₦airaland Forum

ola20ng:
An Islamic Perspective on Spiritual Dependency and Superstition

Across many societies, including Nigeria, it is common to find people attributing almost every misfortune to hidden spiritual forces. When illness persists, businesses fail, marriages are delayed, children cannot be conceived or sudden tragedies occur, many immediately seek the services of spiritual healers, self-proclaimed alfas, pastors, traditional religious practitioners, fortune-tellers, astrologers and soothsayers. Some are convinced that these individuals can reveal the hidden cause of their problems, identify who is responsible for their suffering or predict what the future holds.

While Islam acknowledges the existence of the unseen (al-ghayb), it draws a clear distinction between believing in the unseen as revealed by Allah and claiming access to knowledge or powers that belong exclusively to Him. The Qur'an firmly establishes that Allah alone controls benefit and harm and He alone possesses complete knowledge of the unseen.

Allah says:
"And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it except Him. And if He intends good for you, none can repel His bounty. He bestows it upon whom He wills of His servants and He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful." (Qur'an 10:107)

This verse forms one of the strongest foundations of Islamic belief concerning reliance upon Allah (Tawakkul) and the rejection of superstition and spiritual exploitation.

Allah Alone Removes Harm

The first lesson of this verse is that no created being possesses independent power to remove hardship.
Whether the hardship is illness, poverty, unemployment, infertility, emotional distress, oppression or any other affliction, ultimate relief comes only from Allah.
The Qur'an further states:

"Who answers the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes evil?" (Qur'an 27:62)
Likewise, Prophet Ibrahim said:
"And when I am ill, it is He who cures me." (Qur'an 26:80)

Doctors prescribe medicine, surgeons perform operations, counsellors offer guidance and friends provide support, but all these are merely lawful means. The cure itself belongs to Allah.
A Muslim therefore seeks treatment while believing that success comes only through Allah's permission.

Allah Alone Grants Good

The second part of the verse reminds believers that no one can prevent Allah's blessings.
Allah says:

"If He intends good for you, none can repel His bounty."
He also says:
"Whatever mercy Allah opens for people, none can withhold it." (Qur'an 35:2)

# No employer can permanently prevent the provision Allah has decreed.
# No enemy can block a blessing Allah has written.
# No jealous person can remove a favour that Allah wishes to bestow.

For this reason the Prophet Muhammad (S A W) frequently supplicated:

"Allahumma la mani‘a lima a‘tayta, wa la mu‘tiya lima mana‘ta, wa la yanfa‘u dhal-jaddi minkal-jadd"
"O Allah, none can withhold what You have given, and none can give what You have withheld, and no wealth or fortune of a wealthy person can benefit them against You."
(Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

The Difference Between Lawful Means and False Spiritual Claims

Islam never discourages taking lawful means.
* A sick person should consult qualified medical professionals.
* Someone seeking employment should improve their skills and submit applications.
* A businessperson should work diligently and honestly.
* Those seeking spiritual comfort may request lawful ruqyah (Qur'anic supplication) from trustworthy Muslims while understanding that the healing itself comes from Allah alone.

However, Islam rejects the belief that any individual possesses independent supernatural powers capable of guaranteeing healing, prosperity, marriage, protection, promotion or success.
The Prophet taught Ibn Abbas:

"If you ask, ask Allah; and if you seek help, seek help from Allah." (Jami' al-Tirmidhi)

The heart of the believer must remain attached to Allah rather than to human intermediaries.

Consulting Soothsayers and Fortune-Tellers

Perhaps one of the most worrying trends in contemporary society is the increasing dependence on fortune-tellers, astrologers, diviners and soothsayers.
Many people visit them asking questions such as:
* Why has my business collapsed?
* Who is behind my sickness?
* Who is responsible for my delayed marriage?
* Who bewitched my family?
* What will happen to me next year?
* Will I succeed in my election or examination?

Islam condemns such practices because they involve claims to knowledge that belongs exclusively to Allah.
Allah declares:

"Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen except Allah." (Qur'an 27:65)
He also says:
"With Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him." (Qur'an 6:59)

Even the Prophet Muhammad (S A W) was instructed to declare:

"If I knew the unseen, I would have acquired much good and no harm would have touched me." (Qur'an 7:188)

If the greatest of Allah's creation did not possess independent knowledge of the unseen, then no ordinary human being can legitimately claim such knowledge.

