is the deed of Muhammad and his companions. They have opened the grave of our companion and took his body out because he ran away from them," so they again dug the grave deeper for him, but in the morning they again found that the earth had thrown the body out. They said, "This is a deed of Muhammad and his companions." So they dug a third grave for him as deep as they could, but in the morning they found that the earth had thrown the body out. Then they believed what had befallen him, was not done by mankind, and they had to leave the body on the ground. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.4, Hadith No. 814).

8) The screening (shading) by the trees, for the Prophet to answer the call of nature.

9) The rising of water in the well at Hudaibiya after it had dried. (See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 4. Hadith No. 777).

10) The increase in the amount of dates in the garden of Jabir bin 'Abdullah after the prophet went round the heaps of dates and invoked Allah for His Blessings. (See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 4, Hadith No. 780).

11) Speaking of the wolf: I has been written that a wolf also spoke to one of the companions of the Prophet near Al-Madina, as narrated in Musnad of Ahmad, Vol.3, Page 83, Musnad Abi Saeed Al-Khudri. Narrated Abi Saeed Al-Khudri: (While a shepherd was amongst his sheep) suddenly a wolf attacked a sheep and took it away. The shepherd chased the wolf and back the sheep. The wolf sat on its tail and addressed the shepherd saying: "Be afraid of Allah, you have taken the provision from me which Allah gave me." The shepherd said: "What an amazing thing! A wolf sitting on its tail speaks to me in the language of a human being." The wolf said: "Shall I tell you something more amazing than this? There is Muhammad (the Messenger of Allah) in Yathrib (Al-Madina) informing the people about the news of the past." Then the shepherd proceeded (towards Al-Madina) driving his sheep till he entered Al- Madina (city) , cornered his sheep to one side and came to Allah's Messenger (Muhammad ) and informed the whole story.

Allah's Messenger ordered for the proclamation of a congregational prayer , then he came out and asked the shepherd to inform the people (about his story) and he informed them. Then Allah's Messenger said: "He (the shepherd) has spoken the truth . By Him (Allah) in Whose Hands my soul is, the Day of Resurrection will not be established till beasts of prey speak to the human beings, and the stick lash and the shoe-laces of a person speaks to him and his thigh informs him about his family as to what happened to them after him. {Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 3, Page 83. Musnad Abi Saeed Al-Khudri}.

12) The Mi'raj: The Ascent of the Prophet to the heavens. (See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, Hadith No. 345 and Vol.5, Hadith No. 227).

13) During a war, the soldiers complained of being thirsty. The Holy Prophet Mohummed (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Him) sent two soldiers to look for some water. They saw a woman on a camel and brought her to the Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Him). After getting the old woman�s permission, Mohummed (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Him) ordered the soldiers to pour the water into a receptacle. A little time later all the soldiers came and filled their water receptacles and skin bags with water. The woman was given some dates and her skin bag of water was filled to the top. Prophet Mohummed (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Him) declared: "Your water has not decreased. Allah Almighty gave us the water."

2. THE MIRACLE OF THE SPLITTING OF THE MOON

Splitting of moon was done by prophet Mohammad (pbuh), is there any proof? If the splitting of the moon had taken place, it would have been known to the whole world and related in all subsequent books of human history, then what are proof?

It was challenged by unbelievers of Makkah to prophet, if he is a really prophet, can he split that shining moon into two. And they will accept him as messenger if he does that. By the will of Allah, he fingered towards the moon and it split into two. Half was seen over Mount. Saffa, and other half was seen over Mount. Kaikaan.

Splitting of the Moon in Quran:- �The Hour has approached, and the moon split. But whenever they see a sign, they turn away and say, �This is evident magic� (Al-Qamar, 54:1-2)

Narrated Abdullah: The moon was cleft asunder while we were in the company of the Prophet, and it became two parts. The Prophet said, Witness, witness (this miracle)." Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 388:

The miracle of the splitting of the moon was demonstrated before a certain gathering who persisted in denial of Muhammad�s Prophethood. As was related by �Adbullah ibn Mas�ud, while they were in Mina� one night, the Prophet split the moon into two by a gesture of his index finger. The halves of the moon appeared one behind the mountain and the other in front of it. Then, the Prophet turned to us and said: �Be witnesses!�¹

However critics say: �If the splitting of the moon had taken place, it would have been known to the whole world and related in all subsequent books of human history�.

Analysis

The splitting of the moon was demonstrated before a certain gathering who contradicted the Prophet Muhammad [(peace be upon him) pbuh] in his cause as an evidence of his Prophethood. It happened momentarily at a time of night when people were all asleep. Also, there were obstacles which prevented the others from seeing it, such as mist, clouds and time-differences between different parts of the world.

In order to remove such clouds of delusions concerning the miracle of the splitting of the moon, heed the following Five Points:

First Point

The extreme stubbornness of the unbelievers in the Hijaz at that time is well-known and is recorded in history. When the Qur�an, however, announced this incident to the whole world through its verse, The moon split, not any of those unbelievers, who denied the Qur�an, dared to contradict it in this announcement. If this incident had not occurred before their eyes, they would certainly have taken this verse as a pretext to attack the Prophet more formidably in his cause. However, neither the biographies of the Prophet, nor the books of history report anything to suggest that they denied the occurrence of this incident. What was reported concerning their reaction is as the verse records: They say, �This is evident magic�.

The unbelievers declared the event to be magic, and they added further that if the caravans in other places had seen it, it truly happened, otherwise the Prophet bewitched them. When, however, the caravans coming the following morning from the Yemen and other places announced that they had witnessed the event, the unbelievers showed their usual reaction, saying,-God forbid!-�The magic of Abu Talib�s orphan has affected even the heavens!�

The majority of the foremost scholars of meticulous research such as Sa�d al-Din al-Taftazani concluded that like the flowing of water from the fingers of the Prophet, upon him be peace, and his satisfying the thirst of a whole army with that water, and the grieving of the dry wooden pole-against which the Prophet used to lean while delivering sermons-because of its separation from him, and its being heard by a whole congregation, the splitting of the moon, too, is mutawatir, that is, it has been transmitted by one truthful group at each period to another, forming such a vast community that their agreement on a lie is inconceivable.

Prophet�s miracle was to prove by Allah of Mohammad (pbuh) of Prophethood and to convince deniers, not to compel belief. Therefore, every miracle had to be, and was, manifested to convince those who heard the claim of Prophethood by prophet. So, if they had been demonstrated in a way that could be seen by the whole world or would compel everyone to believe, this would have been contrary both to the wisdom of the All-Wise and the Divine purpose for creating man with free will, and sending religion, which entails that the ground be prepared for the mind�s acceptance without the power of choice being annulled.

If, then, the All-Wise Creator had, because materialist philosophers fancy it so, left the moon split for one or two hours in order that it would be seen by the whole world and recorded in all books of human history, then it would have been no more than other astronomical events, without having been special to the Messengership of Muhammad (pbuh), and an evidence of his Prophethood. Or, it would have been such an obvious miracle that everyone would have felt compelled to believe for there would have been left for the will no way but to accept belief in him. That is why the miracle of the splitting of the moon was not shown to the whole world to be recorded in all books of human history.

