In the world we see and touch, we often forget that there is an unseen reality, a realm beyond the physical—an existence filled with forces that we cannot always comprehend, but which profoundly affect our lives. Islam teaches us that the unseen world consists of the angels, jinn, and other spiritual entities that operate under the divine command of Allah. Among the many challenges posed by this unseen world, the dangers of sorcery (sihr), the evil eye (al-‘ayn), and jinn possession are the most prominent. These forces are not mere superstition or figments of the imagination, but real phenomena that have been acknowledged in the Quran and Hadith.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was once affected by Sihr (black magic), cast upon him by Labid ibn al-A’sam, a sorcerer from the Jewish tribe of Banu Zurayq. The magic was done by tying knots in strands of his hair and hiding them in a well, causing the Prophet to feel as if he was doing things he had not actually done, particularly thinking he had been intimate with his wives when he had not. Despite this, the magic did not affect his prophetic duties. After seeking Allah’s help through prayer, Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) informed him of the location of the spell, leading to its discovery and removal.

To cure him, Allah revealed Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas, which the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited as the knots were untied, restoring his health. This event highlights that sorcery can affect anyone no matter how close you are to Allah, it also shows a practical term about the existence of sorcery, the power of seeking refuge in Allah and the importance of reciting these Surahs for protection against harm. It also emphasizes that while magic exists, it can only affect someone by Allah’s will, and His guidance is the ultimate cure.