Answer: There is no doubt that Sihr, in general, is considered disbelief (kufr). Allah, the Almighty says in the Qur’an:
"They certainly know that whoever purchases magic will have no share in the Hereafter" (Qur’an 2:102)
However, there are instances in the Sunnah where the term Sihr is used in a way that does not constitute disbelief.
For example, in a hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Indeed, in some types of eloquence or speech, there is magic" (Bukhari: 5767)
This type of Sihr refers to situations where the term "magic" is used linguistically, not in the shari’ah sense.
For instance, in English, people might say, "It was a magical moment," or "It happened like magic."
These expressions do not fall under the category of Sihr that is considered disbelief.
Similarly, certain potions or drugs that have a strong effect on people might be called "magic" in a linguistic sense, but they are not the type of Sihr that involves shirk or disbelief.
Likewise, captivating speech or eloquence that mesmerizes people can also be termed Sihr linguistically, as the Prophet ﷺ mentioned.
This second type of Sihr does not take a person out of Islam because it does not involve worshipping Shaytan, disbelieving in Allah, or seeking nearness to other than Allah.
However, its ruling depends on the specific context and evidence.
For example, if captivating speech is used for good purposes, it is permissible, but if it is used for evil, it is prohibited.
In summary, the two types of Sihr are:
- Sihr that is shirk: This involves disbelief and takes a person out of Islam.
- Sihr that is not shirk: This includes linguistic uses of the term or actions that resemble magic but do not involve shirk.
Each case must be evaluated individually based on the evidence and context. As the Prophet ﷺ said,
"Indeed, in some forms of speech, there is magic" (Bukhari: 5767).
And Allah knows best.
— Answered by Ustadh Muhammad Tim Humble
