A Real Encounter with a Magician

Message from a brother to us:

One day, I met a man who was probably from the Indian or Pakistani region. He greeted me with the Salam and introduced himself as “Mr Yoogi”. He wanted to give me his business card. Reflexively, I almost accepted it, but first asked about his occupation. He said he could read my aura, predict the future, read palms, interpret coffee grounds, create amulets and much more, all for free or whatever I wished to give, as long as it came “from the heart”.

I made it clear through my body language that I wasn’t interested and smiled inwardly that he had approached exactly the wrong person. I asked whether he was Muslim, and he said yes. Then I asked if it was permissible to work with Jinn or communicate with them, or how he carried out this activity. He replied that he worked with “good Jinn” to fight the “bad ones” and to help people. He added that he was accompanied by several good Jinn at all times and spoke to them.

He suddenly began telling things about me that no one could know, as though someone was whispering them to him. I realised then that he was a real sāḥir. I asked where the “good” Jinn were. He said, “They are here right now.” I recited aloud from the Qur’an on the spot and asked again if his “good” Jinn were still there. He tried to talk his way out, saying that they love to hear the Qur’an and were now “happy and content”, having left the room. Allāhu mustaʿān.

I asked where he had studied. He showed me a photo of a mosque in India where he said he was trained. I asked if all trainees there were Muslim, since I had met another “Mr Yoogi” before who was a Sikh. He explained that anyone can come, Muslims and Hindus learn together how to perform sihr! After this training, each graduate is called “Mr Yoogi”.

I asked how he controlled the “good” Jinn. He said that from sunset until sunrise he was busy with “worship” and “service”, then slept only four or five hours before spending the day “helping people”. I felt ashamed inside, this man was dedicated to satanic service from Maghrib to Fajr daily, while many Muslims sleep half the day. Allāhu mustaʿān.

I decided to give him daʿwah and told him that the Prophet ﷺ said every magician (sāḥir) is a disbeliever. Then I asked him to leave the shop. He took his business card, muttered strange words over it, and I immediately began reciting Qur’an aloud again. He quickly left, but threw the card towards me, which I later destroyed using ruqyah method.

Understanding the Sāḥir and Siḥr

In Islam, siḥr (magic or sorcery) is one of the major sins that lead to disbelief when practised. It involves seeking help from the Jinn and Shayāṭīn (devils), using incantations or rituals that contradict Tawḥīd. The sāḥir (magician) often claims to heal, bless, or protect, but in reality, such acts involve shirk, deception, and cooperation with evil forces.

Allah ﷻ mentions the origins of magic in the Qur’an when describing what was taught to people in Babylon:

وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ

“But they do not teach anyone unless they say, ‘We are a trial, so do not disbelieve.’”

(Surah al-Baqarah 2:102)

This verse shows that practising magic equals disbelief. Even learning it was warned against by the angels sent to test people. True healing and protection come only through faith and obedience to Allah ﷻ, never by invoking unseen forces.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Avoid the seven destructive sins.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, what are they?” He said, “Associating partners with Allah, sorcery, killing a soul unjustly, consuming usury, consuming the property of orphans, fleeing from the battlefield, and slandering chaste believing women.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2766; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 89)

Therefore, sihr is among the most destructive sins, not only harming individuals but corrupting faith itself.