Fourth Point

Some unreasoning opponents argue that if that incident had taken place, in would have been mentioned in the histories of such nations as the Chinese, the Japanese and Americans. How could they have witnessed it, given that, when this event happened, in addition to other obstacles, it was barely sunset in such European countries as Spain, France and England, which were then enveloped in mists of ignorance, daytime in America and morning in China and Japan

The splitting of the moon is not an ordinary incident which happened either due to particular causes or randoming so that it should be criticized from the viewpoint of the law of cause and effect. Rather, the All-Wise Creator of the sun and the moon made it happen as an extraordinary event in order to confirm the Prophethood of His Messenger and to support him in his claim. Therefore, it was shown as a convincing proof to certain people specified by Divine Wisdom because, as stated above, the nature of Divine guidance and human responsibility, and the purpose for raising a Messenger required it to be so. If it had not been concealed from the eyes of those who were not intended to see it and who had not yet heard the Prophethood of Muhammad due to some obstacles such as fog, clouds and time-differences, and if had occurred according to the law of cause and effect, then it would have been an ordinary astrological event, not a miracle peculiar to and connected with the Messengership of Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings.

In conclusion, these arguments must be enough for any mind to be convinced of the possibility that the splitting of the moon occurred;

now out of many evidences of its occurrence, we shall mention only six which have the strength of a six-fold consensus:

The Companions of the Prophet, who were all men of justice and truthfulness, concurred upon its occurrence.

All of the exacting interpreters of the Quran have agreed that the verse, The moon split indicates to the splitting of the moon with a gesture of Muhammad�s fingers, upon him be peace and blessings.

All the truthful Traditionists narrated this incident through various authentic channels of transmission.

All the men of truth and sainthood, men of inspiration and spiritual discovery have borne testimony to the occurrence of this incident. All the foremost theologians whose way differ greatly from each other and all the learned scholars have nevertheless agreed in their confirmation of this event.

The Community of Muhammad (pbuh), who, as established by an authentic Prophetic tradition, never agree on an error, have accepted on its occurrence.

Excerpted, with some modifications, from: http://www.mohammad-pbuh.com/3/moonsplit.htm

3 .QURANIC IS A LIVING MIRACLE

There are many verses which are in Quran which specifies some scientific facts, never known at the time of prophet Mohammed (pbuh). These verses were from God so if we find those verses verified scientifically during last century, proves that all verses are not by prophet himself as he knew not before. It is therefore a miraculous verses spoken to mankind and proved now. Quran is therefore a living miracle. Folllowing are some miraculous facts.

The Quran, is itself a living miracle as it has remained in its original language and manuscript since its revelation fifteen centuries ago, which is not true for any other scriptures. No additions, alterations, interpolations or deletion has been detected from the first compilation in the time of Khalifa Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). God, has got it preserved by His own way. Even you burn all Qurans existing nowadays, it can be rewritten without any difficulty as it is stored in millions of Muslim�s heart. Many people at the time of prophet tried to make some verses like Quran, but they could not make it the way Allah has revealed.

"Or do they say, "He (Muhammad) forged it"? Say: "Bring then a Surah like unto it, and call (to your aid) anyone you can, besides Allah, if it be ye speak the truth! " (Younus 10:38)

And Allah has kept its safe miraculously, and Allah himself ays about it. This assurance has not been given for Taurah and Bible.

�Surely We have revealed the Reminder and We will most surely be its guardian� (Al-Hijr 15:9)

Each Prophet was wisely selected by Allah in order to be the best person for the job. He was then provided by Allah with miracles as proof of his truthfulness and his message. These miracles were wisely selected by Allah in order to be in the same field as that which these people excelled in so that they could fully comprehend the magnitude of these miracles.

For instance, the people during the time of Moses excelled at magical trickery. Their rulers used to surround themselves with the most powerful of these wizards as a sign of power. This is why Allah made the miracles of Moses (as) similar to their magical trickery (changing a stick into a snake, parting of the sea... etc.) but of a much greater magnitude than anything they could ever hope to accomplish. For they were not tricks, but actual physical miracles.

The people at the time of the Prophet Jesus (as) excelled in matters of medicine. For this reason, his miracles were of a medical nature (raising of the dead, healing of the blind...etc.), but of a degree that they could never hope to imitate.

Similarly, one of the major miracles of Islam was a new and unheard-of type of literature similar to the Bedouin's poetry but far beyond anything they could ever hope to match. Although they did indeed try. This new literature was called "The Quran."

The Arabic language, as can be attested to by any of it's scholars, is a very rich and powerful language. The Arabian Bedouins took great pains to make their poetry as compact and picturesque as humanly possible, constantly expanding the language along the way. A single word could convey complete pictures. The Quran, however, has put even these great efforts to shame. You will notice that when a Muslim translates a verse of the Quran he usually does not say "the Quran says so and so" but rather "An approximation of the meaning of what the Quran says is so and so." You really need to know the language to comprehend this.

When Muhammad (saws) first became the prophet of Islam, he presented his people with a challenge: "compose a literary work on a par with this Quran that I have brought you and you will prove that I am a liar." They could not. The Quran continued to reduce it's challenge until the challenge finally became: "compose only a single verse comparable to this Quran and you will have won." They still could not. This in addition to the fairness, justice, and logic of the Quran eventually won them over and slowly more and more people became Muslims.

Many claims have been made against Muhammad (saws) in that day and this. Among them are the claims that he was a lunatic, a liar, or deceived by the devil. If Muhammad (saws) was a lunatic or a liar then we have to wonder how all of his prophesies came true?. Further, if he was a deceived by Satan then we are faced with another problem. For we know that all Muslims are taught that when reading the Quran to first begin with the words "I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the accursed one." and then follow this up with the words "In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful" So, we have to wonder if Satan would "inspire" a man to teach mankind to seek refuge in God from Satan?

It has been the case throughout the ages that with all previous Prophets, their miracle was separate from their book. Although we may claim that we have the "Torah" of Moses, still, it is not possible now to bring Moses' (as) staff and see it perform miracles as it did in his time. Similarly it is not possible today to see Jesus (as) raise the dead as he did so many centuries ago. However, since the message of Islam was the final message of God to mankind, therefore, the book of Islam itself was made the main miracle of Islam.

Recently, a new field of study has opened up to scholars. People nowadays are fascinated with science. This is the age of technology and scientific discovery. For this reason, mankind has begun to study the religious scriptures of humanity from a scientific point of view in order to challenge the scientific claims made in these scriptures. Many works have been published on this topic.

Muhammad (saws) lived among tribes of illiterate Bedouins and he himself was also illiterate. These people used to live extremely simple lives. Most of them were Nomads who travelled from place to place depending on where they could find grass for their sheep to graze. When Muhammad (saws) brought them the Quran , the believers found in the Quran the command to go out, seek knowledge, and to learn, learn, learn. A few centuries later, once the Islamic nation became firmly established, Muslims began to fulfill this command of the Quran and this resulted in one of the greatest explosions of scientific advancement mankind has ever seen. All of this was going on during a period that the West calls "The Dark Ages," wherein the scientists of the West were being persecuted and killed as sorcerers wizards and witches.

In Quran there is reference of two types of water flowing at one place with different qualities and still they are not mixed. It is discovered now whereas it was told to mankind 1400 years ago. It is mentioned in Sura Ar-Rahman as follows.

مَرَجَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيَان ِ (55:19) بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخٌ لَّا يَبْغِيَانِ (55:20)
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاء رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ (55:21)

"H "He has let free the two bodies of flowing water, meeting together (19)"Between them is a Barrier which they do not transgress (20) Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?� (Ar-Rahmaan 55 : 19 � 21)

Below are the pictorial proof of above facts. Pictures are of sea near Cape Town, South Africa which was discovered in early twentieth century whereas Quran discloses it 1400 years ago. The peculiarity of these two flowing rivers is that although they are flowing in the same sea in that sea but still one of them is severely bitter and the other is sweet.

