The following is a collection of select quotes – mainly taken from Shaikh Fawzaan’s unabridged explanation of Kitaabut Tawheed (which can be found on his website here: http://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/sites/default/files/mostafeed.pdf ) and including one quote from Shaikh Bin Baz regarding the definition of the ‘Arraaf, the Kaahin, and how the Magician is from them and like them.
The Arabic texts for what was translated can be found in the following file: quotes
The page numbering is based on the (above) file at Shaikh Fawzaan’s website.
Shaikh Fawzaan said:
Fortune-telling means: claiming knowledge of the unseen by using devilish means. So the Kaahin (fortune-teller) is: the one who informs about the hidden things with regards to the future, or things which are lost, because he has humiliated himself for the devils. Because the devils have an ability that mankind doesn’t have. They can ascend in the sky and they try to eavesdrop (on the angels’ conversations) in the sky. Then they tell what they have heard to whoever humiliates themselves for them from mankind. Then this person takes the one word which was heard in the sky (told to them by the devils) and mixes with it 100 lies in order to deceive the people1.
And the devils don’t inform anyone unless they obey them, disbelieve in Allaah – Exalted and Lofty is He, worship others along with Allaah, and carried out all that the devils have dictated to him from disbelief and polytheism. If a person does not do that, then the devils do not obey the Believer who worships only Allaah (God, The Creator). They only obey the one who does what they desire from disbelief in Allaah and worshiping others with Allaah. (p.504-5)
Shaikh Fawzaan said:
He (the author – Imaam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhaab) said: “And it is said: He (the ‘Arraaf) is: the Kaahin (fortune-teller)”
Meaning: the ‘Arraaf and the Kaahin are the same. Because each of them informs about the hidden matters through the use of the devils. So all of them work for the devils even if they differ in title – this is an ‘Arraaf, this is a Kaahin – for the meaning is one, and the work is one – and that (work) is: claiming to have knowledge of the unseen, hidden matters, even though (the names) differ in wording.
(the author said):
“And the Kaahin is the one who informs about the hidden matters with regards to the future”
By way of the devils telling him what they know from those things that mankind doesn’t know. Because the devils know some things that people don’t know. They will tell people about any future events they may know about (see footnote #1) if the people humiliate themselves for them, seek to get closer to them, and do what they desire from disbelieving in Allaah and worshiping others with Him.
So when a person from mankind seeks nearness to a person from the jinn by doing what he (the jinnee) wants, then the jinnee will serve him (the human) in what he seeks from him (by telling him anything he may know) about the hidden, unseen matters. (p.512-513)
Shaikh Fawzaan said:
He (the author) said:
“The ‘Arraaf is: the name for the Kaahin (fortune-teller), the Munajjim (astrologer), the Rammaal (one who claims knowledge of the unseen, hidden matters by drawing lines in the sand) and those like them.”
Because the word “’Arraaf” is general. Everyone who claims to know the future – whether by using fortune-telling, or astrology, or by drawing lines in the sand – comes under this (term). For all of them work with the devils and seek closeness to them. For this reason, Allaah, The Most High, said (translated):
“Shall I inform you (O people!) upon whom the Shayâtin (devils) descend? They descend on every lying (one who tells lies), sinful person who gives ear (to the devils and they pour what they may have heard of the unseen from the angels), and most of them are liars.”2 (Ash-Shu’ara 26:221-3)\
What falls under this is the Kaahin, the Munajjim, the Rammaal, and the ‘Arraaf – all of them fall under the words: “lying, sinful person” (26:222) and the devils descend upon them.
In opposition to the Prophets – alayhimus-salaatu was-salaam – for indeed the angels descend upon them. For this reason He (Allaah) said (translated):
“And the devils have not descended with it” (26:210) meaning: with the Qur’an. “Neither would it suit them, nor they can (produce it). Verily, they have been removed far from hearing it.”3 (26:211 – 212)
So the Prophets – alayhimus-salaatu was-salaam – the angels descend upon them from The Most Merciful. As for the Kuhhaan, then the devils descend upon them. So this includes everyone who speaks about knowing matters by way of these means from those who inform about these things by using those methods that they call drawing lines in the sand, and the rest of (these methods). So this is a comprehensive explanation.
As for (their) differing in the methods (wasaa’il) – this one uses this, that one uses that – then the result is one, the result is (their) claiming knowledge of the unseen, hidden matters. What is important is the result and the ruling.
The result is: informing about knowledge of the unseen, hidden matters and claiming to share with Allaah – He is the Most High and Free from all deficiencies and defects – in knowing the unseen, hidden matters.
