Janab Hasan Askari Ja’fari who translated the Nahjul Balagha in English told one of the Trustees of Peermahomed Ebrahim Trust in 1950s in Kazmain Sharif that members of a family were fighting legal cases in court and one group used to lose all cases. This group having no hope of winning in court contacted a Black Magic doer and gave him Rs. 10,000/- to kill the members of the winning group. No sooner he started his Black Magic he got stung by a scorpion and suffered torture. Again he started and fell fracturing his leg. When again he started somebody warned him in the dream that he would not be successful as the other side had something superior for its protection on which he returned Rs. 10,000/- and tried to make friendship with the other side to know what superior thing they had. After making close friendship he found out that their mother used to pray daily Doa No. 23 for Aafeyat (protection) from Saheefa-e-Kamela by Hazrat Imam Zainul Abedeen (a.s.). Peermahomed Ebrahim Trust, Karachi -- 05-11 has printed this book in English which contains this and many effective Doa’s for different desires.

He narrated another incident also in which the effect of recitation of this Doa No. 23 had on the doer of Black Magic that he was attacked by buffalo and ultimately he became mad and dashed his head against a tree and got seriously injured.

In many instances the Black Magic doer and those who pay for making Black Magic suffer terribly in this world in as much as they suffer physically that it would be unbearable to see their suffering. Besides this they lose their ill-gotten money and die pauper. Of course much more terrible punishment awaits them in the Hereafter.

It is therefore best and safest to rely on Allah through His chosen 14 Masoomeem who left for us several Doas etc. for our guidance to obtain solution of our difficulties and fulfilment of our desires with safety and success here and in the Hereafter.

Magicians Horrible End

What is the final fate of those who indulge in witchcraft, Sorcery, Black Magic and such other ignoble abominable and mean works? In the life hereafter there is disgracing, debasing and painful punishment which is unbearable. But even in their lives what do they get?

These wicked and vile persons make some worldly fans in shape of money, etc. temporarily but ultimately face the state of destitution and poverty worse than those of the real beggars. They run from pillar to post to get something to fill their belly – the hellish pit.

They have to face many a hardship, misery and wretchedness. They get physically deformed-blind, lame, maim, bent like bows, and distorted face features-utterly helpless.

Lie and falsehood, cheating and receiving, cunningness and viciousness become their second nature with them. They are always after simple victims and grab at everything from them by their cunningness and foul, objectionable and questionable means.

They are hated by all and liked by none.

In their old age, they become totally infirm and weak both in mind and physique. They are at the mercy of others.

As a matter of fact ill-gotten money can never benefit its earner. It has a tendency to desert the person who sacrifices his tranquillity, peace of mind and faith in order to acquire it. This rule does not confine to the money earned through witchcraft and sorcery, but holds good to an ill-gotten wealth, be it by usury, cheating, bribery, usurpation, speculation, betting, etc. Such wealth cannot remain with its acquirer. It is a matter of common observation that such wealth is either spent in unethical and immoved pursuits like gambling, debauchery and such other things or on sickness, illness of themselves and their near and dear ones. In short, as is such wealth earned so it is spent. Moreover, if children are brought up on such money, they become generally speaking, unruly and run out of hands. They no longer respect their parents, becomes spend thrift and pass their time in such activities.

It is said that obnoxious diseases overtake them, the people flee from them. The worms germinate in their bodies giving out stinking unbearable odour. None can approach them. They, than long to die but death seem to be farthest off. They wriggle and writhe in extreme pain. There is no peace of mind for them. Their last moment plight sends shudders and creepers to the viewers. They wish they were dead, but they suffer agonies of death for long time. They do not have conscience even to repent for their past misdeeds and finally die an ignoble death none pitying them, none-showing any mercy for them, none feeling sorrow-none weeping.

Let us pray to Allah that He may save us from these wicked people through the intercession of fourteen infallibles (a.s.) (Chardah Masoomeen) and keep us on the Right Path.

Verily, Allah puts His servants due to their bad deeds on trial by decreasing the production of fruits, by stopping benedictions and by sealing the treasures of virtues so that the penitent may seek penitence, abstainer may abstain, rememberer of Allah may remember Him and the solicitor of lesson may learn.

Popularity: 1% [?]

