Marriage and Sorcery

Question

I have a sister who was betrothed nine times. Every time before the wedding something happens to cancel the wedding. We were amazed because she is kind and straight. Praise and thanks be to Allah, we are very content, but we would like an explanation or a suggestion of what we can do within the boundaries of Islam? Could you kindly advise? Thank you very much and may Allah bless you!

Answer

All praise be to Allahand peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family, his Companions, and those who follow him.

It is not hidden from you that a righteous husband is a kind of provision which Allah (may He be Exalted) gives to a righteous woman.

Such a provision has a fixed time that cannot be advanced or delayed. No doubt that the provision which Allah destined for your sister has not come yet, and perhaps there is a good benefit and some wisdom in this delay that none but Allah (Glory be to Him) knows. Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) says: "And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allâh knows but you do not know." [Surat Al Baqarah: 216].

Allah had predestined the measures of creatures 50,000 years before He created the heavens and the earth as was reported inSahih Muslimthat the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah had ordained the measures (of quality) of the creation fifty thousand years before He created the creation." It was also reported inSunan Abu DawudandAt-Tirmidhythat the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The first thing Allah created was the pen. He said to it: 'Write down'. It said: What should I write down, O Lord? He said: "Write down the measures of everything until the Last Hour is established."" It was also reported in theHadithofImam Muslim: "Everything is predestined even incapability and smartness." So, everything a person does and what happens to him is predestined before his birth whether marriage or something else.

The reason of delaying your sister's marriage may be sorcery or the domination of a Jinn over her. Allah (may He be Exalted) informed people that sorcery can cause harm by the will of Allah and it cannot cause harm by itself as Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "And they followed what the Shayâtîn (devils) gave out (falsely of the magic) in the lifetime of Sulaimân (Solomon). Sulaimân did not disbelieve, but the Shayâtîn (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Hârût and Mârût, but neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, "We are only for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us)." And from these (angels) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife, but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allâh's Leave. And they learn that which harms them and profits them not. And indeed they knew that the buyers of it (magic) would have no share in the Hereafter. And how bad indeed was that for which they sold their ownselves, if they but knew." [Surat Al Baqarah: 102].

To solve this problem, your sister can pronounceRuqyah(reciting Qur'an and saying supplications over the sick seeking healing) on some water then drink it and bath herself with as was reported byIbn `AbbasandImam Ahmad. This was also has been chosen by theShaykh of Islam,Ibn TaymiyahandIbn Al Qayyim. She should recite the following:

1-Surat Al Fatihah.

2-Ayat-ul-Kursy(the Qur'anic Verse of Allah's Chair,Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:255) which is Allah's Saying: "Allâh! Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), Al Hayyul-Qayyuum (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists). Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursî extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great." [Surat Al Baqarah: 255].

3-AyahsfromSurat Al A`raf, which are Allah's Saying: "And We revealed to Mûsâ (Moses) (saying): "Throw your stick," and behold! It swallowed up straight away all the falsehood which they showed.*Thus truth was confirmed, and all that they did was made of no effect.*So they were defeated there and returned disgraced. And the sorcerers fell down prostrate.*Saying: "We believe in the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).*The Lord of Mûsâ (Moses) and Hârûn (Aaron)." [Surat Al A`raf: 117- 122].

4-AyahsfromSurat Yunus, which are Allah's Saying: "And when the sorcerers came, Mûsâ (Moses) said to them: "Cast down what you want to cast!"*Then when they had cast down, Mûsâ (Moses) said: "What you have brought is sorcery; Allâh will surely make it of no effect. Verily, Allâh does not set right the work of Al-Mufsidûn (the evil-doers, corrupters).*And Allâh will establish and make apparent the truth by His Words, however much the Mujrimûn (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners) may hate (it)." [Surat Yunus: 80- 82].

5-AyahsfromSurat Taha, which are Allah's Saying: "We (Allâh) said: "Fear not! Surely, you will have the upper hand.*And throw that which is in your right hand! It will swallow up that which they have made. That which they have made is only a magician's trick, and the magician will never be successful, to whatever amount (of skill) he may attain." [Surat Taha: 68- 69].

6-Surat Al Kafirun.

7-Surat Al IkhlasandAl Mu`awwidhatayn(Surahs Al Falaq and An-Nas) and repeating them frequently.

8-Reciting some supplications such as: "O Allah! The Lord of the people, (Please) cure (Heal) (this patient), for You are the Healer. None brings about healing but You; a healing that will leave behind no ailment." We advise her to see the booklet of "Hisn Al Muslim Wal Ruqyah Al Shar`iyyah" of Al Qahtany.

9-Persistence onAdhkar(invocations and Remembrances said at certain times on a regular basis) that is recited in the morning and in the evening because they contain supplication to protect one's family and money. You can also search for a righteous person to reciteRuqyahfor her. Moreover, resort to Allah (may He be Exalted) and invoke Him in the times when supplications will be answered to grant her a pious husband.

We ask Allahto guide her to success, facilitate her matters, and grant her a pious husband who would help her to obey Allah and be happy with him in this world and in the Hereafter. Amen!