The ruling is: All of these people are disbelievers, because they claim to share with Allaah, The Most High, in an attribute which is from His greatest attributes, and that is: knowing the unseen, hidden matters. (p.513-514)
Shakh Bin Baz said4:
It is not permissible to seek treatment from magicians or fortune-tellers. Because the Prophet – sallallahu alayhe wa sallam – prohibited going to the fortune-tellers and magicians. He – sallallahu alayhe wa sallam – said (translated): “Don’t go to them.” And he – alaihe as-salaatu was-salaam – said (translated): “Whoever goes to an ‘Arraaf and asks him about something, his salaah is not accepted for 40 days.” (Imaam) Muslim collected and narrated it in his Saheeh5
And the ‘Arraaf (one who claims knowledge of the unseen/hidden matters) is a general term which includes the Kaahin (fortune-teller), the astrologer, the magician, the Rammaal (one who draws lines in the sand and claims to be able to tell from that the unseen/hidden matters) and whoever resembles them…
Shaikh Fawzaan said:
It is not permissible to go to magicians or to believe them. For magicians are like Kuhhaan (fortune-tellers), or more evil than Kuhhaan. And the Prophet – sallallahu alayhe wa sallam – said:
من أتى كَاهِنًا لم تُقبل له صلاة أربعين يومًا
“Whoever goes to a Kaahin (fortune-teller), his salaah is not accepted for 40 days.”6
And he – sallallahu alayhe wa sallam – said:
من أتى كاهنًا أو عرّافًا فصدّقه بما يقول فقد كفر بما أُنزل على محمَّد صلى الله عليه وسلم
“Whoever goes to a Kaahin or an ‘Arraaf, then believes in what he says, has indeed disbelieved in what was sent down to Muhammad – sallallahu alayhe wa sallam.”7
And magic is from the Taghoot and from Jibt as has preceeded – and it is more evil than fortune-telling. Since it is obligatory for the Muslims to boycott and distance themselves from the Kaahin, and the one who goes to him (the Kaahin) – his salaah is not accepted for 40 days, and he disbelieves in what was sent down to Muhammad – sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, then how can some people go to magicians and conjurers when they may order him to commit shirk, they may order him to sacrifice an animal for other than Allaah?! This matter is very dangerous. The Muslims must warn from this trial (balaa’), this epidemic, and this danger so that it doesn’t spread amongst the Muslims. (p.490)
Shaikh Fawzaan said:
The appropriateness of this chapter with regards to the chapter which came before it : the chapter before this one clarified magic and the ruling on the magician, as well as clarifying some of the types of magic. And this chapter is about the ruling of the Kuhhaan (fortune-tellers). That is because of the resemblance between the Kuhhaan and the magicians. Because both magic and fortune-telling are devilish actions which negate and oppose the Aqeedah (correct belief). (p.504)
Translated by Ummu Khadijah
Footnotes
1 ‘Urwa reported from ‘A’isha that she said that people asked Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) about the kahins. Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said to them: It is nothing (i. e. it is a mere superstition). They said: Allaah’s Messenger, they at times narrate to us things which we find true. Thereupon Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: That is a word pertaining to truth which a jinn snatches away and then cackles into the ear of his friend as the hen does. And then they mix in it more than one hundred lies.
From Saheeh Muslim, Kitaabus Salaam (book of Salutation and Greetings), chapter: Kihaabah (fortune-telling) is prohibited and it is prohibited to go to the Kaahin (fortune-teller)
This hadeeth taken from: http://spubs.com/sps/smm/
2Translation of these verses taken from: www.thenoblequran.com
3Translation of these two verses taken from: www.thenoblequran.com
4Translated from: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/21586
5With the wording:
من أتى عرَّافًا فسألَه عن شيٍء لم تُقْبَلْ لهُ صلاةٌ أربعين ليلةً
(there being only one difference in the wording – “nights” as opposed to “days”, though there are other authentic ahaadeeth which mention “days”)
Found in Saheeh Muslim, Kitaabus Salaam (book of Salutation and Greetings) under the chapter “Kihaanah (e.g. fortune-telling) is forbidden and it is forbidden to go to the Kaahin (fortune-teller)”:
Safiyya reported from some of the wives of Allaah’s Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) Allaah’s Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) having said: He who visits a diviner (‘Arraf) and asks him about anything, his prayers extending to forty nights will not be accepted
The translation of the hadeeth taken from: http://spubs.com/sps/smm/
6 I couldn’t find this exact wording. However, many scholars have said that a hadeeth can be narrated by meaning if certain conditions are met. For example what Shaikh Uthaymeen said here:
http://www.ibnothaimeen.com/all/books/article_16871.shtml under the heading:
رواية الحديث بالمعنى
7 Shaikh Albaanee declared it Saheeh in Saheeh al Jaamee’ (5939)
Tags: arraaf, arraf, definition, devil, don't, fawzaan, jinn, kahin, kitaab, Kitab, magician, not go, saahir, shaytaan, tawheed, tawhid
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