What Hazrat Ali (a.s.) said About Presaging

Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) said on the occasion:

Do you think you can tell the hour when a man goes out and no evil will befall him or can warn of the time at which one goes out and harm will accrue? Whoever testifies to this falsifies the Quran and becomes unmindful of Allah in achieving his desired objective and in warding off the undesirable… O people! Beware of learning the Science of Stars except that with which guidance is sought on land or sea, because it heads to divining and an astrologer is a diviner, while the diviner is like the sorcerer, the sorcerer is like the unbeliever and the unbeliever is kafir and would be in Hell.

In explaining the above sermon Mufti Ja’far Husain Sahib writes that accepting the view or divination is against Quran in which Allah says:

Say; None (either) in the heavens or in the earth knows the Unseen save God. Surah Naml (27), Verse 75

Secondly that a diviner misconceives that he can know his benefit or harm through knowing future. So instead of turning to Allah in prayer for warding off calamity and seeking his help or for offering thanks for the bounties of Allah he becomes unduly self-reliant and indifferent to religion and Allah. This is a sort of heresy, and such person soon losses hope in Allah.

Thirdly if he proves true and succeeds in his objective he would praise his knowledge and himself and not Allah. He would expect that everybody who is ‘benefited’ through his ‘knowledge’ would praise him rather than Allah. This thought is in fact a spelling of heresy and atheism. Hence, the prohibition, strict and total, of all sorts and forms of fore-telling, divination, astrology and prediction. Allah may protect us from falling in this trap of being unbeliever i.e. kafirs.

Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) on the subject

(1)       Ibne Idrees in his book ‘Saraaer’ has recorded the following narration of Hasheem from the book Mashkatul Mashaaekh written by Ibne Mohaob. Hasheem says: -

I approached Hazrat Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) and said to him that there lived a man on our island, who reveals to us that the stolen goods are with such and such man; similarly he informs us about such other unknown matters. Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) replied:

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has said the one who goes to ask about anything about from a magician, soothsayer, or a liar and believes in what he says certainly becomes an infidel and denier of all the Heavenly Scriptures revealed by Allah.

(2)       This clearly shows that one should never approach the fortune teller, palmists, astrologers and such others who claim to have power to peep in future and to know the secret as well as hidden matters.

(3)       Why is it that the people are caught in the shares of such tricksters and quacks? The answer is very simple. They have lack of faith, trust and reliance in the Omnipotent Allah – Who is the Supreme Protector of His creatures. They should entrust themselves body and soul to Allah the Omniscient.

(4)       Mark what a believer among the people of Pharaoh says to another believer: -

And you shall remember what I say to you and I Entrust my affair to God. God sees well (His) servants.

(5)       Try this infallible prescription of ‘Entrusting your affairs to Allah’ with full confidence and see for yourself the most wonderful effect. It will save your precious time, it will relieve you from unnecessary anxieties and worries, it will protect you from running from pillar to post in search of pseudo diviners, the tricksters, the quacks, the money grabbers it will unfailingly offer you the most required comfort, solace and peace of mind.

(6)       Instead of going to and begging from the parasites in the garb of religion, why not involve implore and supplicate Allah the Omnipresent Who is sure to come to your succour and rescue: Said the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)

Doa (supplication) is the sure weapon of a believer.

(7)       Instead of emptying your pockets of your hard earned money and filling pockets of the vile money grabber, why do not you give in ‘Sadaqa’ charity? Said the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)

Charity wards off evil.

(8)       Do not you know what Allah says in His Holy Book Quran?

Effaces out God whatever He pleases and confirms He (similarly) and with Him is the Mother (Basic source) of the Book.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Seeking Help of Tricksters is a Sign of Weak Faith

Seeing Faal is Haraam

Many a weak-minded people, especially women, being the victims of their own whims consider every evil even or misfortune an insinuous act of their enemies on them. Consequently, to find its solution they revert to so-called Palmists, Astrologers diviners and others who claim to (find out divine things through spiritual powers) by seeing ‘Faal’. Most of these persons being very shrewd and keen observers of human nature, describe the so-called divination in cautious, obscure and ambiguous terminology, yet so cleverly that the people approaching them unconsciously become their prey. Such diviners are only vile money grabbers. They live as parasites on simple minded people. What is the sense in opening the ‘Faal’ to know who has done this or that? Who is the cause of mischief? Or for that purpose, what is in store for them in future? Besides this, seeing ‘Faal’ is haraam (prohibited) in Islam.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Janab Hasan Askari Ja’fari who translated the Nahjul Balagha in English told one of the Trustees of Peermahomed Ebrahim Trust in 1950s in Kazmain Sharif that members of a family were fighting legal cases in court and one group used to lose all cases. This group having no hope of winning in court contacted a Black Magic doer and gave him Rs. 10,000/- to kill the members of the winning group. No sooner he started his Black Magic he got stung by a scorpion and suffered torture. Again he started and fell fracturing his leg. When again he started somebody warned him in the dream that he would not be successful as the other side had something superior for its protection on which he returned Rs. 10,000/- and tried to make friendship with the other side to know what superior thing they had. After making close friendship he found out that their mother used to pray daily Doa No. 23 for Aafeyat (protection) from Saheefa-e-Kamela by Hazrat Imam Zainul Abedeen (a.s.). Peermahomed Ebrahim Trust, Karachi -- 05-11 has printed this book in English which contains this and many effective Doa’s for different desires.

He narrated another incident also in which the effect of recitation of this Doa No. 23 had on the doer of Black Magic that he was attacked by buffalo and ultimately he became mad and dashed his head against a tree and got seriously injured.

In many instances the Black Magic doer and those who pay for making Black Magic suffer terribly in this world in as much as they suffer physically that it would be unbearable to see their suffering. Besides this they lose their ill-gotten money and die pauper. Of course much more terrible punishment awaits them in the Hereafter.

It is therefore best and safest to rely on Allah through His chosen 14 Masoomeem who left for us several Doas etc. for our guidance to obtain solution of our difficulties and fulfilment of our desires with safety and success here and in the Hereafter.

Popularity: 1% [?]

In some groups of Muslims there is a belief that Sufism with all its diverse creeds is a means of attainment of nearness to Allah. In Sufism there are groups who claim certain powers and attributes for their Sheikhs (Murshids.) Some so-called Murshids claim that they have gone so ahead on the way of spirituality that they have attained marefat (cognition) of Allah that they now need not follow Shariat (precepts and practices of Islam) like Namaz (Prayers) and fasting, etc. They are false claimants. An anecdote is related that a man approached a so-called Sufi (mystic) and expressed a desire to come under his tutelage. The Sufi said that obedience of the Murshid without question was the first condition and he would not be able to fulfil that condition. The man promised to obey him blindly. The Sufi told him to offer his Namaz with ablution (Wuzu) performed with urine, for one week and then come to him. He agreed to the condition thinking how the Sufi would know that he did not fulfil the condition. When the man went to the Sufi after one week, he enqu­ired whether he had offered Namaz in the way he had directed. The man replied in affirmative. The Sufi got annoyed and told him he had not done so and chased him out. It can easily he infured that the so called Sufi was a devil because of his liking dirty things.

Tasawwuf

Tasawwuf or Mysticism arose as a cult in Islam in 1st Century Hijri with Hasan-e-Basri. Its main aim was to gain spirituality through prayers and devoutness. There were many divine persons who really attained spiritual high posi­tions through righteous means. These persons were a strong source of spread of Islam and command­ed great respect from masses for their piety. Some designing people imitating such persons cropped up through selfish and unrighteous ways and misled and are still misleading innocent people in the guise of piety and holiness

Genie and Muwakkals

It has been claimed by mystics that they can control Genie and Muwakkals – some sorts of beings entrusted with certain peculiar pious or foul powers and through these media they could per­form acts of wonder pleasant and unpleas­ant, pacifying and horrifying, beneficial and harmful. For this purpose, they make use of Quranic verses and invocations.

Similarly the unbelievers Hindus and abori­ginals all over the world where they exist, who resort to the profession of whitch craft claim to perform similar acts by chanting ‘mantars’ (spells) and invoking their deities which are devilish in nature; while the Muwakkals are for good or can be for evil purposes, the deities are made use of for bad and destructive matters, just as mystics claim to control the ‘Muwakkals’ the Hindus claim to control ‘Bair.’

Again, we find the same thing in Greek mythology. There they have two kinds of gods for good purpose and for evil purpose. They claim to get their work done – either for the fulfilment of their desires or for suppressing and subduing their enemies by incantations and invoking the resp­ective gods.

