Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Hi!

May I know the stand of our brother muslim regarding the street magics / tricks performed by anyone publicly (David Blaine to name one).

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Street magic

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The street ‘magic’ some people perform is no more than an illusionary art and a technique and play of one’s hands; and not the type of ‘magic’ which has been absolutely forbidden in Islam. If one claims that one is practicing or performing an illusion, or performing a trick of the hands, etc. there is no harm in it; but it would be best and purer for a believer to abstain from it.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.267 Narrated by An Numan bin Bashir

The Prophet (saws) said "Both legal and illegal things are obvious, and in between them are (suspicious) doubtful matters. So whoever forsakes those doubtful things lest he may commit a sin, will definitely avoid what is clearly illegal; and whoever indulges in these (suspicious) doubtful things bravely, is likely to commit what is clearly illegal. Sins are Allah's Hima (i.e. private pasture) and whoever pastures (his sheep) near it, is likely to get in it at any moment."

If one claims or is believed to be a ‘magician’, or that his tricks are performed by ‘super-natural’ forces; than such acts are absolutely forbidden and considered akin to the sin of disbelief in Islam. Although the English term ‘magic’ is used for these performing illusionists, it cannot be considered as real ‘magic’ or ‘sehr’. Real magic or ‘sehr’ is something one does with the help of the evil Shayateen and Jinn that may cause ‘fitnah’, discord, or hurt to other individuals.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan