Fake Healers, Peers and Amils

A comment made on this blog that a friend went to visit a magician or peer and was told by him to visit him alone was a matter of great concern for me. The reason being that I had just read a news report that a man claiming he was a peer was responsible for making 310 women pregnant. Although this happened in Pakistan where there is more pressure on women to produce a son, I believe such men can easily take advantage of vulnerable women wherever they are in the world. If you type in ‘fake peer’ or ‘jaali peer’ on You Tube, the list of reports of such people is endless. The All Voices news website reports that fake peer and amils in Pakistan are making thousands of rupees promising their customers money, love, peace and prosperity through providing magic spells. An article called Fake Charismatic Healing about Christian fake healers astonished me that con artists existed in all faiths and all around the world. It also shows how people are allowing themselves to be fooled, or are they really being fooled? Is it that they want to believe that these healers and peers will cure them because they are desperate for a son or wealth and prosperity?    

  

                         Fake peer makes 310 women              Fake healers are paid
                                        pregnant                                thousands in America.                    
                           

So how do your recognise a fake peer? In an on line magazine it is stated that one obvious sign is that a fake peer or healer will have a set charge placed which will be excessively high in comparison to the services they are providing. These peers will often advertise on television, and in magazines that they can eradicate black magic or illnesses. This sounds familiar as I have myself seen adverts on the internet, in newspapers and in leaflets. Another website lists characteristics of a black magician that may want to harm you. Asking for your mother’s maiden name, wanting an item of used clothing and instructing you to isolate yourself from other people are some of the signs that the person is someone to watch out for. 

Is it the Effects of Black Magic?

Many times I've questioned whether abnormal behaviour or illness of a person can be attributed to black magic or is it genuinely an illness. Many people have commented on this blog raising the same concern. Recently a BBC report highlighted the same concern that sometimes mental illness are not treated because they are considered a possession and rather than seek medical assistance people turn to back street healers. The report discussed the case of Nadeem who was taken to an exorcist because it was believed that he was possessed, but after not recovering was taken to a hospital where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Such cases are not uncommon and mental health professionals are particularly concerned because medical help is sought when the illness is at an advanced stage.

It bothers me as to why people search for healers and pay hundreds when they could simply go to the local GP or hospital. Why are they so willing to attribute serious illnesses to black magic? I found the answer in a report which analysed that the reason for this is that some people are embarrassed about labelling their family member as mental. It could also damage their marriage prospects and acceptance in the family and is considered shameful amongst their community. It is more respectable to say that they have been possessed. What is unfortunate about this is that the person could remain in that ill state and may even suffer discrimination when they could easily be treated.

I was amazed that in an article called Understanding and Dealing with Mental Illness, the signs of mental illness stated were identical to how some described the effects of black magic. So how could you tell the difference and what should you do? The above article states that it is important to find a health professional who understands your beliefs, socio-cultural values and norms and is capable of providing the appropriate treatment. The correct person will develop a holistic plan in which psychological, physical, social and spiritual needs can be taken into account. 

Islamic Perspective on Black Magic

Many people have doubts of whether the whole black magic phenomenon actually exists. It would be difficult to comprehend something if you haven't experienced it yourself. A concept just seen on the television, or just read or heard about can be automatically categorised as a supernatural phenomena. It is evident from several verses of the Qur'an however, that it is a reality. In Chapter 2, verse 102 Allah mentions that although the Prophet Sulaiman was accused of practising magic, it was in fact the disbelievers that indulged in it.  It also states in the verse that disbelievers caused the separation of a husband and wife through black magic. In an article it states that Allah in the Qur'an condemns the use of black magic and those who indulge in it will not have their prayers accepted for 40 days. The Prophet  (pbuh) who himself was afflicted with black magic stated 'Whoever blows on knots practices magic, and whoever practices magic is a polytheist (al Tabarani). As mentioned in one of my previous posts that there are hundreds of people online seeking a cure for what they believe is black magic. I found the thought of them enquiring from people who may not have sufficient knowledge quite disturbing.

Cure and Protection Against Black Magic

There are however numerous websites who do have knowledgeable Islamic scholars providing advice. One Islamic website advises that one should recite  Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Naas often especially  before going to bed after having prayed the fard prayers. The Prophet used to recite these two surahs and blow over himself when he fell ill.  In addition to this reciting Ayah al-Kursi and the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah is also very beneficial. Eating seven Ajwa dates every morning will protect against magic and poison. Another Islamic website mentions that Muslims should empower themselves through practising Islam, reciting the Qur'an, making dhikr and dua as well as refraining from sins. I found a forum on which people gave advice on how to break black magic spells. What I liked was that the suggestions forwarded were from the Qur'an and in accordance with the Islamic teachings.

How is Black Magic Performed?

I have always been curious about how black magic is performed and in a way fascinated. How someone could have such an effect on a person’s life, health and family and may be even kill a person without as much as touching them?  How did the lady and the young man in the videos end up like this? Several people have asked me this question. After doing some research I've picked two prominent methods magicians use, particularly in Pakistan.  It may sound like something from out of a horror movie but these methods have been related by real people online.