The Serious Warning of the Prophet

The Prophet (S A W) strongly warned Muslims against consulting fortune-tellers.
He said:

"Whoever visits a fortune-teller and asks him about anything, his prayers will not be accepted for forty nights." (Sahih Muslim)

He also said:

"Whoever goes to a fortune-teller or a soothsayer and believes what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad ." (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi; authenticated by many scholars)

These hadith demonstrate that Islam treats the issue as one of creed ('aqidah), not merely a cultural practice.

The Business of Spiritual Exploitation

One unfortunate consequence of widespread superstition is the emergence of individuals who profit from people's fears.
They promise miraculous solutions, identify imaginary enemies, prescribe expensive rituals, sell charms and amulets or claim exclusive access to hidden spiritual knowledge.
Some convince families that every setback is caused by witches or jealous relatives, creating suspicion and destroying relationships.
Others demand large sums of money before offering supposed spiritual solutions.
The Qur'an presents a completely different model.
Every prophet declared:

"I ask of you no payment for this. My reward is only from the Lord of the worlds." (See Qur'an 26:109, 127, 145, 164 and 180.)


Religious guidance is not meant to become a commercial enterprise built upon people's suffering.

Beware of Charms and Amulets

Islam also warns against placing trust in charms, talismans and amulets believed to possess supernatural powers.
The Prophet (S A W) said:

"Whoever wears an amulet, may Allah not fulfil his purpose." (Musnad Ahmad)

Objects have no independent power.
Protection belongs to Allah alone.
The believer seeks protection through sincere supplication, remembrance of Allah, Qur'anic recitation, lawful ruqyah and obedience to Allah.
True Reliance Upon Allah
True tawakkul does not mean abandoning practical effort.
Islam teaches believers to combine trust in Allah with responsible action.
The Prophet (S A W) said:

"Be keen on what benefits you, seek Allah's help and do not give up." (Sahih Muslim
)
He also instructed a man:

"Tie your camel and then place your trust in Allah." (Jami' al-Tirmidhi)


The believer therefore seeks medical care, pursues education, works honestly and uses lawful means, while recognising that every means succeeds only by Allah's permission.

Practical Lessons for Nigerian Muslims

In light of these teachings, Muslims should:

# Turn first to Allah whenever hardship strikes.
# Increase du'a, repentance and sincere worship.
# Use lawful means such as medicine, education and honest work.
# Avoid fortune-tellers, astrologers, diviners and soothsayers.
# Reject charms, talismans and objects believed to possess independent powers.
# Be cautious of anyone who commercialises religion or claims exclusive spiritual powers.
# Remember that every blessing and every relief ultimately comes from Allah.

In conclusion, the verse:

"And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it except Him; and if He intends good for you, none can repel His bounty." (Qur'an 10:107)
summarises one of the greatest principles of Islamic faith.
It teaches believers to free their hearts from dependence on created beings and to place complete trust in the Creator.
Islam does not deny the use of lawful means, nor does it reject medical treatment or legitimate spiritual practices rooted in the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah. Rather, it rejects the attribution of divine powers to human beings, objects or hidden forces.
In an age where fear and uncertainty often drive people towards superstition and spiritual manipulation, Muslims must revive the Qur'anic understanding that Allah alone removes harm, Allah alone grants benefit and Allah alone knows the unseen.
Whoever firmly establishes this belief will find peace of heart, clarity of purpose and freedom from the chains of deception, for the One who controls every affair has declared:

"And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it except Him; and if He intends good for you, none can repel His bounty. He bestows it upon whom He wills of His servants, and He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful." (Qur'an 10:107)

May Almighty Allah protect every one of us. Aamin.

tanigororo:
Salam Alaikum,
Can you explain why we have Surat Suratul Nas & suratul Alaq. Quran 113 & 114.

ola20ng:
An Islamic Perspective on Spiritual Dependency and Superstition

Across many societies, including Nigeria, it is common to find people attributing almost every misfortune to hidden spiritual forces. When illness persists, businesses fail, marriages are delayed, children cannot be conceived or sudden tragedies occur, many immediately seek the services of spiritual healers, self-proclaimed alfas, pastors, traditional religious practitioners, fortune-tellers, astrologers and soothsayers. Some are convinced that these individuals can reveal the hidden cause of their problems, identify who is responsible for their suffering or predict what the future holds.

