Regarding sihr (black magic)

In regards to getting rid of the effects of black magic (sihr) ‘Arif-billah Dr. Abdul-Hayy ‘Arif (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

“Pray two units (rakah) of salah.

In first unit recite  قل اعوذ برب الفلق (chapter 113) and in second قل اعوذ رب الناس (chapter 114) after al-fatiha

After salam recite  لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله العلى العظيم five hundred times.  Send salutations on the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) eleven times before and after this recitation. Then make dua, especially for removal of the sihr.

This is very effective method. Do not belittle it due to its being so simple and easy.”

From audio of weekly majlis 1980s.

Use of black magic (sihr) is rampant these days.

There are various reasons for it. Firstly, the ease of availability which is most likely due to the consumer demand.  Secondly, the rise in number of individuals who can afford it. And finally the declining religious state of Muslims. This is both in external (dhahiri) and spiritual (ruhani) realms.  

The external elements include lack of care about major or minor impurity states, eating what is definitively halal, not praying regularly,  indulging in sins, especially the major ones and not repenting immediately. These all make one more susceptible to the effects of sihr.

The spiritually destructive (muhlekat) characteristics of anger, envy or jealousy  (hasad), hatred(bugdh), lack of love for Allah and has His creation and loss of sense of accountability before Him are the real forces driving theperpetrator to use of this ulterior method to harm fellow human beings.

Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned in Bahishti Zewar (Hanafi fiqh manual) a list of thirty three Quranic verses to be recited daily for the treatment of and propylaxsis against black magic. They have been compiled into a booklet known as manzil (online).

Finally two things need to be clarified in this regards. Firstly, not every illness, accident or unusual thing should be assumed to be a result of black magic. Common things are more common.  Secondly, if black magic is suspected it must be diagnosed correctly and treated by an expert (a’amil). The things mentioned here are general measures. Specific treatment may be needed in some cases. This expert should be a pious Muslim. He should not be a person who is using black magic himself for this treatment as is very common these days.

Allah save us all from sihr. Ameen!