Quran refers past generations as being more powerful, tall etc. So far there was not such proof of Quranic verses, but recently it has been proved by excavation in Saudi Arabia. Just see the human working on the excavation in comparison with the skull of old human being.

Many diverse subjects are mentioned in the Quran in the course of inviting people to believe. Sometimes the heavens, sometimes animals, and sometimes plants are shown as evidence to man by God. In many of the verses, people are called upon to turn their attention to their own creation. They are often reminded how man came into the world, which stages he has passed through, and what his essence is:

�It is We Who have created you: why will ye not witness the Truth? (57) Do ye then see?- The (human Seed) that ye throw out (58) Do ye create it or are We the Creator?� (Al-Waqia 56:57 - 59)

The creation of man, and the miraculous aspect of this, is stressed in many other verses. Some items of information within these verses are so detailed that it is impossible for anyone living in the 7th century to have known them. Some of these are as follows:

1. Man is not created from the entire semen, but only a very small portion of it (sperm).

People living when the Quran was revealed, to be sure, knew that the basic substance of birth was related to the semen of the male emitted during sexual intercourse. And the fact that the baby was born after a nine-month period was obviously an observable event not calling for any further investigation. However, the items of information just quoted were far above the level of learning of the people living at that time. These were verified by 20th century science.

During sexual intercourse, 250 million sperms are emitted from the male at a time. The sperms undertake an arduous journey in the mother's body until they make it to the ovum. Only a thousand out of 250 million sperms succeed in reaching the ovum. At the end of this five-minute race, the ovum, half the size of a grain of salt, will let only one of the sperms in. That is, the essence of man is not the whole semen, but only a small part of it. This is explained in the Quran :

�Does man think that he will be left uncontrolled, (without purpose)? (36) Was he not a drop of sperm emitted (in lowly form)"? (Al-Qiyamah 75:36 - 37)

As we have seen, the Quran informs us that man is made not from the entire semen, but only a small part of it. That the particular emphasis in this statement announces a fact only discovered by modern science is evidence that the statement is divine in origin.

The semen is ejected into the uterus. Only very few sperms out of 250 million sperms emitted from the male can make it to the ovum. The sperm that will fertilize the egg is the only one out of a thousand sperms that have managed to survive. The fact that man is made not from the entire semen, but only a small part of it, is related in the Quran with the expression, "a drop of ejected semen".

The fluid called semen, which contains the sperms, does not consist of sperms alone. On the contrary, it is made up of a mixture of different fluids. These fluids have different functions, such as containing the sugar necessary for providing energy for the sperms, neutralizing the acids at the entrance of the uterus, and creating a slippery environment for the easy movement of the sperms.

Interestingly enough, when semen is mentioned in the Quran, this fact, which was discovered by modern science, is also referred to, and semen is defined as a mixed fluid:

"We created man from a mingled drop to test him, and We made him hearing and seeing." (Al-Insan 76:2)

In another verse, semen is again referred to as a mixture, and it is stressed that man is created from the "extract" of this mixture:

�He Who has made everything which He has created most good: He began the creation of man with (nothing more than) clay (7) And made his progeny from a quintessence of the nature of a fluid� (As- Sajdah 32:7 - 8)

The Arabic word "sulala", translated as "extract", means the essential or best part of something. By either implication, it means "part of a whole". This shows that the Quran is the word of a Will that knows the creation of man down to its slightest detail. This Will is God, the Creator of man.

Until fairly recently, it was thought that a baby's sex was determined by the mother's cells. Or at least, it was believed that the sex was determined by the male and female cells together. But we are given different information in the Quran, where it is stated that masculinity or femininity is created out of "a drop of sperm which has been ejected".

"He has created both sexes, male and female (45) from a drop of semen which has been ejected." (An-Najm 53:45 - 46)

In the Quran, it is said that masculinity or femininity are created out of "a drop of semen which has been ejected". However, until fairly recently, it was believed that a baby's sex was determined by the mother's cells. Science only discovered this information given in the Quran in the 20th century. This and many other similar details about the creation of man were stated in the Quran centuries ago.

The developing disciplines of genetics and molecular biology have scientifically validated the accuracy of this information given by the Quran. It is now understood that sex is determined by the sperm cells from the male, and that the female has no role in this process.

The Y chromosome carries characteristics of masculinity, while the X chromosome carries those of femininity. In the mother's egg, there is only the X chromosome, which determines female characteristics. In the semen from the father, there are sperms that includes either X or Y chromosomes. Therefore, the sex of the baby depends on whether the sperm fertilizing the egg contains an X or Y chromosome. In other words, as stated in the verse, the factor determining the sex of the baby is the semen, which comes from the father. This knowledge, which could not have been known at the time when the Quran was revealed, is evidence to the fact that the Quran is the word of God.

Chromosomes are the main elements in determining sex. Two of the 46 chromosomes that determine the structure of a human being are identified as the sex chromosomes. These two chromosomes are called "XY" in males, and "XX" in females, because the shapes of the chromosomes resemble these letters. The Y chromosome carries the genes that code for masculinity, while the X chromosome carries the genes that code for femininity.

The formation of a new human being begins with the cross combination of one of these chromosomes, which exist in males and females in pairs. In females, both components of the sex cell, which divides into two during ovulation, carry X chromosomes. The sex cell of a male, on the other hand, produces two different kinds of sperm, one that contains X chromosomes and the other Y chromosomes. If an X chromosome from the female unites with a sperm that contains an X chromosome, then the baby is female. If it unites with the sperm that contains a Y chromosome, the baby is male.

In other words, a baby's sex is determined by which chromosome from the male unites with the female's ovum.

None of this was known until the discovery of genetics in the 20th century. Indeed, in many cultures, it was believed that a baby's sex was determined by the female's body. That�s why women were blamed when they gave birth to girls.

Thirteen centuries before human genes were discovered, however, the Quran revealed information that denies this superstition, and referred to the origin of sex lying not with women, but with the semen coming from men.

While it is stated in the Quran that it is easy for God to bring man back to life after death, peoples' fingerprints are particularly emphasized:

"Does man (a disbeliever) think that We shall not assemble his bones? (3) Yes, We are able to put together in perfect order the very tips of his fingers." (Al-Qayamah 75:3-4)

Everyone, including identical twins, has a unique fingerprint. In other words, people's identities are coded at their fingertips. This coding system may also be compared to the barcode system that is used today.

The emphasis on fingerprints has a very special meaning. This is because everyone's fingerprint is unique to himself. Every person who is alive or who has ever lived in this world has a set of unique fingerprints.

That is why fingerprints are accepted as a very important proof of identity, exclusive to their owner, and are used for this purpose around the world.

But what is important is that this feature of fingerprints was only discovered in the late 19th century. Before then, people regarded fingerprints as ordinary curves without any specific importance or meaning. However in the Quran, God points to the fingertips, which did not attract anyone's attention at that time, and calls our attention to their importance-an importance that was only finally understood in our day.

THE MIRACLE IN THE IRON

Iron is one of the elements highlighted in the Quran. In Sura Hadid, meaning Iron, we are informed:

"�And We sent down iron in which there lies great force and which has many uses for mankind...." (Al-Hadid 57:25)

Iron was sent down to earth, how, we don�t know. But as we know that it can not be developed by earth itself by any way. Quran is a reminder for all of mankind until the Last Hour.

The word "sent down," particularly used for iron in the verse, could be thought of having a metaphorical meaning to explain that iron has been given to benefit people. But when we take into consideration the literal meaning of the word, which is, "being physically sent down from the sky", we realize that this verse implies a very significant scientific miracle.

This is because modern astronomical findings have disclosed that the iron found in our world has come from the giant stars in outer space. Energy of the early solar system was not sufficient to produce elemental Iron. In calculating the energy required to form one atom of iron, it was found to be about four times as much as the energy of the entire solar system. In other words, the entire energy of the earth or the moon or the planet Mars or any other planet is not sufficient to form one new atom of iron, even the energy of the entire solar system is not sufficient for that. That is why scientists believe that iron is an extraterrestrial that was sent to earth and not formed therein.

The heavy metals in the universe are produced in the nuclei of big stars. Our solar system, however, does not possess a suitable structure for producing iron on its own. Iron can only be produced in much bigger stars than the Sun, where the temperature reaches a few hundred million degrees. When the amount of iron exceeds a certain level in a star, the star can no longer accommodate it, and eventually it explodes in what is called a "nova" or a "supernova". As a result of this explosion, meteors containing iron are scattered around the universe, and they move through the void until attracted by the gravitational force of a celestial body.

All this shows that iron did not form on the Earth, but was carried from exploding stars in space via meteors, and was "sent down to earth", in exactly the same way as stated in the verse: It is clear that this fact could not have been scientifically known in the 7th century, when the Quran was revealed.

Modern Science has discovered that in the places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier between them. This barrier divides the two seas so that each sea has its own temperature, salinity, and density. For example, Mediterranean sea water is warm, saline, and less dense, compared to Atlantic ocean water. When Mediterranean sea water enters the Atlantic over the Gibraltar sill, it moves several hundred kilometers into the Atlantic at a depth of about 1000 meters with its own warm, saline, and less dense characteristics. The Mediterranean water stabilizes at this depth (see figure 13).

Figure 13: The Mediterranean sea water as it enters the Atlantic over the Gibraltar sill with its own warm, saline, and less dense characteristics, because of the barrier that distinguishes between them. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius (C�). (Marine Geology, Kuenen, p. 43, with a slight enhancement.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

Although there are large waves, strong currents, and tides in these seas, they do not mix or transgress this barrier.

The Holy Quran mentioned that there is a barrier between two seas that meet and that they do not transgress. God has said:

�He has set free the two seas meeting together. There is a barrier between them. They do not transgress� (Ar-Rehman 55:19-20)

But when the Quran speaks about the divider between fresh and salt water, it mentions the existence of �a forbidding partition� with the barrier. God has said in the Quran:

�He is the one who has set free the two kinds of water, one sweet and palatable, and the other salty and bitter. And He has made between them a barrier and a forbidding partition� (Al-Furqan 25:53)

One may ask, why did the Quran mention the partition when speaking about the divider between fresh and salt water, but did not mention it when speaking about the divider between the two seas?

Modern science has discovered that in estuaries, where fresh (sweet) and salt water meet, the situation is somewhat different from what is found in places where two seas meet. It has been discovered that what distinguishes fresh water from salt water in estuaries is a �pycnocline zone with a marked density discontinuity separating the two layers.� This partition (zone of separation) has a different salinity from the fresh water and from the salt water (see figure 14).

Figure 14: Longitudinal section showing salinity (parts per thousand �) in an estuary. We can see here the partition (zone of separation) between the fresh and the salt water. (Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, p. 301, with a slight enhancement.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

This information has been discovered only recently, using advanced equipment to measure temperature, salinity, density, oxygen dissolubility, etc. The human eye cannot see the difference between the two seas that meet, rather the two seas appear to us as one homogeneous sea. Likewise, the human eye cannot see the division of water in estuaries into the three kinds: fresh water, salt water, and the partition (zone of separation).

Latest Scientific Research by Dr. Masaru Emoto, head in Haido Institute of Japan. This research also proves the MIRACLEs of TASMIAH (Saying BISMILLAH BEFORE EATING OR DRINKING) and the BARKAAT OF QURANIC VERSES spelled on water. The water was gifted by an Arabian guy to him. He made many researches on that water. Then he also conducted many researches on normal water. Brief of his research is as follows as he described in one lecture in Saudi Arabia:

� There are properties in Zamzam water, which are not available in any water of world.

� One drop of Zamzam, if mixed in thousand of normal water drops, they acquires the same properties.

� The molecular drop of Zamzam has its own peculiarity, which does not match with any other water in the world.

� With many lab test, he found that the properties of Zamzam can not be changed by any mean, and science has no answer for that. Even after recycling, it keeps its properties.

� He also disclosed that Muslims recite �Bismillah� before eating, drinking and all before doing any work, has its effects.

� On any normal water sample, if �Bismillah� is recited on that, it attains a very strange change. In Lab test, water was checked before �Bismillah� and after �Bismillah� recitation, then there were change in its particles. After its recitation particles became just like crystals. The same happened when he got recited other verses of Quran.

� He said that Allah has kept very strange properties of hearing, feeling, memory and accepting environment changes in water. If Quranic verses are recited on water, then it attains quality of curing different diseases.

� He said that every creation of earth, even tress has the quality of accepting environmental changes. Every particle of universe has some kind of sensation, and due to that it remembers its creator.

�Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies All�h�.� (Al-Hadid 57:1)

�He has let free the two bodies of flowing water, meeting together(19)Between them is a Barrier which they do not transgress:� (Ar-Rahmaan 55:19�20)

Although there are large waves, strong currents, and tides in these seas, they do not mix or transgress this barrier.

The Holy Quran mentioned that there is a barrier between two seas that meet and that they do not transgress. God has said:

�He has let free the two bodies of flowing water, meeting together(19)Between them is a Barrier which they do not transgress:� (Ar-Rahmaan 55:19�20)

But when the Quran speaks about the divider between fresh and salt water, it mentions the existence of �a forbidding partition� with the barrier. God has said in the Quran:

�He is the one who has set free the two kinds of water, one sweet and palatable, and the other salty and bitter, and he has made between them a barrier and a forbidding partition� (Al-Furqan 25:53)

One may ask, why did the Quran mention the partition when speaking about the divider between fresh and salt water, but did not mention it when speaking about the divider between the two seas?

Longitudinal section showing salinity (parts per thousand �) in an estuary. We can see here the partition (zone of separation) between the fresh and the salt water. (Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, p. 301, with a slight enhancement.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

�Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?� (Ar-Rahman 55:21)

�It is We Who have created you: why will ye not witness the Truth? (57) Do ye then see?- The (human Seed) that ye throw out (58) Do ye create it or are We the Creator?� (Al-Waqia 56:57-59)

The creation of man, and the miraculous aspect of this, is stressed in many otherverses. Some items of information within these verses are so detailed that it is impossible for anyone living in the 7th century to have known them. Some of these are as follows:

1. Man is not created from the entire semen, but only a very small portion of it (sperm).

�Does man think that he will be left uncontrolled, (without purpose)? (36)Was he not a drop of sperm emitted (in lowly form)"? (Al-Qiyamah 75:36-37)

Interestingly enough, when semen is mentioned in the Quran, this fact, which was discovered by modern science, is also referred to, and semen is defined as a mixed fluid:

"We created man from a mingled drop to test him, and We made him hearing and seeing." (Al-Insan 76:2)

In another verse, semen is again referred to as a mixture, and it is stressed that man is created from the "extract" of this mixture:

"He has created both sexes, male and female (45) from a drop of semen which has been ejected." (An-Najm 53:45-46)

In the Quran, it is said that masculinity or femininity are created out of from a drop of semen which has been ejected." However, until fairly recently, it was believed that a baby's sex was determined by the mother's cells. Science only discovered this information given in the Quran in the 20th century. This and many other similar details about the creation of man were stated in the Quran centuries ago.

In other words, a baby's sex is determined by which chromosome from the male unites with the female's ovum.

