The Ruling on Quranic and Non-Quranic Amulets: A Clear Prohibition Based on Authentic Evidence
- Muiz As-Siddeeqi
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The Ruling on Quranic and Non-Quranic Amulets: A Clear Prohibition Based on Authentic Evidence
Question to Shaykh Ibn Baaz:
What is the ruling on using amulets (tamā’im) made from the Qur’an and other than the Qur’an?
Shaykh Ibn Baaz Answer:
As for amulets made from other than the Qur’an—such as bones, talismans, cowrie shells, wolf hair, and similar things—then these are condemned and forbidden by clear texts. It is not permissible to hang them on a child or anyone else. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever wears a tamīmah (amulet), may Allah not complete (his affair), and whoever wears a cowrie shell, may Allah not grant him ease.”
And in another narration:
“Whoever wears a tamīmah has committed shirk.”
As for if the amulet is made from the Qur’an or from well-known, good supplications, then the scholars have differed on this.
Some of them said: It is permissible to hang such amulets, and this is reported from a group among the Salaf, who considered it similar to reciting Qur’an over a sick person.
The second opinion is: It is not permissible—and this is the view well-known from ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd and Ḥudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with them both) and a group from the early and later scholars. They said: It is not permissible to hang amulets even if they are from the Qur’an, as a means of closing the door to shirk and blocking the path to it, and in adherence to the general wording of the evidence.
This is because the ahādīth forbidding amulets are general and do not make exceptions. What is required is to act upon the generality of these ahādīth. So, nothing of amulets is allowed in any form, because allowing some may lead to allowing others, and cause confusion.
Therefore, it is necessary to prohibit all of them—and this is the correct opinion due to the clarity of its proof.
If we were to allow amulets from the Qur’an or good supplications, the door would open wide, and everyone would begin to hang whatever they wished. And if someone were to object, they would say: “This is from the Qur’an,” or “This is from good supplications.”
Thus, the door would open, the matter would spiral, and all forms of amulets would become mixed together.
There is a third reason (to prohibit them), and that is: the amulet may be taken into the toilet or filthy places—and it is known that the Speech of Allah must be protected from such disrespect. It is not befitting that it be taken into such places.
Source: Majmūʿ Fatāwā al-ʿAllāmah Ibn Bāz (1/51)
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