al-Hadhar min al-Sihr
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al-Hadhar min al-Sihr (Guarding Against Magic) is an Islamic treatise on sorcery, its legal status, and its treatment according to Islamic jurisprudence, authored by Khalid ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Juraysi and published in Riyadh in 1427 AH (2006 CE).
Purpose and Scope
Al-Juraysi authored the book to clarify the reality and harmful effects of sorcery (sihr), caution Muslims against practicing or approaching it, and illustrate its threat to society. He also aimed to guide believers toward preventive measures prescribed in Islamic law and provide treatment through legitimate Quranic and prophetic incantations (ruqya). The author later drew upon the incantations detailed in this work and his companion treatise, al-Tahsin min Kayd al-Shayatin, when compiling his condensed booklet Ruqyat al-Abrar.
Structure and Contents
The book is structured into an introduction, seven main chapters, and a conclusion:
- Chapter One: Discusses the Quranic "verse of magic" (ayat al-sihr), the Prophetic "hadith of magic" (hadith al-sihr), and scholarly juristic commentary concerning both.
- Chapter Two: Defines the lexical and technical meanings of magic and clarifies related terminology.
- Chapter Three: Details the categories of magic and examines their relationship with what are labeled "spiritual sciences" ('ulum ruhaniyya). In this section, al-Juraysi reviews classical occult writings—including Ghayat al-Hakim by Abu al-Qasim al-Majriti, Sihr al-Nabat by Ibn Wahshiyya, al-Jamhara by al-Khwarazmi, al-'Ama' by al-Dastumaysani, and Shams al-Ma'arif al-Kubra attributed to Ahmad al-Buni—solely to expose their methods and warn against them.
- Chapter Four: Analyzes magic as a social phenomenon.
- Chapter Five: Outlines the distinctive signs by which both the sorcerer and the afflicted person can be identified.
- Chapter Six: Explains the legal rulings concerning sorcery and practitioners of magic in Islamic jurisprudence.
- Chapter Seven: Focuses on prevention and treatment, detailing how believers protect themselves and cure afflictions through lawful means.
- Conclusion: Summarizes the principal research findings and offers practical recommendations.
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