Tabsir al-Bashar bi-Tahrim al-Sihr
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- Tabsir al-Bashar bi-Tahrim al-Sihr
Tabsir al-Bashar bi-Tahrim al-Sihr (Enlightening Humanity on the Prohibition of Magic) is a scholarly treatise by the Saudi scholar Ali bin Ghazi al-Tuwaijri, an assistant professor at the College of the Holy Quran at the Islamic University of Madinah, addressing the theological and legal rulings regarding magic (sihr) in Islam . The study was published in the Journal of the Islamic University of Medina (Issue 126) and subsequently released as a monograph by Dar al-Nasiha in 1428 AH (2007 CE) .
Background and Purpose
The author composed the treatise in response to the widespread resurgence of sorcery and charlatanism, noting that modern media, such as satellite television channels, openly promoted occult practices and caused many Muslims to fall into its snares . Al-Tuwaijri stated that the work was intended to inform those ignorant of the prohibition of magic and to dispel doubts surrounding its Islamic legal rulings using evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah .
Methodology
In composing the work, al-Tuwaijri adhered to several research criteria :
- Citing Quranic passages by surah name and verse number within the text .
- Documenting prophetic hadiths from authoritative collections and restricting argumentation to authentic (sahih) narrations, citing evaluations from hadith scholars when narrations were outside Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim .
- Sourcing non-prophetic reports (athar) to their original references .
- Providing brief biographical notices for lesser-known figures mentioned in the text .
- Concluding the study with specialized indexes for Quranic verses, prophetic hadiths, biographical names, bibliographical references, and subject headings .
Contents and Structure
The book is arranged into an introduction, three main chapters, and a conclusion :
- Introduction: Outlines the significance of the subject, reasons for writing, research plan, and methodology .
- Chapter One: Explores the definition of magic linguistically and technically; details proofs of its occurrence and religious prohibition; examines the legal ruling on seeking medical or spiritual treatment from a sorcerer; and addresses the social harms of sorcery .
- Chapter Two: A detailed exegesis of verse 102 of Surat al-Baqarah ( وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ ). It covers the occasions of revelation (asbab al-nuzul), lexical analysis, the exegetical implications regarding the disbelief (kufr) of the sorcerer, and the legal ruling on learning magic according to classical commentators .
- Chapter Three: Analyzes the Quranic verses recounting the confrontation between Moses and the sorcerers of Pharaoh. It covers the interpretation of those verses, legitimate treatment using specific Quranic recitations (ruqyah shar'iyyah), and refutations of the rationalist argument based on يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ مِن سِحْرِهِمْ أَنَّهَا تَسْعَىٰ that magic has no real external reality .
- Conclusion: Summarizes the central findings of the study—affirming the strict prohibition of practicing, learning, or teaching magic, confirming its tangible reality, and reiterating the disbelief of sorcerers—and lists recommended spiritual safeguards, beginning with the realization of monotheism (tawhid) and sincere devotion to God .
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