Wearing Rings or Threads to ward off evil???

Wearing Rings or Threads to ward off evil???

 

“Say: “Tell me then, the things that you invoke besides Allah – if Allah intended some harm to me, could they remove His harm, or if He intended some mercy for me, could they withhold His Mercy?” Say: “Sufficient for me is Allah; in Him those who trust [the true Believers] must put their trust.”” (The Holy Quran, Chapter 39, Verse 38)

In this verse, Allah , Most Glorified, Most High commands His Prophet, Muhammad (pbuh) to reject those powerless, graven images worshipped by the polytheists, which can neither remove any harm which might befall a person by Allah’s Decree, nor prevent any sustenance or blessings which might come to a person from Him. Then He commands him to place his trust in Allah, for He is Sufficient to bring benefit or prevent harm for all who sincerely depend upon Him.

It proves that protection from harm is only from Allah , and so entrusting oneself to any other protector – such as rings, threads etc. is an act of Shirk.

It is reported on the authority of Umran Ibn Husain (RA), that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) saw a man with a brass ring in his hand, and he asked him: “What is this?” He replied: “It is for protection from al-waahinah (weakness).” The Prophet (pbuh) answered: “Remove it at once, for verily, it will not increase you except in weakness, and were you to die whilst wearing it, you would never be successful.” (Narrated by Ahmad, with an acceptable Sanad)

Umran Ibn Husain (RA) informs us in this Hadith that the Prophet (may Peace Be Upon Him) saw a man with a brass ring in his hand, and he asked him for what purpose he was wearing it. The man answered that he was wearing it to protect him from illness, at which the Prophet (may Peace Be Upon Him) ordered him to remove it and informed him that it would only cause him to become weak and not protect him from illness at all, and that should he die while wearing it and believing in its power to protect him, he would not succeed in the Hereafter, nor would he know eternal bliss.

Some of the scholars have said that wearing a ring or such like in order to protect oneself against harm is an act of minor Shirk, but what is understood from the Hadith of Umran is that it constitutes major Shirk because it is mentioned in the Hadith that to die while doing so would result in failure to achieve everlasting bliss in the Hereafter. It could be that the definition depends upon the beliefs and intentions of the perpetrator if he believed that it could cure him of itself, without Allah’s Help, then it would be major Shirk; while if he believed it be a cause of the cure, while Allah is the One Who grants health, then it would be considered to be minor Shirk – and Allah knows best.

It proves the obligation to reject the wearing of rings, bangles, chains etc. as a means of protection against harm, because bringing good and avoiding harm are the prerogative of Allah , Alone, and seeking such help from other than Allah means associating partners with Him.

It is also reported by Ahmad on the authority of `Uqbah Ibn A`mir (RA) in a marfoo’ form:

“Whoever wore a tamemah (talisman or amulet), Allah will never see his wishes fulfilled, and whoever wears a wada’ah (a sea-shell resembling an oyster shell), Allah will never grant him peace and tranquility.” – and in another narration of Ahmad: “Whoever wears a tamemah has committed an act of Shirk.”

Uqbah Ibn A`mir (RA) informs us in this Hadith that the Messenger of Allah (may Peace Be Upon Him) supplicated against every person who wears a talisman or a seashell, believing that it will benefit him without Allah , that Allah will not allow him to achieve any of his goals nor fulfill his wishes or dreams; rather, He will prevent him from ever finding security and tranquility; and he also informed us that any such action is false; indeed, in another narration, he informed us that the tamemah is a form of Shirk because its perpetrator believes that it will benefit him without Allah.

It proves that wearing an amulet or talisman, believing that it can benefit one is an act of Shirk because benefits come only from Allah, the Almighty, the All-powerful.

It is reported by Ibn Abi Hatim, on the authority of Huzaifah (RA) that he saw a man with a thread in his hand to protect him from fever; he broke it and recited the Words of Allah, Most High:

“And most of them do not believe in Allah, except that they associate partners with Him” (The Holy Quran, Chapter 12, Verse 106)

Huzaifah (RA) visited a sick man and found him wearing a thread on his wrist; and when he asked the man what was the purpose of it, he told him that it was a protection from fever, at which Huzaifah (RA) broke it declaring it to be Shirk; and as proof of this, he recited the Words of Allah , Most High: 

“And most of them do not believe in Allah, except that they associate partners with Him” – and the meaning of this verse is that many people believe in Allah , but adulterate their belief with Shirk.

 

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