Sorcery is an old deviation in the history of humankind. Since the time Allah has sent His prophets to illuminate and guide humanity, the enslavement of men by the powers of evil has been a part of human predicament. Allah says: “No Messenger came to those before them, but they said: “A sorcerer or a madman!” (Qur’an 51:52). This indicates that all the nations to whom Allah sent a Messenger had known sorcery.
Magic in Babylon and Persia
The earliest documented ancient nation who knew magic were probably the Chaldeans, a Semitic Babylonian tribe who lived in the estuaries of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers. The Babylonians worshipped idols that represented the stars. They believed that all natural phenomena, as well as human fate, are under the influence of the stars. They were the pioneers of astrology. Their observations, from the third millennium on, were gradually systematised into formal prognostications, based on astrological and astronomical calculations, regarding the effectiveness of any human undertaking. Chaldean priests and magicians interpreted the movements of the heavenly bodies, the rising and setting of the sun, eclipses, etc to determine their influence on the lives of men. The interpreters were attached to a particular temple, and their decisions were accepted not only by the people at large but by the rulers themselves.
Archaeological discoveries indicate that demons had a central place in Babylonian life, and the fear of demons was the principal aspect of the Assyro-Babylonian religions. Plants, minerals, feathers, hair, incantations and exorcisms were frequently used in their unending struggle against demons. Chaldeans were notorious in using the blood of birds, which they fed a special diet, for their work of sorcery.
Astrology then spread to Persia, after the Persians conquered Babylon. The Persians were originally monotheists, and killed or punished the Chaldean sorcerers, but later on they deviated, and espoused astrology. Rostum, the Persian emperor, would not engage in any war before consulting the stars. On his flag were written complicated magic symbols that would presumably assure him victory.
Magic in Rome and Greece
From Mesopotamia where astrological practices were in force, astrology spread to Egypt, and to the Roman empire. Among the Romans, astrology was carried to even greater length. The orderliness of the heavenly bodies suggested to the professional astrologers the possibility of mathematical precision in forecasting human events. For the gods themselves had now become identified with the heavenly bodies. During the period of the Roman Empire, astrology exerted a powerful influence in major national policies and in the imperial decisions and decrees of the ruling emperor. Every level of society felt the effects of astrological predictions.
Magic was widely practised in ancient Greece. The Spartans’ religious ceremonies and rituals were closely related to magical beliefs. Herodyth described how magicians interpreted sounds coming down from the heavens, and up from the underground. Ancient Greeks believed in magic numbers, charms and talismans. Babylonian astrology was introduced to Greece after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, when Oriental influences imposed themselves on Hellenistic life.
Magic in Ancient Egypt
The most abundantly documented civilization, where the practice of magic was deeply rooted in religious beliefs is that of Ancient Egypt. Many Egyptologists interpret the hieroglyphs as no more than magic incantations and charms. Ancient Egypt was a well advanced civilization at that time, and no art work, craft or project was undertaken without magic rituals. Charms were administered by the priest to assure the success of the project. Ancient Egyptians divided the human body into different parts, and believed that each part was under the influence of a god. They wrote calendars for favourable and unfavourable days for each human activity. A collection of inscriptions found on papyrus, the walls of buildings, monuments, and tombs constitute what is known as the Egyptian Book of the Dead. These ancient Egyptian writings embody the rituals and magic associated with the burial of the dead and their passage to into the afterlife.
The art of magic and sorcery was so advanced in Egypt that it was highly regarded and widely mimicked by the other ancient civilizations.
Those who are acquainted with the ancient Egyptians’ magic, realise the extent of the serious damage magic incurred on humanity throughout history. No doubt that the story of Prophet Musa alaihissalaam and the Egyptian sorcerers, as told in the Noble Qur’an, is the best illustration of the powerful influence of magic on the people. The Pharaoh and his chiefs asked Musa to prove he is indeed the Prophet of Allah. Pharaoh said: “If indeed you have come with a Sign show it forth, if you tell the truth. Then Moses threw his stick and behold! It was a serpent manifest! And he drew out his hand and behold! It was white for the beholders. The chiefs of the people of Pharaoh said: ‘This is indeed a well versed sorcerer; he wants to get you out of your land, so what do you advise?’ They said: ‘Put him and his brother off for a time, and send callers to the cities to collect and bring up to you all well-versed sorcerers.’ So there came the sorcerers to Pharaoh, they said: ‘Indeed there will be a good reward for us if we win.” (Qur’an 7:106-113) Pharaoh and his people failed to see the miracles presented by Musa as a sign of his prophethood, they thought he was a sorcerer and the best way to defeat him is to bring their most powerful sorcerers. And so the contest began: “They said: ‘O Moses! Will you throw first, or shall we have the first throw?’ He said: ‘Throw you first.’ So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they displayed a great magic. And We inspired Moses, saying: ‘Throw your stick,’ and behold! It swallowed up straight away all the falsehoods which they showed. Thus truth was confirmed, and all that they did was made of no effect. So they were defeated there and then, and were returned disgraced.” (Qur’an 7:115-119)
Magic Among Jews and Christians
The Torah ordered the Israelis to kill every sorcerer and every witch. The Torah also described the struggle of Moses with the sorcerers and how, by the will of Allah, he defeated them. Later on the Jews deviated from the Torah’s teaching, and many practised sorcery. Rabbi Shanenah said: “The heavenly bodies have such an influence on humans that they can make a man intelligent, or wealthy, and the sons of Israel are under their influence.” The Talmud contains many magic rituals and beliefs. A story in the Talmud reports that a rabbi transformed a woman into a she-donkey, rode on her back to the market, and there another rabbi transformed her back into her original shape. The Jews’ passion with magic was so deep that it led them to abandon the divine revelations, as Allah said: “And when they came to them a Messenger from Allah confirming what was with them, a party of the people of the Book threw away the Book of Allah behind their backs, as if they did not know! They followed what the devils gave out of the magic in the lifetime of Suleyman.” (Qur’an 2:101-102). The Jews went so far as to claim that Suleyman, the Prophet of Allah, was a magician, who commanded the birds, the jinns, and the wind. They claim that Suleyman had written a book of magic that was hidden under his throne. This book is called the Key of Solomon, it is the most famous handbook on magic ever written, and the Jews were the first to use it. Most medieval magicians’ handbooks were based on the Key of Solomon. Allah exonerated Suleyman from dealing in any magic, saying: “Suleyman did not disbelieve, but the devils disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things as came down at Babylon to the two angels, Harut and Marut.” (Qur’an 2:102). Suleyman, alaihissalaam, dealt in no art of evil, the power of Suleyman was given to him by Almighty Allah.