While Islam acknowledges the existence of the unseen (al-ghayb), it draws a clear distinction between believing in the unseen as revealed by Allah and claiming access to knowledge or powers that belong exclusively to Him. The Qur'an firmly establishes that Allah alone controls benefit and harm and He alone possesses complete knowledge of the unseen.

Allah says:
"And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it except Him. And if He intends good for you, none can repel His bounty. He bestows it upon whom He wills of His servants and He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful." (Qur'an 10:107)

This verse forms one of the strongest foundations of Islamic belief concerning reliance upon Allah (Tawakkul) and the rejection of superstition and spiritual exploitation.

Allah Alone Removes Harm

The first lesson of this verse is that no created being possesses independent power to remove hardship.
Whether the hardship is illness, poverty, unemployment, infertility, emotional distress, oppression or any other affliction, ultimate relief comes only from Allah.
The Qur'an further states:

"Who answers the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes evil?" (Qur'an 27:62)
Likewise, Prophet Ibrahim said:
"And when I am ill, it is He who cures me." (Qur'an 26:80)

Doctors prescribe medicine, surgeons perform operations, counsellors offer guidance and friends provide support, but all these are merely lawful means. The cure itself belongs to Allah.
A Muslim therefore seeks treatment while believing that success comes only through Allah's permission.

Allah Alone Grants Good

The second part of the verse reminds believers that no one can prevent Allah's blessings.
Allah says:

"If He intends good for you, none can repel His bounty."
He also says:
"Whatever mercy Allah opens for people, none can withhold it." (Qur'an 35:2)

# No employer can permanently prevent the provision Allah has decreed.
# No enemy can block a blessing Allah has written.
# No jealous person can remove a favour that Allah wishes to bestow.

For this reason the Prophet Muhammad (S A W) frequently supplicated:

"Allahumma la mani‘a lima a‘tayta, wa la mu‘tiya lima mana‘ta, wa la yanfa‘u dhal-jaddi minkal-jadd"
"O Allah, none can withhold what You have given, and none can give what You have withheld, and no wealth or fortune of a wealthy person can benefit them against You."
(Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

The Difference Between Lawful Means and False Spiritual Claims

Islam never discourages taking lawful means.
* A sick person should consult qualified medical professionals.
* Someone seeking employment should improve their skills and submit applications.
* A businessperson should work diligently and honestly.
* Those seeking spiritual comfort may request lawful ruqyah (Qur'anic supplication) from trustworthy Muslims while understanding that the healing itself comes from Allah alone.

However, Islam rejects the belief that any individual possesses independent supernatural powers capable of guaranteeing healing, prosperity, marriage, protection, promotion or success.
The Prophet taught Ibn Abbas:

"If you ask, ask Allah; and if you seek help, seek help from Allah." (Jami' al-Tirmidhi)

The heart of the believer must remain attached to Allah rather than to human intermediaries.

Consulting Soothsayers and Fortune-Tellers

Perhaps one of the most worrying trends in contemporary society is the increasing dependence on fortune-tellers, astrologers, diviners and soothsayers.
Many people visit them asking questions such as:
* Why has my business collapsed?
* Who is behind my sickness?
* Who is responsible for my delayed marriage?
* Who bewitched my family?
* What will happen to me next year?
* Will I succeed in my election or examination?

Islam condemns such practices because they involve claims to knowledge that belongs exclusively to Allah.
Allah declares:

"Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen except Allah." (Qur'an 27:65)
He also says:
"With Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him." (Qur'an 6:59)

Even the Prophet Muhammad (S A W) was instructed to declare:

"If I knew the unseen, I would have acquired much good and no harm would have touched me." (Qur'an 7:188)

If the greatest of Allah's creation did not possess independent knowledge of the unseen, then no ordinary human being can legitimately claim such knowledge.