In both the Hindu and Greek mythology, one will find strange, fantastic and purely imaginative forms of their so-called gods or deities.

If seriously considered and logically analysed, it will be found that such Wonder Acts are either mere illusions and hallucination or the psycholo­gical effects created by Auto-suggestion or mass suggestion dubbed on the victims.

Magic, Sorcery, Astrology, and some Occult Sciences are in fact attempts of Man towards spiritualism but through means contrary to Divine injunctions.

Allah has denounced Magic as false, wrought plan, a craft and has positively declared that it will not succeed.

Astrology is based on wrong assumptions. The calculations made on these assumptions cannot be relied upon. Moreover, Islam does not allow such attempts to foresee future through so called Occult Sciences.

Subjugation of Spirits, Muwakkals, Bair, etc. is also claimed by some persons, both Muslims and non-Muslims. But on analysis the most that can be said with certainty is that mostly these are illusions and psychological effects.

Genie

Muslims of Arabia, Iran and India do believe in the existence of genie and fairy. Hindus believe in ‘Bhoot’ (male Satan) and ‘Dakan’ (female Satan).

Satan are the descendants of nine sons of Iblees who is a jinn, Satan is made up of nine parts of spirit and one part of lifeless material. Genies are divided into twelve groups. Three groups are Muslims. Besides these Jinns and Satans there are fairies. Man gets mad if he comes under the shadow of a fairy. There is another type of a fairy known as ‘Biyabaani’(Biyabaan means desert) type.

The evil satanic spirits owing to their hatred towards human beings penetrate the human bodies. These haunting spirits harass the haunted persons by making him/her mad and ill or they demolish or damage the residential premises or take away the property.

When someone becomes speechless, sleep for an indefinitely longer period, becomes mad, goes on nodding his head or moves here and there with uneasiness, the relatives then get frightened and feel that an evil spirit has penetrated his body. An expert in exercising the evil spirit is approached who after asking a few relevant questions, decides the nature of his ailment, if it is the evil spirit he then has to decide the type of incantation.

The Holy Quran in clear words prohibits the practice of sorcery at the same time makes its followers believe in the existence of it. Though prohibited, yet the ladies and even men take its shelter to acquire the love of a person, to do away with the enemy or to create quarrels between two rivals.

For achieving the love or creating quarrels between two rivals, a drink creating love or hatred is given. For the third purpose i.e. do away with the enemy, an image of the enemy is made up of flour of mash dal (arad). In it are pierced needles and is reduced to pieces. An evil eye especially of a person from mean community has evil effects on the person.

The westerners due to their progress and advance in material field have turned away their attention from sorcery but Indian and Pakistani Muslims are still after achieving its knowledge. The names of Muhammad Ali Jinni and Muhammad Chhel possessing super-human power are well-known and their magical tricks not only make the observers spell-bound but awaken the dead belief of the students in sorcery.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Imam Raghib Isfahani in his book “Mufradaatul Quran’’ classifies sorcery as under:

(1)       To deceive others so as to corrupt the mind, in the imagination things appear according to the wishes of the performer – the sorcerer. There is no truth in it what is seen by the deceived person is not real it is but an illusion as a result of psychological change: The performer a juggler is popularly known as Shobdabaaz and his performance is Shobdabaazi or Nazarbandi – bewitchment of the eyes.

(2)       To conspire with Satan – evil spirit or an infidel Jinn and seek help from them so as to have effects on others.

(3)       Those actions which change the form or physical nature e.g. to change man into an ass. There is no reality in what is seen.

Ibne Aseer in his commentary writes:

First Type:

This was practised by people worshipping seven planets. Towards them was sent Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) to falsify their belief. They believed that the seven stars (Planets) regulate the affairs of the Universe and responsi­ble for creating good and evil actions.

Abu Abdullah Razi in his book ‘Sirrul Makhtoom Fee Mukhatabush Shamse Wan Nojum’ has discussed the subject exhaustively. Hazrat Ali (a.s.) in his speech (recorded in Nahjul Balagha) Sermon No. 77, Vol. I refuting their belief says: ‘It is infidelism to believe that stars are regulators and effective in the affairs of Universe.’ This he (a.s.) said when he (a.s.) decided to march towards Nehrwan to suppress the rising Kharijites. A person approaching him said: ‘If you set out at this moment then according to astrology I fear you will not be successful in your aim.’ Where­upon Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) said,

Do you think you can tell the hour when a man goes out and no evil will befall him or can warn of the time at which if one goes out harm will accrue?