While it is stated in the Quran that it is easy for God to bring man back to life after death, peoples' fingerprints are particularly emphasized:

"Does man (a disbeliever) think that We shall not assemble his bones? (3) Yes, We are able to put together in perfect order the very tips of his fingers." (Al-Qayamah 75:3-4)

That is why fingerprints are accepted as a very important proof of identity, exclusive to their owner, and are used for this purpose around the world.

Iron is one of the elements highlighted in the Quran. In SuraHadid, meaning Iron, we are informed:

"�And We sent down iron in which there lies great force and which has many uses for mankind...." (Al-Hadid 57:25)

Iron was sent down to earth, how, we don�t know. But as we know that it can not be developed by earth itself by any way. Quran is a reminder for all of mankind until the Last Hour.

All this shows that iron did not form on the Earth, but was carried from exploding stars in space via meteors, and was "sent down to earth", in exactly the same way as stated in the verse: It is clear that this fact could not have been scientifically known in the 7th century, when the Quran was revealed.

The water was gifted by an Arabian guy to him. He made many researches on that water. Then he also conducted many researches on normal water. Brief of his research is as follows as he described in one lecture in Saudi Arabia:

� There are properties in Zamzam water, which are not available in any water of world.

� One drop of Zamzam, if mixed in thousand of normal water drops, they acquires the same properties.

� The molecular drop of Zamzam has its own peculiarity, which does not match with any other water in the world.

� With many lab test, he found that the properties of Zamzamcan not be changed by any mean, and science has no answer for that. Even after recycling, it keeps its properties.

� He also disclosed that Muslims recite �Bismillah� before eating, drinking and all before doing any work, has its effects.

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4. AULIA: MIRACULOUS POWERS

In the India-Pak region people visit tombs of holy men (Aulias) whom they believe to have personal or spiritual powers called 'karamats'. People who visit these tombs believe that those who are buried in them can give relief or remedy of physical or spiritual illness, or can accomplish other things as well. Is this correct from the Islamic point of view? I found no such practices in the Arabian world, apart from the fact that people visit the Prophet's tomb in Madinah.

Islam does not recognize any powers, miraculous or otherwise, to any dead person, no matter how good or 'holy' he was in his life. For one thing, we cannot judge any person fully. It is only Allah who judges people according to what He knows of their intentions and their actions. No human being can pretend to know the intentions of another. As you realize, it is easy to have wicked intentions behind some action which appears to be good. Apart from this, the Prophet has stated unequivocally that when we die we lose our power to do anything. He says:

"Upon death, man's deeds will (definitely) stop except for three deeds, namely: a continuous charitable fund, endowment or goodwill; knowledge left for people to benefit from; and pious righteous and God-fearing child who continuously prays Allah, the Almighty, for the soul of his parents." (Muslim)

Reading his statements of the Prophet, one is bound to realize that no dead man can relieve or cure an ill person, or be indeed of any benefit to him, apart from the first two ways which the Prophet spelled out. We derive our teachings from the Prophet, not from any other source. This is what Islam requires of us. No one can add to what the Prophet has conveyed to us as Allah's message to mankind. Any addition is thus rejected. I am afraid visits to tombs of 'holy' men with the aim of asking them to exercise their assumed powers is not part of Islam. They cannot be of any benefit whatsoever. All this is innovation which cannot be condoned. When we go to Madinah, we visit the Prophet's Mosque. This is because praying in the Prophet's Mosque earns us for every prayer we offer there the reward of 1,000 prayer offered elsewhere, apart from the Grand Mosque in Makkah. We also greet he Prophet in his grave, acknowledging that he has conveyed to us Allah's message and given us sound advice. We also pray Allah that the Prophet may intercede on our behalf on the Day of Judgment. We do not ask or pray the Prophet to cure our illnesses, because he cannot. Only Allah can cure such illnesses or answer our prayers, whatever they are. I strongly recommend you to forget all about 'holy' men and their special powers, for they have none.

Why is it that many miracles have happened in the Christian Orthodox religion like a long time ago St. Mary appeared to many people above a church in Egypt and many people saw her, and she also appeared in Lebanon etc.... There are also many miracles that happen in the churches. If the Muslim religion is the right one then how come St. Mary appeared over a church and not a mosque? Also the Christian religion was made even before the Muslim religion came along is that true?

The issue of miracles is highly common in what anthropologists and sociologists call Popular Religion. It exists among all religions, including Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Native Americans and African religions, etc. As you know, there are people who do not even believe in God or are pagans who levitate (fly) from one place to another, or walk on fire without being burned, or walk on water without drowning, or insert needles in their body without bleeding. This is still not a reason to confirm the validity of their belief system.

Not only in Christianity, but also in Islam, many people believe to have seen Prophet Muhammad�s grand children, or famous religious leaders who have passed away a long time ago (the same way Mary and Saints appear for Christians). Since you mentioned Egypt and Lebanon, Popular Religion in these two countries is also very common. Actually, many sick Muslims go to Christian Saints gravestones to get "blessed" and cured once they hear of Mary�s appearance, and many Christian sick people come to Muslim gravestones to be "blessed" and cured after certain events.

In the correct Islamic understanding, this doesn�t mean anything because only God cures and not dead people, hence, both groups are wrong to do so. Any person who believes otherwise is actually associating with God and is considered to be doing a great sin. Also, miracle (or what appears to be a miracle among all religions, including Islam) may be a work of the devil to deviate the human beings belief system and actions. The issue of miracles is very interesting to study in an objective manner, and usually takes place in areas where a certain denomination is suffering from certain problems.

Learned scholars from all religions, including Christianity, always distance themselves from such events because they know how much fiction there is in them and more importantly, even if they do occur, how irrelevant they are from the point of the view of the fundamental guidelines of the religion. In addition, Islam tries to downplay miraculous experiences, even among the Muslims, and doesn�t make a big issue out of them. Thats another reason you don�t hear too much about miracles among the Muslims. But if you are interested, pick a book on comparative popular religions, usually written by sociologists and/or anthropologists and/or historians, and you will find literally thousands of cases of such "miracles" among all cultures and religions.

As to your second question, the fact that Christianity came before Islam is not a reason to make it the correct religion. There were literally hundreds of religions, such as Buddhism, Zoroastrism, Hinduism, that came before Christianity, but this doesn�t mean they were correct. Actually, what is correct is the belief of the prophets and messengers of God, like Mohammad, Jesus, Moses, David, Solomon, Ishmael, Isaac, Abraham, Noah, and all other prophets (peace be upon all of them) etc, who were truly believing in the Unity and Oneness of God and preached Monotheism. Actually, Christianity was not founded by Jesus (peace be upon him) but by Paul. The followers of Jesus who stayed in the Middle East at the beginning were actually fought by the Roman church and their belief system was suppressed.

Authentic biblical versions, like the Gospel of Barnabas were rejected. In addition, those who truly understood the Old and New Testaments, were aware that prophet Muhammad was going to continue the message, and thats why, even before Islam came, many Jews and Christians moved to Arabia awaiting the coming of the next prophet who was mentioned in the Bible.

When he came, many people reverted to Islam. We don�t say convert, because faith in the One and Only God is a human instinct. It is parents, societies, and cultures that deviate from the real path. In all cases, this is a long subject. If you need to have any more issues clarified, don�t hesitate to write us. Thank you for asking and God knows best.

There are references in the Qur'an to madness, magic spells, possession by jinn and to the evil eye. There seems to be some sort of differentiation in the Qur'an between madness and the other three. However, as psychiatrists we tend to treat those who are affected by any of these as psychiatric patients.

