I have a colleague whose grandmother died as the result of witchcraft, after three years of being bewitched. They tried to treat her but to no avail. My colleague is asking me whether her death is normal or whether there is any virtue or anything that distinguishes a person who dies as the result of witchcraft?.
Praise be to Allaah.After researching the matter, we could not find any evidence or report which indicates that there is any special virtue for one who dies as the result of witchcraft, except that if the victim of witchcraft bears this calamity with patience, he will have the reward of those who are patient, and what a great reward that is. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning”
[al-Zumar 39:10]
“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As‑ Saabiroon (the patient).
156. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’
157. They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones”
[al-Baqarah 2:155-157]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The greater reward comes with the greater trial. When Allaah loves a people He tests them; whoever accepts that will earn divine pleasure and whoever is discontent with that will earn divine wrath.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2396; Ibn Maajah, 4031; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Calamities will continue to befall the believing man and woman in regard to themselves, their children and their wealth, until they meet Allaah with no sins on them.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2399; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
Al-Bukhaari (5653) and Muslim (2576) narrated that ‘Ata’ ibn Abi Rabaah said: Ibn ‘Abbaas said to me: Shall I show you a woman from among the people of Paradise?” I said, “Yes.” He said: “This black woman came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said, ‘I suffer from epilepsy and I become uncovered. Pray to Allaah for me.’ He said, ‘If you wish, you may bear it with patience and Paradise will be yours, or if you wish I will pray to Allaah to heal you.’ She said, ‘I will be patient.’ Then she said, ‘But I become uncovered; pray to Allaah for me that I will not become uncovered.’ So he prayed for her.”
It should be noted that witchcraft is something real, and it may lead to the victim becoming sick, and may even kill him.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: In sharee’ah, witchcraft is divided into two kinds:
1 – Spells and incantations, i.e., recitations and unclear words by means of which the practitioner of witchcraft is able to use the devils to do what he wants of harming his victim. But Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allaah’s Leave”
[al-Baqarah 2:102]
2 – Medicines and potions that affect the body, mind, will and inclinations of the victim, so that he turns away from a person or inclines towards him or her.
So they make a man incline towards his wife or towards another woman, so that he becomes like a dumb beast that she can lead wherever she wants. Or they make the opposite happen.
They affect the victims physically by weakening him little by little, until he dies.
Or they make him imagine things to be other than they really are.
Their affect on his mind may go so far as to make him insane – Allaah forbid.
End quote from Sharh Kitaab al-Tawheed, 2/5.
The victim may attain the reward of the martyr, if the witchcraft leads to him suffering a stomach disease, the plague or pleurisy, or it leads to a woman dying in pregnancy. Ahmad (23804), Abu Dawood (3111) and al-Nasaa’i (1846) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “What do you think martyrdom is?” They said: “Being killed for the sake of Allaah.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Martyrdom is seven things besides being killed for the sake of Allaah, The one who dies of the plague is a martyr; the one who dies by drowning is a martyr; the one who dies of pleurisy is a martyr; the one who dies of a stomach disease is a martyr; the who dies by burning is a martyr; the one who dies beneath a collapsed wall or building is a martyr; and the woman who dies in pregnancy is a martyr.” This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
It says in ‘Awn al-Ma’bood:
… “the one who dies by drowning” – if his journey was for a permissible purpose. “The one who dies of pleurisy” – this refers to ulcers or abscesses which a person gets in his side, then they open and the pain ceases at the time of death; its signs include pain beneath the ribs and difficulty in breathing accompanied by fever and coughing. “The one who dies of a stomach disease” – this refers to diarrhoea or dropsy, or pain in the stomach. …
“the woman who dies in pregnancy” – al-Khattaabi said: this means, if she dies with a child in her womb. End quote.
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Praise be to Allaah.After researching the matter, we could not find any evidence or report which indicates that there is any special virtue for one who dies as the result of witchcraft, except that if the victim of witchcraft bears this calamity with patience, he will have the reward of those who are patient, and what a great reward that is. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning”
[al-Zumar 39:10]
“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As‑ Saabiroon (the patient).
156. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’
157. They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones”
[al-Baqarah 2:155-157]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The greater reward comes with the greater trial. When Allaah loves a people He tests them; whoever accepts that will earn divine pleasure and whoever is discontent with that will earn divine wrath.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2396; Ibn Maajah, 4031; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Calamities will continue to befall the believing man and woman in regard to themselves, their children and their wealth, until they meet Allaah with no sins on them.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2399; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
Al-Bukhaari (5653) and Muslim (2576) narrated that ‘Ata’ ibn Abi Rabaah said: Ibn ‘Abbaas said to me: Shall I show you a woman from among the people of Paradise?” I said, “Yes.” He said: “This black woman came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said, ‘I suffer from epilepsy and I become uncovered. Pray to Allaah for me.’ He said, ‘If you wish, you may bear it with patience and Paradise will be yours, or if you wish I will pray to Allaah to heal you.’ She said, ‘I will be patient.’ Then she said, ‘But I become uncovered; pray to Allaah for me that I will not become uncovered.’ So he prayed for her.”
It should be noted that witchcraft is something real, and it may lead to the victim becoming sick, and may even kill him.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: In sharee’ah, witchcraft is divided into two kinds:
1 – Spells and incantations, i.e., recitations and unclear words by means of which the practitioner of witchcraft is able to use the devils to do what he wants of harming his victim. But Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allaah’s Leave”
[al-Baqarah 2:102]
2 – Medicines and potions that affect the body, mind, will and inclinations of the victim, so that he turns away from a person or inclines towards him or her.
So they make a man incline towards his wife or towards another woman, so that he becomes like a dumb beast that she can lead wherever she wants. Or they make the opposite happen.
They affect the victims physically by weakening him little by little, until he dies.
Or they make him imagine things to be other than they really are.
Their affect on his mind may go so far as to make him insane – Allaah forbid.
End quote from Sharh Kitaab al-Tawheed, 2/5.
The victim may attain the reward of the martyr, if the witchcraft leads to him suffering a stomach disease, the plague or pleurisy, or it leads to a woman dying in pregnancy. Ahmad (23804), Abu Dawood (3111) and al-Nasaa’i (1846) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “What do you think martyrdom is?” They said: “Being killed for the sake of Allaah.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Martyrdom is seven things besides being killed for the sake of Allaah, The one who dies of the plague is a martyr; the one who dies by drowning is a martyr; the one who dies of pleurisy is a martyr; the one who dies of a stomach disease is a martyr; the who dies by burning is a martyr; the one who dies beneath a collapsed wall or building is a martyr; and the woman who dies in pregnancy is a martyr.” This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
It says in ‘Awn al-Ma’bood:
… “the one who dies by drowning” – if his journey was for a permissible purpose. “The one who dies of pleurisy” – this refers to ulcers or abscesses which a person gets in his side, then they open and the pain ceases at the time of death; its signs include pain beneath the ribs and difficulty in breathing accompanied by fever and coughing. “The one who dies of a stomach disease” – this refers to diarrhoea or dropsy, or pain in the stomach. …
“the woman who dies in pregnancy” – al-Khattaabi said: this means, if she dies with a child in her womb. End quote.
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A