Whoever testifies to this falsifies the Holy Quran and becomes unmindful of Allah in achieving his desired objective and in warding off the undesirable. You cherish saying this so that he, who acts on what you say, should praise you rather than Allah because according to your misconception you have guided him about the hour in which he would secure benefit and avoid harm.

Be Aware of Learning of Science of Stars

Then Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) advanced towards the men and said:

O people! Beware of learning the science of stars except that with which guidance is sought on land or sea, because it leads to divining and an astrologer is a diviner, while the diviner is like the sorcerer, the sorcerer is like the unbeliever and unbeliever would be in hell. Get forward in the name of Allah.

Ibne Aseer then writes:

The Second Type of sorcery comprise of actions performed under the influence of the faculty of thinking (Imagination) and will-power. It is said that imagination and will power has the ability to influence the psyche of others. For instance, a person moves on the bridge cons­tructed on the land but hesitates and becomes fearful to walk on a bridge constructed on a river. The physicians are unanimous that the person suffering from epitasis (bleeding from nose) should avoid seeing articles of red colour and those suffering from epilepsy should avoid seeing things in rapid circular motion. This is so because the psyche is under the influence of faculty of thinking (Imagination). It is for this reason that the wise people are in full agreement regarding the reality of evil eye. And Razi is fully justified in arguing on the basis of the correct and authentic tradition of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). He said: Evil eye has reality if there is anything that can alter the destination it is the evil eye. Razi also says that when you have understood this fact, we can then say that persons with strong will-power need neither instruments nor other means in manifesting their actions. Conversely the souls with weak will-power need instrumental devices in manifesting their actions.

This fact is known by common observation of the soul which when overpowers the body gets absorbed by the heavenly world. That is to say that this soul becomes a spirit (Rooh) which has a powerful effect on the heavenly world. And when the soul is weak it is strongly related to the material world and exercises no effect on the heavenly world. The weakness of the soul can be removed by decreasing the intake of the food, severing relations with worldly people and protecting oneself against pretence and hypocrisy.

In the Third Type of sorcery, help is sought from earthly souls – the Genie (Philoso­phers and Mutazalite do not believe in the existence of genie.) These are of two types: Momin Jinn and Kafir Jinn. The Kafirs are known as Satans. Razi says that it is easy to establish connections with Satans as compared to heavenly spirits. Both the jinn and heavenly spirits have great resemblance between themselves.

The experienced and the learned people have observed that connections can be established with the earthly souls by an easy programme of actions (a’amal) i.e. amulets (Taveez), Fateela.(A piece of paper on which some numbers and words is written. These papers are to be ignited daily at a fixed time for a number of days)

Privacy during the programme of action is essential. These actions are collectively known as ‘Spiritualism or ‘control over evil spirits’.(Amal-e-Taskheer-e-aamal)

Masudi in his book ‘Akhbar-uz-Zaman’ has recorded a saying of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) to the effect.

Anaaq Bint-e-Aadam was first woman who revolted on the earth and planted seeds of sinfulness and impiety. She began committing sins openly and subjugated the Satans to make her devotees. She assigned to them the duty of sorcery. This lady was the first to lay the foundation of sorcery and the sorcerers seek help from Satans who are not visible to human beings, their actions also are not visible. The victims fall a prey to disbelief and begin to visit the sorcerers who make the needy busy in actions in clear contravention to Shariat-e-Muhammadi’. This type of sorcery is the worst and pushes the needy into a cave of disbelief (Kufr).

Popularity: 2% [?]

In the present age you will find many who practice sorcery and thrive on it, their prey being the innocent people. It is therefore necessary to throw light on this subject so as to save the innocent class of people from the traps of deceivers.

In this context it may be noted that certain people feel that there is nothing like sorcery – they deny its existence, though there is a mention of the same in the Holy Quran. There are many verses about it. The story of Pharaoh in the Quran and how it produces its effect, we have mentioned two verses (2:102 and 20:66) above.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Magic is perhaps the oldest attempt of Man at Spiritualism rather pseudo-spiritualism. Religiously speaking, as soon as man descended on this earth, Allah sent His Messengers to call him to recognise the Creator.

But recognition of the Deity means complete submission, without reservations. This is agree­able to the nobler side of the Soul (Nafs-e-Mutmainnah), as it is inherent in the soul to recognise Allah submit to Him and worship Him. But there is another side of the Soul, the baser side (Nafs-e-Ammaarah), the side which inclines towards Satan. This baser instinct is easily misled, and is rebellious. Magic is the attempt of this rebellious side to create a pseudo-spirituality to counteract divine spirituality. It is reported in Tafseer-e-Ayyaashi and Qummi on the authority of Hazrat Imam Baqir (a.s.) that after the death of Hazrat Sulaiman (a.s.), Satan wrote an incanta­tion and buried it with his throne and misled people that powers of Hazrat Sulaiman (a.s.) were due to this incantation. Thus were the people of Sulaiman (a.s.) made to practise Magic

Allah has variously described Magic in Holy Quran.

At one place magic enchantments are called false:

Then to: it (the rod of Moses) swallowed (one after another all) that they falsely demonstrated. Surah Aa’raaf (7), Verse 117

At another place Allah says that Magic is a wrought plan, a craft doomed to fail,

Verily they have wrought by a plan of a sorcerer, and a sorcerer shall not be successful whatso­ever manner (of skill) he may come from.

Allah has also defined reciting incantations (wozeefo or mantar) as following devils and that practice of sorcery was taught to the people by the devils and it is infidelity (kufr).

They followed what the devil recite (falsely) against Soloman’s Kingdom; not that Soloman disbelieved but (it was the devils that disbelieved; sorcery did they teach to man and what was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. Surah Baqarah  (2), Verse 102

At another place Allah says that sorcerers do nothing but hypnotize, cast a spell or rather create illusion (bewitch the eye of the people).

So when they cast they bewitched the eyes of the people and terrified them and produced them a great enchantment. Surah Aa’raaf (7), Verse 116

Allah says that sorcery does not profit anyone but gives harm. The practitioners of sorcery learn that they bargain for tortures in the life here­after by courting it.

And they learnt what harmed them and profited them not; and indeed they knew that he who bought that (art) had not snared in the happiness of the Hereafter. And vice was the price for which they did sell their selves, had they only known (it).”Surah Baqarah (2), Verse 102

Yet at another place Allah declares that mischief makers will not benefit by their work, and indeed sorcery is dispelled by Allah and can do no permanent harm.

Verily God will presently make it naught; Verity Allah causes not to thrive the work of mischief-makers. Surah Yunus (10), Verse 81

Said Moses unto them, ‘Woe unto you: Forge you not a lie against God; lest He destroys you with His wrath. And fails he who forgets a lie. Surah Hajj (20), Verse 61

Abdullah bin Umar has quoted the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as having said:

There are certain magicians among my followers. Do not call on them when they are sick, do not offer funeral prayers for them when they die; and do not greet them with salutations when you happen to meet them.

When the people enquired as to who were these magicians the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) replied:

These are those people who commit evil acts and attribute their evil actions to the Will of God saying that they did what they were predestined by Allah to do.

Abdullah bin Abbas quotes the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as having said:

No one will stand so much condemned on the Day of Judgement as the one who associates God with the evil he does say that he did what he was predestined by God to do.

Evil Spirits Cannot Harm one who is Perfect in Faith

Magical phenomena are also scribed to the evil spirits that a practitioner conquers over and subjugates. In the opinion of such persons evil spirits are abounding all around us and if one endeavours he can subjugate one or the other of these spirits and can accomplish such amazing and astounding feasts. But one thing is certain and established. These evil spirits cannot harm one who is perfect in his faith.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Wonder Acts are no Proof of Perfection

There are many Wonder Acts performed by various scholars. It is said that we should not be fooled by even the Wonder Acts. It is not necessary that only the true followers can demonstrate wonder acts but even the Kafir by putting his spirit in trouble and by doing certain actions can also demonstrate Wonder Acts. God will not bless him on the day of judgement but given the rewards in this very world. The truth is not proved by doing certain acts (for the worldly gains), by putting exertion on the spirit and so we should not get fooled by such deeds. It is said that in some places in India they stand with the wet clay in the palm with seeds in it in front of the idol. They stand in that manner for a long time and when the seeds germinate in a plant then the desire is attained. They think that their idol has fulfilled their wishes, which is not so. Many stop their breath or in the whole night breathe just once or twice and hence practise abstinence. The uncle of the writer of Qasasul Ulema described an incident as follows:

Wonder Acts by Infidels

“I went for the pilgrimage of Imam Reza (a.s.) and stayed there for some time. I saw a mendicant who knew the art of Taiul Arz (i.e. of covering long distances in short time as travelling fifty miles on one hour). I became friendly with him and requested him to teach me that art. He declined. On further insistence he replied: ‘You cannot learn this wonder act and you are not capable of it.’ At last on my further insistence he agreed to teach me that Wonder Act, provided I agreed to abide by two conditions:

1.         That I will not accept Imam Reza (a.s.) as Imam.

2.         That I will not pray to the Almighty for one week.

I agreed to abide by the two conditions and then I returned to my place. I thought to myself that to call an Imam the Imam is a matter of heart. Although I have agreed not to accept Imam Reza (a.s.) as the Imam but I still accept him as the Imam in my heart and that mendicant cannot find out what is in my heart I will also pray inside my house after closing all doors and tell that mendicant that I did not pray. Making this resolve, I started to pray. After ablution that mendicant came at that moment and said, ‘Did I not say that you are not capable of learning?’ He then went away and was never seen again. This shows that by exhibiting such Wonder Acts, bonafides cannot be proved.

The compiler says that it is not quite impro­bable that the mendicant was a devil and for leading him astray that he took vows from that man. He should have told that mendicant that he was not a mendicant but devil. I do not want to learn such Wonder Acts at the cost of my faith.

Another Story

Another story is narrated to prove that Wonder Acts manifested by one do not prove him to be right or just. In the times of Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) a man came from Hindustan. He could tell what the other person was hiding in his hands. This news reached Imam Ja’far e-Sadiq (a.s.) and he summoned him. Hiding something in his hand, the Imam asked, ‘Say what is in my hand?’ After thinking and meditating for some time he replied: ‘Such and such thing is in your hand.’ His guess was correct and the Imam (a.s.) confirmed his answer. Then Imam (a.s.) said that once again he would hide something in his hand saying this the Imam (a.s.) put his hand out of his window for a while, then pulled it back and inquired as to what was in his hand?

He mediated and thought but he could not guess what the Imam had in his hand. After a long time of mediating he said that on such and such island in India such and such bird has an egg missing from its nest. Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) opened his hand and said: ‘Your guess is correct.’ Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) then inquired: ‘From where did you learn this art.’ He replied: ‘I act contrary to what my soul tells me, and by acting in this manner I have mastered this art.’

Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) asked: ‘Does your soul advocate Islam or Paganism?’ He replied, ‘Paganism.’ Imam (a.s.) said: ‘In this matter why do not you go against your soul?’ He said: ‘I will go against my soul even in this matter and embrace Islam.’ Saying this he became a Muslim.

Imam asked him if he could still guess anything? He replied in negative. Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) said that, ‘You are right, because before you embraced Islam you had been blessed with this art as a reward to your spirit and devotion because you would not have been rewarded on the day of Judgement. But now you are a Muslim. God has reserved the requital for the Day of Judgement and you will be rewarded there so, now your power is gone.’ Materially he gained the world-fame and money but spiritually he lost his Hereafter.

Objection has been raised in this connection that why he was punished by God after he embraced Islam by taking away his power. He should, on the other hand, have been rewarded by God and should have increased his power, because it is stated in Quran that if any one does some good deeds, God awards at least ten times of that good act in this world as well as much more in the Hereafter.

To understand the correct position it is necessary to take into consideration the following facts: -

(1)       Every man has been given independence by God to act rightly or wrongly without any intervention from God, after he has been given guidance.

(2)       The disbelievers are rewarded in this very world for their good actions (if any); while Muslims are rewarded both in this world and the Hereafter.

(3)       There are some acts which have far-reaching effects and cannot be re-compensated adequately in this world.

(4)       Men are generally misled by wealth and luxuries of this world. Hence God deprives most of His obedient servants from the wealth and luxuries of life in this world.

This is His favour and not a punishment. He knows best as to how He should behave with a particular man.

(5)       God has created some such powers in man which can be developed through constant, systematic and regular practice and man can do wonders after developing these hidden powers in him. If a man uses them for a good he deserves good reward, otherwise he is liable to chastisement.