The Jews brought their knowledge of magic to Europe during the Middle Ages, where it became widespread. In 1533, the Jews founded an association of magicians known as the Cabalists, based on the teaching of the Hebrew Cabala. The Cabalistic system is the source of much Medieval and modern magic and demonology. Modern occultists maintain that the most profound secrets of the Cabala are not recorded, but are passed on by word of mouth to selected magicians. The most famous personality who joined this association is Gilles De Laval De Rais, the French nobleman who fought besides Joan of Arc. He invoked and signed a pact with the devil, and used to sacrifice children to obtain favours from the evil. When the association was closed in 1582, many of the Cabalists joined the Masonic associations, where certain satanic rituals, such as palladism, are practised in some Masonic lodges to this day.
Magic Among the Arabs Before and After Islam
Although the Arabs were not as well versed in magic as other civilizations at that time, they believed in fortune-tellers, diviners, and in bad omens, so much that they would not undertake any important activity before consulting them. Some books, such as al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah by Ibn Katheer, record that some of the Arab tribes especially those in Yemen, knew magic and used magic spells and witchcraft.
When Islam was established in the Arabian peninsula, magic was prohibited. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Whoever believes a fortune-teller, has disbelieved in the revelation sent down to Muhammad.” Umar Ibn al-Khattab, the second Khalifah, ordered his governors to kill any magician in the Muslim territory, as they were considered disbelievers and harmful to the Ummah. For these reasons, sorcery was rarely practised in the first centuries of Islam, but as the Muslim Ummah became weaker, and as deviations and sins became a common feature of the Muslim communities, the practice of magic reappeared. Magic was especially learned and practised in Andalusia (Spain when it was part of the Muslim territory) where the Muslims translated the old Hebrew books of magic. At that time, the country was divided between many Muslim rulers who were fighting each other, and would resort to sorcerers to attain their goals. The Eastern Muslim world was not spared though and had its share of magicians and witches. Ibn Khuldoon recorded in his famous book Al Mukaddimah that certain sects of Sufism deviated and their disciples learned the magic of symbols and talismans, and used it to perform certain magic acts that they call ‘miracles.’
Magic in the Modern World
One would think that the world today, being more ‘enlightened’, and the modern man, relying more and more on his own reasoning powers would never think of returning to mysterious practices of sorcery and other things that his mind cannot comprehend. This is so far from the reality of modern civilizations, for the interest in occult phenomena is widespread and embraces all aspects of societal life. Popular novels, films, music, magazines and newspapers, particularly those of the underground type, produce a constant stream of Satanic encounters, first-hand accounts of witchcraft, sorcery, and Satanic phenomena in their wildest applications. Dark beliefs that have haunted men for millennia have sprung into new life.
This new phenomenon has deep roots that go back to the history of the West. It is a reaction to the disappearance of spiritualism and the failure of an excessively practical rationalism to give a meaning to life. This, and the pursuit of sensual pleasures, resistance to restraints in any form, the triumph of egoism over altruism, of materialism over spiritualism, all are factors that contributed to the re-emergence of sorcery and other Satanic phenomena.
In France, the number of magicians and charlatans exceeds 30,000; generating a business of more than 3bn francs. Psychics and mediums practice freely with no fear from the church nor the government. Many of us may have heard of famous Robert Houdini, French-born magician, but only very few may know the fact that he was hired by the French government in 1856 to go to Algeria and use his magic to discredit the Muslim scholars who were engaged in the Algerian revolution.
The situation in other parts of Europe is the same, if not worse. Fortune-tellers, psychics, and magicians advertise their services in the newspapers and in televisions stations, describing their exceptional powers. One needs only to open the advertisement section to pick and choose. People who seek their services belong to all classes of society. Their predictions about outcomes of major political events are taken seriously by policymakers at the highest level. |