Knotted threads

The magician takes a few threads out of the victim's used clothes which will be provided by his client, and ties knots in them. He then reads some magic verses and blows on them to place the spell in the knots. The client is ordered to place the knotted threads in a desolate place such as the graveyard. 

I often recite chapter 113 of the Qur'an in which blowing on knots is mentioned but I had never imagined that the practice of over 1400 is still prevalent today even though the Qur'an forbids it.

Aid of a Jinn

Magic spell amulet or taweez

In an article called Tantar Mantar describes a form of black magic using satanic amulets. A naqsh consisting of a sequence of numbers is written on a piece of paper; this is recognised by the devils (shayateen). It is a coded message for them to harm a person in a certain way. Sometimes these codes are placed in a toy or some item and given as a gift to their victims. This is the one that bothers me the most. I look back to the magician I was taken to visit. He had given me some pieces of paper too. The thought of being harmed by shayateen is very chilling.

Still I felt a little sceptical of whether these potions and spells could actually work. It was not until I saw the following video that I truly felt that black magic is very real and it can happen! In this video a woman describes the strange pictures and writing on the amulets she found and then suddenly the jinn inside her speaks live on television! You hear her describing the black magic and then hear the effects of it.

The Effects of Black Magic

Do you have the following symptoms? Fever, headache, tiredness, sore throat, stuffy congested nose, aching muscles and stiffness. According to some 'healers' if you do then you may have been inflicted with black magic. I would consider these, symptoms of a common cold and would expect at some time during the year, especially during the cold winter months to experience them. 


Quarrels in the family, illnesses, worry, loss in business or property are all part of the above list. Most of us have probably have had a leaflet through the door trying to instigate these fears in our minds. And most of us would probably put the leaflet straight in the bin. However, browsing through websites and forums it is evident that there are hundreds of people who blame most of their problems on black magic. Many turn to inexperienced practitioners who are probably just trying to make money.  

What are the Real Signs?

On one website the following were discussed as being some of the signs of being inflicted with black magic. These to me appear to be more convincing than the above.

• Objection and unwillingness to perform the five daily prayers, recite or listen to the Qur'an
• The person wants to remain unclean and feels satisfaction in being in dirty surroundings.
• Extreme unrest and uneasiness when verses of the Qur'an are recited to remove the effect of black magic.
• Crying, shouting and screaming and forceful movements of the body.
• Becoming a recluse and feeling resentment toward friends and family.
• Having no interest in one's husband or wife or the home.
  
  

In the following videos the patients are supposedly possessed with a jinn through black magic.  The symptoms are different in both of them. Just by watching the videos I feel sceptical, however I know if a member of my family started behaving like this I would be questioning whether it was related to an outside influence.

Ritual Murders

Whilst looking at black magic in Africa, I was very disturbed to read in an article called 'Belief in Witchcraft Widespread in Africa'  that men, women and children were brutally killed, their limbs and other parts of the body hacked off with knives and machetes whilst they were still alive. The ones who had most to fear were albinos whose arms, fingers, ears and blood were thought to contain magical powers and were highly prized on the black market. It is shocking that some people are so obsessed with the idea of black magic that they will go to great lengths to achieve what they want. But are all of them successful? 

Couple Kill their Baby in a Black Magic Ritual

According to one report, a couple in Pakistan killed their 3 month old baby in a black magic ritual believing it would make them rich. Police were able to rescue their other daughter aged 3 years who was found lying on the floor with her hands and feet tied, half unconscious. Marks of the strings can be seen on her wrists in the Urdu news report in the video above. (Full report)

The couple were Muslims and even though Islam prohibits the practice, it is shocking to see that they were still prepared to kill their  own children. Did they achieve what they wanted? No. Both were convicted of murder for which in Pakistan the punishment is life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Sorcerer from Hell !

Police found the bodies in the sugar cane field 

near Suradji's home

In Indonesia where black magic is prevalent,  Ahmad Suradji pleaded guilty to murdering 42 women over 11 years. The victims who were aged between 11 and 30 were first buried up to the waist in a sugar plant near Suradji’s home as part of the ritual, and then strangled with a cable. He buried them with their heads facing his house which he believed would give him extra powers.  (Full report) 

Suradji also did not achieve what he wanted through black magic? After taking so many innocent lives he was executed.

Sickening !....Roasted Foetuses used for Black Magic

The Telegraph reported that a Briton, Chow Hok Kuen, was caught with unborn baby corpses  in his suitcase. He had bought the foetuses from Thailand for £4000 and was expecting to sell them in Taiwan for six times as much.  The foetuses were first roasted and then covered in gold leaf.  People in Thailand use them in in black magic rituals because they believe it will bring them luck and will make them rich.

Where did the foetuses come from? Was the mother killed for them or was it an abortion? It is astonishing that people who buy such foetuses did not consider the ethics of what they are doing.  Kuen was arrested by police so he didn't have much luck. What I find ironic about this story is that such foetuses could not make the poor rich because they couldn't afford to buy them and those who could afford them were already rich so they didn't need to buy them.