# Does Surat al-Falaq confirm that black magic is real?

*Rapid round: is Islam feudal, and does Surat al-Falaq refer to black magic?*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/ksqksrxndnw/s/21/
- Date: 2020-04-22 · Kind: question · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Shaykh Dr. Shabir Ally | Juxtaposing the Quran, Jumbling Aisha's age & Jinn Possession | MindTrap#16 (1:40:04–1:42:42)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsQKsrXndNw&t=6004s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/ksqksrxndnw/

**Topics:** Magic, the evil eye and superstition; Reflections on short surahs; Guest conversations

**Question as asked:** What does the ayah 'wa min sharri al-naffathati fi al-uqad' mean, if it is not about black magic? And is Islam feudal or anti-feudal?

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** The verse about those who blow on knots does not establish that magic is effective: the guest says it asks protection from the fear such practices create, and Mufti Abu Layth says the surah names things not harmful in themselves but the superstitions attached to them. The question whether Islam is feudal went unanswered.

## Longer summary

Mufti Abu Layth reads rapid-round questions from viewers. To the first, whether Islam is feudal or anti-feudal, which neither fully understands, the guest says it concerns economics and he does not know the answer without research. To the second, what the verse about those who blow on knots in Surat al-Falaq means if it is not about black magic, the guest says Allah knows best what his verses mean; the classical commentators generally said it refers to women performing acts of magic, but in his humble view it need not mean that such magic is a reality: some women may have done such things, creating fear and doubt in people's minds, and the supplication asks Allah's protection so that one feels assured of being in his hands, without implying that what they do is effective. Mufti adds what he has said before when asked: the surah begins with things that are not harmful in themselves, such as nightfall, but with what is associated with them, and the verse concerns the superstitions associated with such practices.

## Sources and names cited

- Dr Shabir Ally (guest)
- Quran 113:4 (from the evil of those who blow on knots): https://quran.com/113/4
- sihr (magic)

## Transcript (machine tier, 1:40:04–1:42:42)

[1:39:49] of these kind of stuff and different variations but if we just I know a lot of people have been posting questions for you so I don't want to disappoint them if that's okay with you [ __ ] ok yeah for a few minutes yeah a few rapid round people will take some rapid round questions she will give some responses so here's a question my hidden midsize asked a right question for share I don't know if I fully understand this but it says is Islam feudal or anti feudal I don't even know if I understand but but I mean if you yeah so this has

[1:40:28] to be where they do with economics and and I'm not sure I know the answer to that shape to be honest I have to think about that and do some research about it so III I don't know at this point I'm sorry I'm just trying to read your questions people said what does the ayah I mean woman shuddering pathetic odd means then if it isn't about black magic yeah so Allah knows best what his verses mean demo faster on the classical move faster on the commentators generally

[1:41:06] said that this refers to women who were doing acts of magic but in my humble view it doesn't necessarily have to mean that that this is a reality let's say there were some women who are doing something like this and that would create some fear or misgiving or doubt in the minds of people so I making this dua and asking allah subhanaw taala to protect us from them it means that in the end we we feel assured that we are in the hands of allah subhanaw taala and we are protected it doesn't necessarily mean that what they're doing is going to be

[1:41:44] effective absolutely just to very briefly just add to that I've said previously when asked about this that that whole surah begins with things that in and of themselves are not necessarily harmful like Klaus will fill up and surely my philosophy neither by the night fall as it falls there's nothing evil about the night fall but it's what happens associated with it and women sharing my father is the the kind of superstitions that come associated with these practices but yeah just just to add to that somebody has asked this maybe I'm

[1:42:23] assuming it may require a very lengthy response but if so maybe another time or if in a few words somebody has asked about right hand possesses no that's a very lengthy discussion in and of itself but when somebody here as asked as well on Facebook as well about concubines which is the same thing so I don't know if you know I you know it yeah I just [ __ ] requires a lengthy discussion I've given some brief answers to similar questions on my website should be rally calm it so one would find the answers there but but just in brief I you know

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment KsQKsrXndNw/s/21. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/ksqksrxndnw/s/21/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.