Sihr (magic) is real in the Islamic worldview; the Qur'an mentions it and warns against it. Its effects can be undone only through Allah's permission, with ruqyah and sincere repentance.
What is sihr?
Sihr is an act of sorcery that seeks to influence people's hearts, bodies or relationships through the help of jinn and forbidden means. It is a major sin and a form of disbelief when it involves shirk.
Possible signs
- Sudden aversion to one's spouse, home or family without a clear cause.
- Persistent unexplained illness that doctors cannot diagnose or treat.
- Finding unusual objects (knots, needles, locks) in the home or workplace.
- Nightmares, anxiety and fear that intensify at specific times.
The treatment
Treatment consists of ruqyah with the relevant ayats, destroying any found objects of sihr, sincere repentance and returning to the obligations, and consistent adhkar. Never seek the help of fortune-tellers or magicians — that only deepens the harm.
Types and reality of sihr
Sihr is a serious crime and one of the kinds of disbelief. Its name comes from the fact that its means are hidden and secret: the magician works in secret to deceive the eyes and cause harm. In the Shari'ah sense, sihr is what magicians do to delude and confuse people, so that the onlooker thinks a thing is real when in fact it is not — just as the magicians of Pharaoh made their ropes and sticks appear to move like snakes.
- Blowing on knots, as mentioned in Surah al-Falaq (113:4).
- Acts carried out with the help of the shayatin (devils), which may affect a person's mind, make him sick, or cause division between a man and his wife.
- Illusions and tricks that bewitch the eyes, so that a person does not see reality as it truly is.
Whatever harm results from sihr only takes place by Allah's leave and prior decree. Nothing happens in His dominion against His will; the one affected is tested by Allah, and the cure is likewise in Allah's hand alone.
Reference: Sihr and Its Types — summarised (Islam Q&A)