Could you please throw some light over these matters and give us references from the Qur'an and Hadith to help us study the Islamic point of view in these matters. This will be of immense help to us in understanding our patients and the mentally ill in general.

The first time I read your letter, it came to me as a shock that madness should be grouped with the other three when to someone like me it is totally different. However, I can understand how psychiatrists tend to group these things together. There is nothing in the Qur'an, which suggests that madness can affect a person as a result of a magic spell or an evil spirit. There are references to madness in the Qur'an, but mostly in quoting what disbelievers used to say about prophets, including Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses (peace be on them both and all other prophets).

As for black magic, or using a magic spell to influence someone's behavior or his power of thinking, I have [elsewhere] given a detailed answer to questions on this subject. I have explained that according to Islam, magic has no material presence whatsoever. There are references in the Qur'an to magic mostly with regard to the magicians employed by Pharaoh to try to outbid the miracles of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him). But it is clear in the Qur'an that the work of those magicians was nothing more than mental tricks. Magic cannot produce anything whatsoever.

The encounter between those magicians and Moses is reported in more than one surah, most notably 7 & 20 "Al Aaraf" and "Taha". In the latter surah, you may refer to Verses 57-76. It is clearly stated by Allah that what the magicians produced, using their ropes and staffs, was mere trickery: Their ropes and staffs so appeared to him, by the force of their magic, as if they were moving. In other words, it was all a mental trick. The staffs and ropes did not move.

As for the evil eye, it is a form of envy. In the penultimate surah of the Qur'an entitled "Al-Falaq" or "The Daybreak", the prophet is instructed to seek refuge with his Lord from the evil of envy. As the surah is short we may quote it in full:

"Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak (1) from the evil of what He has created (2) from the evil of darkness when it gathers (3) from the evil of conjuring witches (4) and from the evil of the envious when he envies." (Al-Falaq 113:1 - 5)

In order to explain what the envy may do, it is perhaps useful to quote what the late Sayyid Qutb has written in his priceless work "In the Shade of the Qur'an", when he commented on this surah:

"Envy is the evil begrudging reaction one feels towards another who has received some favors from Allah. It is also accompanied by a very strong desire for the annihilation of such favors. Some harm to the envied may result from such baseless grudges. Now, this may either be the outcome of a direct physical action of the envier or may result from the suppressed feelings alone."

We should try not to feel uneasy on learning that there is countless number of inexplicable mysteries in life. There are several phenomena for which no account has been offered uptil now. Telepathy and hypnosis are examples of such phenomena.

"Very little is known about the mysteries of envy and the little that is known has often been uncovered by chance and coincidence. In any case there is in envy an evil from which the refuge and protection of Allah must be sought. For He, the Most Generous, the Most Merciful and the One who knows all has directed His messenger and His followers to seek His refuge from this evil. It is unanimously agreed by the Islamic schools of thought that Allah will always protect His servants from such evils, should they seek His protection as He has directed them to do.

"Al-Bukhari related that Aisha said that the Prophet would, when getting into bed to sleep, recite: "Say: He is Allah the One..." and "Say: He is the Lord of the Daybreak, ..." and "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of men," (i.e. the last three Surahs of the Qur'an) and blow into both hands; starting with his head, face and front part of his body, he would then run his palms over the rest of his body. He did that three times."

That is what Sayyid Qutb has written on envy and I think it gives you a very clear picture of the Islamic attitude to what is known as the evil eye which is a form of envy. As for the Jinn, the two major references in the Qur'an to which I would like you to refer are those in Verses 29-32 of Surah 46 entitled "Al-Ahqaf" , and to Surah 72 entitled "The Jinn." You may also refer, if you will, to Verses 12-14 of Surah 34 entitled "Sabaa", or "Sheba". From these references, particularly the first two, you will realize that the jinn are another species of Allah's creation. They share with us life on earth and we cannot see them while they can see us. They are required to believe in Islam as they have been previously required to believe in the message of Prophet Moses.

Like human beings, most of them do not submit to Allah as a matter of choice. They continue to ignore the call of Prophets and messengers as human beings do. The nature of their creation is different from ours. Prior to the advent of Islam, they were able to climb high in the atmosphere to eavesdrop on angels as they glorified Allah, hoping to hear some news which affected the world. They were prevented from doing so, just before the start of the revelation of the Qur'an. They are accountable for their deeds on the day of judgment. Those of them who have done good in this life will be rewarded by admission into heaven and those who continue to do evil will be thrown in hell.

Apart from these similarities, their world is separate from ours. There is no interchange between them and us. Neither can they accomplish our purposes nor do we know anything about theirs. Allah has not made us subservient to their desires nor has He made them subject to our might. Therefore, the idea of anyone of us, man or woman, being possessed by a jinn and that such possession can affect his mental power and his action or prevent something from being done by him or stop him from his intended action is totally absurd. Unfortunately, such thoughts may find a receptive ear with sections of people. The fact is that there is no truth in them. I totally agree that when a patient comes to you with a disturbed mind, you treat him as mentally ill person and treat him to the best of your ability.

I am an unmarried virginal girl suffering for the past 12 years. I am being attacked (when I sleep) by an evil spirit which specializes in polluting the bodies of virginal girls. I have visited several dargahs to be cured but have received no relief whatsoever. A kind Muslim neighbour took me to a Muslim healer who informed me that someone has practiced black magic on my family. This evil jinn has taken the life of my mother and is now troubling me. It has spoiled my mother's sisters life also. She got married with great difficulty but unfortunately it ended in a divorce. I was told that the jinn would never allow me to get married (create problems in the proposals my family receives) and as long as I remain unmarried it would continue sexually troubling me and also that when my brothers get married, their wives would be at risk and their marriages would suffer because this spirit never allows its victims to live in peace and troubles them till their death. On visiting a few Muslim sites, I was advised that reciting 3 suras and ayat-kursi would keep the jinn at bay. But unfortunately the jinn doesn�t stay away at all times, that is, sometimes I am protected and sometimes (during menses) I am not safe. Where am I going wrong? What can I do to be permanently cured and to protect my family? My father has a second family and is least interested in my marriage. How do I get rid of this jinn and ensure a happy life? Please advise. I would be much obliged. Shukran.

Answer:

We would like to state first that black magic is an undeniable fact, yet this does not mean when we face any problem we think that it should necessarily be a black magic. In most cases, these are mere Satanic whispers which Satan make use of to spoil people's life and harms their commitment to religion. To get rid of such Satanic whispers a Muslim should be keen to read the authentic supplications particularly ayat al-Kursi and surat al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas.

Generally speaking, it should be demonstrated that black magic is one of the well-established facts, and it is mentioned in the Qur'an and the Sunnah. As for the Islamic legal status on practicing black magic, it is forbidden, and this makes one's prayer unaccepted for forty days, and believing in what magician or sorcerer says renders one a disbeliever.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Whoever blows on knots practices magic, and whoever practices magic is a mushrik (polytheist)." (Reported by at-Tabarani)

`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud reported, "Anyone who goes to a diviner, a practitioner of magic or a soothsayer, asking something and believing in what he says, denies what was revealed to Muhammad." (Reported by al-Bazzar and Abu Ya`la)

Magic can be dispelled through magicians themselves or sorcerers or through applying their methods. However, it is forbidden to go to a magician or a soothsayer or the like to dispel the magic as stated in the hadiths of the Prophet.

Magic can also be dispelled by the power of the Glorious Qur'an, which was sent down as a cure and mercy for believers; doing so is highly commendable. This is based on what is known in the Sunnah that angel Gabriel used the Qur'an (Al-Mu`awwidhatayn, or the Two Protective Surahs, i.e. al-Falaq and an-Nas) in dispelling the evil charm done to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) by the Jews. Moreover, surat al-Baqarah is known to have the power of driving away evil spirits and dispelling magic.

Regarding Black magic and how to dispel it, the eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Hanooti, member of the North American Fiqh Council, states:

"The Qur'an talks about black magic in surat al-Baqarah: "And they followed what the Shaitans chanted of sorcery in the reign of Sulaiman, and Sulaiman was not an unbeliever, but the Shaitans disbelieved, they taught men sorcery and that was sent down to the two angels at Babel, Harut and Marut, yet these two taught no man until they had said, "Surely we are only a trial, therefore do not be a disbeliever. Even then men learned from these two, magic by which they might cause a separation between a man and his wife; and they cannot hurt with it any one except with Allah's permission, and they learned what harmed them and did not profit them, and certainly they know that he who bought it should have no share of good in the hereafter and evil was the price for which they sold their souls, had they but known this." (Al-Baqarah: 2:102 )

Another reference from the Qur'an is surat al-Falaq: "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak (1) from the evil of what He has created (2) from the evil of darkness when it gathers (3) from the evil of conjuring witches (4) and from the evil of the envious when he envies." (Al-Falaq 113:1 - 5)

There is another verse that is relevant to this issue from surat
al-Baqarah: "Those who swallow down usury cannot arise except as one whom Shaitan has prostrated by (his) touch does rise. That is because they say, trading is only like usury; and Allah has allowed trading and forbidden usury. To whomsoever then the admonition has come from his Lord, then he desists, he shall have what has already passed, and his affair is in the hands of Allah; and whoever returns (to it) these are the inmates of the fire; they shall abide in it." (Al-Baqarah: 2:275)

These verses are very clear in reference to the power Allah made through these jinn in magic or possession. When you say, a`udhu billahi mina ash-shaytani ar-rajim (I seek refuge and protection in Allah from Satan, the accursed), then certainly Allah accepts protecting you and giving you refuge against any evildoer. Reading the Qur'an and making dhikr will be helpful to overcome any shaytan's plan. Allah says, "Verily, the plan of a shaytan is weak." I advise you both to seek the help from Allah through, practicing full Islam and avoiding any sinful arena or action."

Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, adds:

"The word "magic" is mentioned in the Qur'an 60 times. The verse 102 of surat al-Baqarah has the following implications:

1- Magic has been known as a well-established fact regardless of it
changing the forms of things.

2- Magic involves things that may be beneficial or harmful, as Allah says: "learned from these two, magic by which they might cause a separation between a man and his wife."

3- Magic cannot have any effect save by the Will of Almighty Allah, as Allah says: ".and they cannot hurt with it any one except with Allah's permission."

4- Adhering to magic renders one a disbeliever, as Allah says: ".but the Shaitans disbelieved, they taught men sorcery."

A. Attributing the effect of the magic to anything other than Allah renders one a disbeliever.

B. Practicing magic or sorcery for the sake of harming people is totally forbidden. Based on this, it is a form of disbelief to torture people with a magic spell or subject them to the evil of jinn.

In brief, the first and foremost requirement as regards dispelling black magic is to believe firmly that no one, however great his powers may be, can benefit or harm one except if Allah wills it. Then every Muslim should empower his/herself through practicing Islam, reading the Qur'an and consistency in dhikr and du'a. In particular, one may do the following:

3) Start everything in Allah's Name and seek Allah's Protection and Refuge before taking a bath.

4) Recite or listen to the recitation of surat al-Baqarah daily for some days (a week for instance); and

I give below a number of selections of verses of the Qur'an and du`a' which you can recite on a regular basis:

a) Al-Fatihah
b) Last three chapters of the Qur'an (i.e,Surahs 112, 113, 114)
c) Ayat al-Kursi (i.e., Al-Baqarah 2: 255)

Besides the above, repeat the following du`a's on a regular basis both in the morning and evening three times or more:

fi as-sama'i wa huwa as-sami`u al-`alim (In the name of Allah; with His name, nothing whatsoever on earth or heaven can inflict any harm; He is All-Hearing and All-Knowing).

2) Hasbiya Allahu la ilaha illa huwa `alayhi tawakkaltu wahuwa rabbu al-`arshi al-`azhim (Allah suffices me; there is no god but He; in Him I place my sole trust; He is the Lord of the mighty throne).

3) Allahumma ini a`duhu bika min hamazati ash-shayatin wa a`udhu bika rabbi an yahdurun
(O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the whisperings of Satan; my Lord, I seek refuge in You from their presence around me).

4) A`udhu bi `izzati Allahi wa qudratihi mimma ajidu wa uhadhiru
(I seek refuge in Allah's glory and power from the affliction and pain I experience and suffer from).

It is important to remember that du`a' and dhikr will only benefit when it comes from a heart that firmly believes in Allah, and thus cherishes firm conviction in Allah's power and sovereignty.

See the following hadith:
Narrated By 'Aisha: Whenever Allah's Apostle became sick, he would recite Mu'awwidhat (Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas) and then BLOW his breath over his body. When he became seriously ill, I used to recite (these two Suras) and rub his hands over his body hoping for its blessings. (Al-Bukhari,Vol 6, Book 61. Virtues Of The Qur'an Hadith 535)

It is better to recite all the surahs and then blow the breath over the
body. Al-Bara' Ibn `Aazib, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates: The Prophet said to me, "Whenever you go to bed, perform ablution like the one you perform for the prayer, lie on your right side and say, "Allahumma aslamtu wajhi ilaika, wa fawadtu 'Amri ilaika, wa alja'tu Zahri ilaika raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika. La Malja'a wa la manja minka illa ilaika. Allahumma amantu bikitabika-l-ladhi anzalta wa bina-biyika-l ladhi arsalta" (O Allah! I surrender to You and entrust all my affairs to You and depend upon You, fearing You, and reposing my hope in You. There is no fleeing from You, and there is no protection and safety except with You, O Allah! I believe in Your Book (the Qur'an) which You have revealed and in Your Prophet (Muhammad) whom You have sent). Then if you die on that very night, you will die as believer (in the religion of Islam). Let the aforesaid words be your last utterance (before sleep)." I repeated it before the Prophet and when I reached "Allahumma amantu bikitabika-l-ladhi anzalta (O Allah I believe in Your Book which You have revealed)." I said, "Wa-rasulika (and your Messenger)." The Prophet said, "No, say: 'Wanabiyika-l-ladhi arsalta (Your Prophet whom You have sent), instead."

Also on this issue, Abu Hurayrah was quoted as saying: �The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to tell us that when any one of us wanted to sleep, he should lie on his right side, then say �Allahumma Rabb al-samaawaati wa Rabb al-ard wa Rabb al-�Arsh il-�Azeem, Rabbana wa Rabba kulli shay�in, faaliq al-habb wa�l-nawa wa munazzil al-Tawraata wa�l-Injeela wa�l-Furqaan, a�oodhu bika min sharri kulli shay�in anta aakhidhun bi naasiyatihi. Allahumma anta al-awwal fa laysa qablaka shay�un, wa anta al-aakhir fa laysa ba�daka shay�un. Wa anta az-Zaahir fa laysa fawqaka shay�un wa anta al-baatin fa laysa doonaka shay�un. Iqdi �annaa al-dayna wa aghninaa min al-faqr (O Allah, Lord of the heavens and the earth, and Lord of the Mighty Throne, our Lord and Lord of all things, Splitter of the seed and the date stone, Revealer of the Tawraat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel) and the Furqaan (Qur�an), I seek refuge in You from the evil of all things that You will seize by the forelock [i.e., have full control over them]. O Allah, You are the First and there is nothing before You; You are the Last and there is nothing after You. You are the Manifest (az-Zaahir) and there is nothing above You; You are the Hidden (al-Baatin) and there is nothing beyond You. Settle our debt and spare us from poverty).�� (Narrated by Muslim, 2713).