The Serious Warning of the Prophet

The Prophet (S A W) strongly warned Muslims against consulting fortune-tellers.
He said:

"Whoever visits a fortune-teller and asks him about anything, his prayers will not be accepted for forty nights." (Sahih Muslim)

He also said:

"Whoever goes to a fortune-teller or a soothsayer and believes what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad ." (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi; authenticated by many scholars)

These hadith demonstrate that Islam treats the issue as one of creed ('aqidah), not merely a cultural practice.

The Business of Spiritual Exploitation

One unfortunate consequence of widespread superstition is the emergence of individuals who profit from people's fears.
They promise miraculous solutions, identify imaginary enemies, prescribe expensive rituals, sell charms and amulets or claim exclusive access to hidden spiritual knowledge.
Some convince families that every setback is caused by witches or jealous relatives, creating suspicion and destroying relationships.
Others demand large sums of money before offering supposed spiritual solutions.
The Qur'an presents a completely different model.
Every prophet declared:

"I ask of you no payment for this. My reward is only from the Lord of the worlds." (See Qur'an 26:109, 127, 145, 164 and 180.)


Religious guidance is not meant to become a commercial enterprise built upon people's suffering.

Beware of Charms and Amulets

Islam also warns against placing trust in charms, talismans and amulets believed to possess supernatural powers.
The Prophet (S A W) said:

"Whoever wears an amulet, may Allah not fulfil his purpose." (Musnad Ahmad)

Objects have no independent power.
Protection belongs to Allah alone.
The believer seeks protection through sincere supplication, remembrance of Allah, Qur'anic recitation, lawful ruqyah and obedience to Allah.
True Reliance Upon Allah
True tawakkul does not mean abandoning practical effort.
Islam teaches believers to combine trust in Allah with responsible action.
The Prophet (S A W) said:

"Be keen on what benefits you, seek Allah's help and do not give up." (Sahih Muslim
)
He also instructed a man:

"Tie your camel and then place your trust in Allah." (Jami' al-Tirmidhi)


The believer therefore seeks medical care, pursues education, works honestly and uses lawful means, while recognising that every means succeeds only by Allah's permission.

Practical Lessons for Nigerian Muslims

In light of these teachings, Muslims should:

# Turn first to Allah whenever hardship strikes.
# Increase du'a, repentance and sincere worship.
# Use lawful means such as medicine, education and honest work.
# Avoid fortune-tellers, astrologers, diviners and soothsayers.
# Reject charms, talismans and objects believed to possess independent powers.
# Be cautious of anyone who commercialises religion or claims exclusive spiritual powers.
# Remember that every blessing and every relief ultimately comes from Allah.

In conclusion, the verse:

"And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it except Him; and if He intends good for you, none can repel His bounty." (Qur'an 10:107)
summarises one of the greatest principles of Islamic faith.
It teaches believers to free their hearts from dependence on created beings and to place complete trust in the Creator.
Islam does not deny the use of lawful means, nor does it reject medical treatment or legitimate spiritual practices rooted in the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah. Rather, it rejects the attribution of divine powers to human beings, objects or hidden forces.
In an age where fear and uncertainty often drive people towards superstition and spiritual manipulation, Muslims must revive the Qur'anic understanding that Allah alone removes harm, Allah alone grants benefit and Allah alone knows the unseen.
Whoever firmly establishes this belief will find peace of heart, clarity of purpose and freedom from the chains of deception, for the One who controls every affair has declared:

"And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it except Him; and if He intends good for you, none can repel His bounty. He bestows it upon whom He wills of His servants, and He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful." (Qur'an 10:107)

May Almighty Allah protect every one of us. Aamin.

ola20ng:
Wa alaykum salaam wa rahamatullah wa barakaatuhu
The story associated with Suuratul Falaq and Suuratul Naas is not merely about the existence of magic and its effects (although Islam recognises the existence of magic and evil doers); it is, more importantly, about the correct Islamic response to every form of spiritual fear. The Qur'an redirects the believer from dependence on human beings who claim supernatural powers to complete dependence upon Allah.
Muslims are commanded to seek refuge in Allah alone rather than in fortune-tellers, soothsayers, astrologers, self-proclaimed spiritual healers or sellers of charms and amulets.
Allah says in Qur'an 9: 51

"Say: Nothing will afflict us except what Allah has ordained for us; He is our Patron; and on Allah let the believers rely."