example, would there exist love and loyalty or feud and separation? Indeed, these are matters of the Ghayb, which only Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) knows. Moreover, sorcery is among the prohibited acts tantamount to Kufr. Allah says in Surah AlBaqarah about the angels:
but neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, "We are only for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us)." And from these (angels) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife, but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allâh's Leave. And they learn that which harms them and profits them not. And indeed they knew that the buyers of it (magic) would have no share in the Hereafter. And how bad indeed was that for which they sold their ownselves, if they but knew.
This noble Ayah (Qur'anic verse) categorically indicates that sorcery is Kufr and that sorcerers cause separation between a man and his wife. Moreover, the Ayah points out to the fact that sorcery in itself cannot bring about benefit or cause harm, except by the permission of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) Who has created both good and evil. The liars who inherited these sciences have truly caused great harm and confused and influenced the weakminded; truly to Allah we belong and to Him we will return; He suffices us and is the Best Disposer of affairs.
Among the indications derived from the noble Ayah is that those who learn sorcery do, in fact, learn what causes them harm, not benefit, and that such people will not have a share with Allah on the Day of Resurrection. This serious threat indicates the great loss they will incur in the worldly life and the life to come. They have sold themselves at the cheapest of prices; so Allah (Glorified be He) dispraises them, by saying:
And how bad indeed was that for which they sold their ownselves, if they but knew.
We seek refuge with Allah from the evil of sorcerers, soothsayers, and charlatans; and we implore Him (Glorified be He) to protect Muslims from their evils, and to guide the Muslim rulers to be on their guard against them and to implement Allah's Ruling on them to save people from their pernicious work; indeed Allah is AllGenerous. As a mercy and favor from Allah (Glorified be He) to His Servants, He has laid down all that precludes the evil effects of sorcery before it occurs and also the means of treating it after it has already occurred.
In the following lines, we will present the Shari`ahcompliant methods with which to avoid the dangerous effects of sorcery before it occurs and also the methods of treatment after it actually occurs.
The most significant and effective method of protection from the danger of sorcery before its occurrence is to fortify oneself with the prescribed Adhkar (invocations and Remembrances said at certain times on a regular basis), invocations and protective Surahs (Chapters of the Qur'an). A Muslim, for example, is highly recommended to recite AyatulKursy (the Qur'anic Verse of Allah's Chair, Surah AlBaqarah, 2:255) following the performance of each obligatory Salah and the related Adhkar said after Taslim (salutation of peace ending the Prayer). Its recitation is also recommended before sleep. AyatulKursy is the greatest Ayah of the Glorious Qur'an; it says:
Allâh! Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), AlHayyulQayyum (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists). Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursî extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. [This Verse 2:255 is called AyatulKursî ]
The protective Surahs also include: Say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ): "He is Allâh, (the) One. and Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh), the Lord of the daybreak, and Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh) the Lord of mankind,
These Surahs are to be recited once after each obligatory Salah except for the Fajr (Dawn) and Maghrib (Sunset) Prayers, in which case they are to be recited thrice. Serving the same purpose of protection as well is the recitation of the last two Ayahs of Surah AlBaqarah at the beginning of evening, which read:
The Messenger (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allâh, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. (They say), "We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers" and they say, "We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all)."
It was authentically reported from Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) that he said: Whoever recites AyatulKursy during the night will remain under the protection of Allah and no Satan will be able to approach them until the morning.
It was also authentically reported that he (peace be upon him) said: Whoever recites the last two Ayahs of Surah AlBaqarah during the night, they will be sufficient for them. (i.e. protect them from any harm).
Another method of protection is to often repeat Ta`awwudh (seeking refuge with Allah) by saying: "I seek refuge with the Perfect Words of Allah from the evil of what He has created," by day and by night and when coming to any place, whether a house, a desert, in the air or on the sea. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Whoever alights somewhere and says, "I seek refuge with the Perfect Words of Allah from the evil of what He has created," nothing will harm them until they leave that place.
Still another protective Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) recommended by Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) is: In the Name of Allah with Whose Name nothing in the earth or the heavens can cause harm, and He is AllHearing, AllKnowing. This Dhikr is to be said three times at the beginning of day and at the beginning of evening. These Adhkar and supplications for refuge and protection, if said regularly and with sincerity and faith in