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) was also quoted as saying: �Abu Bakr said: �O Messenger of Allah, teach me something that I can say in the morning and in the evening.� He said: �Say, �Allahumma �Aalim al-ghaybi wa�l-shahaadah, Faatir al-samawaati wa�l-ard, Rabba kulli shay�in wa maleekahu, ashhadu an laa ilaaha illa anta. A�oodhi bika min sharri nafsi wa min sharr il-shaytaan wa sharakihi (O Allah, Knower of the seen and the Unseen, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Lord and Sovereign of all things, I bear witness that there is no god except You. I seek refuge in You from the evil of my own self and from the evil and traps of Satan).� Say this in the morning and in the evening, and when you go to bed.�� (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3392; Abu Dawood, 5067).

Undoubtedly fortunetelling, witchcraft and astrology are among the most serious of evil actions and corruption on earth and harming the Muslims unlawfully.

The scholars differed as to whether the fortuneteller is to be regarded as a kaafir who is beyond the pale of Islam, or whether it is a lesser form of kufr. Those who say that this makes him a kaafir quoted as evidence the hadeeth narrated by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad (9171), which says that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: �Whoever comes to a fortune-teller or soothsayer and believes him has disbelieved in that which was revealed to Muhammad.� Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami�, 5942.

This also involves claiming to have knowledge of the unseen, and whoever claims to have knowledge of the unseen is a kaafir. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

�(He Alone is) the All-Knower of the Ghayb (Unseen), and He reveals to none His Ghayb (Unseen).� (26) �Except to a Messenger (from mankind) whom He has chosen (He informs him of the Unseen as much as He likes)� [Al-Jinn 72:26-27]

�Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (Unseen) except Allah...� [An-Naml 27:65]

�And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, they bear (on themselves) the crime of slander and plain sin� [Al-Ahzaab 33:58]

Such actions are a source of temptation and trial to those Muslims who are weak in faith. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

�Verily, those who put into trial the believing men and believing women (by torturing them and burning them), and then do not turn in repentance (to Allah), then they will have the torment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the burning Fire� [Al-Burooj 85:10]

Astrology, palm-reading, reading coffee cups, divination, and other things practiced by fortunetellers and practitioners of witchcraft are all sciences of jaahiliyyah which are forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, and are actions which Islam came to declare false and warn against doing them or going to those who do them and asking them about anything or believing what they say � because that is knowledge of the unseen which Allah has kept to Himself.

Our advice to everyone who has anything to do with these things is to repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness, and to put their trust in Allah Alone in all their affairs, whilst also taking the appropriate means as prescribed or permitted in sharee�ah. They should give up these things and keep away from them, and beware of asking these people anything or believing them, in obedience to Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and so as to protect their religious beliefs and commitment, and for fear of the anger of Allah, and so as to keep away from the things that lead to shirk and kufr, which if a person dies believing such things he will be a loser in this world and in the Hereafter.

We should also note here that whatever this woman takes in payment for this evil and haraam work is haraam income, because of the hadeeth narrated in Saheeh al-Bukhaari (2237) and Saheeh Muslim (1567) from Abu Mas�ood al-Ansaari (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) forbade the price of a dog, the wages of a prostitute and the payment made to a fortuneteller.

Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his commentary on this hadeeth (10/490): Al-Baghawi, one of our companions, and al-Qaadi �Iyaad said: the Muslims are agreed that the payment made to a fortuneteller is haraam, because it is payment for something forbidden, and because it consuming people�s wealth unlawfully

9. ASTROLOGY: FORTUNE TELLING

Note: Please refer all your answers from Al-Quran and preferably Al-Bukhari and mention the Ayats of Al-Quran and the Hadis like the following sample below: �All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds� (Sura Fatiha, Ayat 1) What does Al-Quran say about fortune-tellers?

Ibn Mihjan reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I fear on account of my nation three things after my death: (I fear that) their imams (leaders) would oppress them, (that) they would believe in astrology, and (that) they would disbelieve predestination." (Reported by Ibn `Asakir and Ibn `Abdul-Barr)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He who goes to a fortune-teller to ask him about something, his Prayer will not be accepted for forty days." (Reported by Muslim)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He who goes to a soothsayer or a fortuneteller and believes what he says exhibits disbelief in what has been sent down to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)." (Al-Albani said in Sahih At-Targhib wa At-Tarhib, vol. 3, p. 172, that this is an authentic hadith.)

Contemplating the last two hadiths reported by Abu Hurayrah, it is to be noted that mere going to fortune-tellers is a sin that incurs upon a Muslim who commits it that his prayer is not accepted for forty days, and that believing what fortunetellers say renders a Muslim a disbeliever in what has been sent down to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). This is because Allah Almighty says: "Say (O Muhammad): None in the heavens and the earth knoweth the Unseen save Allah; and they know not when they will be raised (again)." (An-Naml 9: 65)

Allah Almighty also says: "(He is) the knower of the Unseen, and He revealeth unto none (26) His secret, save unto every messenger whom he hath chosen, and then He maketh a guard to go before him and a guard behind him (27) That He may know that they have indeed conveyed the messages of their Lord. He surroundeth all their doings, and He keepeth count of all things." (Al-Jinn 72: 26-28)

Actually when Islam prohibits something, it closes all the avenues of approach to it. This is achieved by prohibiting every step and every means leading to the Haram (unlawful).

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RTA) the prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said, �None spoke in cradle but three. (The first was) Jesus (PBUH.

(second child was) There was a man from Bani Israel called Juraij. While he was offering prayer, his mother came and called him. He said (to himself), �Shall I answer her or keep on praying?�

�(He went on praying and did not answer her). His mother said, �O Allah! Do not let him die till he sees the face of prostitutes.�

So while he was in his hermitage, a lady came and sought to seduce him, but he refused. So she went to a shepherd and presented herself to him to commit illegal sexual intercourse with her, and then later she gave birth to a birth to a child and claimed that it belongs to Juraij. The people, therefore, came to him and dismantled his hermitage and expelled him out of it and abused him. Juraij performed abulation and offered prayer, and then came to the child and said, �O child! Who is your father?�

(and hearing this) the people said, �we shall rebuild your hermitage of gold,� but he said, �No, of nothing but mud.�

A lady from Bani Israel was nursing her child at her breast when a handsome rider passed by her. She said, �O Allah! Make my child like him�

On that the child left her breast and facing the rider said, �O Allah! Do not make me like him.�

The child then started to suck the breast again. {Abu Hurairah further said, �As if I were now looking at the Prophet (PBUH) suckling his finger (in a way of demonstration)}. After a while they (some people) passed by, with a lady slave and she (i.e. child mother) said, �O Allah! Do not make my child like this (slave girl)�

On that the child left her breast and said, �O Allah! Do not make me like her.�

When she asked �why�, the child replied, �The rider is one of tyrants while this slave girl is falsely accused of theft and illegal sexual intercourse�

2. THE MIRACLE OF THE SPLITTING OF THE MOON

Analysis

First Point

Fourth Point

3 .QURANIC IS A LIVING MIRACLE

THE MIRACLE IN THE IRON

TOP

4. AULIA: MIRACULOUS POWERS

9. ASTROLOGY: FORTUNE TELLING

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