(6)       The above-mentioned infidel also developed his will power, but instead of utilising it for good purposes, he used it as amusement, became proud and at last challenged the Holy Imam (a.s.).

(7)       He was deprived of that power after embracing Islam because there is no place in Islam for such juggleries and undesirable acts. Islam demands good deeds, purity of heart and piety from a Muslim. If he performs good deeds and is pious, he would deserve good reward in this world and in the Hereafter accord­ing to the nature of his actions.

(8)       From worldly point of view he lost his power which did not benefit him in any way except that he took pride in his Wonder Act but in the Hereafter he made himself liable to be thrown in the Hell-fire eternally.

Reality of Wonder Acts

Allah has given many powers to the soul and a person who exerts himself and awakens dormant potentialities, can perform such feats that are quite out of the norm. For example, some people are gifted with telepathy, i.e. conveying their thoughts to other. Some can foresee and forecast events of future. These qualities are rare, but cannot be termed as spiritual or super­natural So they should not be confused with Wonder Act or Miracles. Even Wonder Act (Karamat) is not of the status of Miracle. Wonder Acts are gifts of Allah bestowed upon persons who suppress the desires of the self to attain a high spiritual position through devotedness to Allah. Sometimes Wonder Acts are manifested by persons who are not at all spiritual or devoted. Such persons gain their power through some other forces which may be even evil and are certainly not divine.

Miracles are exclusively for Prophets and Imams who were Masoomeen (Infallibles) and were manifested only when proof of Prophethood or Imamate was very necessarily required to be presented.

Wonder Act as stated above, can occur through evil forces even, hence it cannot be a proof of righteousness. It may be sorcery (magic) or influence of some evil spirits. Sometimes it so happens that a person who is not a Muslim, but exercises self restraint and suppresses the worldly desires of the self achieves a state of getting ‘insight’ of the things and events; this is his worldly reward alone for abstaining from evil and self restraint and suppression of passion. Hence, to differentiate between a true and false Wonder Act, one of the criteria and touchstone is the conduct and personality of the performer of Wonder Act. If he is a devout person, following the True Path of Shariat, the phenomena can be true Wonder Acts otherwise it can be anything but Karamat (Wonder Act). As performed by true Ulemas described in the Peermahomed Ebrahim Trust (Karachi 05-11) in their publication entitled ‘Biographies of the Learned (Ulema)’.

A Story of Supposed Transmigration

One of the Trustees of Peermahomed Ebra­him Trust recalls an incident which he witnessed in India in I930’s. A friend mentioned of a Hindu who claimed that at times the Spirit of Miran Datar, a famous pious Muslim saint whose Shrine is near Ahmedabad (India), enters his body and then he could walk on fire. The friend forcefully invited the Trustee to witness this phenomenon for himself. He did so and told his friend that it was all false. Because, he argued, how could the spirit of Miran Datar, who was a pious man in his life time, enter the body of a Najas person? *

Traps of Tricksters

Many a time people get trapped when they find some forecasts and predictions come true and follow blindly such persons and ultimately ruin themselves materially in this world and spiritually in the Hereafter. Such predictions and false Wonder Acts, like stopping trains, throwing away a watch or something out of the window of moving trains and afterwards produc­ing the thing back from the pocket of the owner or someone sitting there, may have been done with the help of evil spirits with whom they have made contact through evil ways and magic which are abominable and not worthy of mention.

Salvation is only in Following Shariat

Shias believe that there is one and only one way to achieve the pleasure and nearness to Allah and it is the way shown by the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his Progeny (a.s.).

Shias are not the only sect in Islam who believes that Salvation is only through Shariat. A famous Sufi, Shaikh Bahauddin Zakaria, whose Shrine is at Multan is a source of solace for many, writes in one of his books that the criterion of a true and false Sufi is Shariat. If a Sufi is a follower of Shariat-e-Muhammadi and guides his disciples to do the same, he is a true Sufi other­wise he is not a Sufi but a disciple of Satan.

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* There is a difference between Najis and Najas, Najis things can be purified by ordinary means of purification, while Najas, like dog and pig cannot be purified by customary treatment of purification even if repeated for innumerable times. In this case of an unbeliever only acceptance of Islamic faith could purify the Hmdu

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