Fatwa no. 10536

Question: When a woman gives birth to a baby, she would hang a metal rod for forty days thinking that this piece of metal will protect her from Jinn (creatures created from fire). Women believe that this metal will benefit them rather than Allah Who has created them. I had a debate with my mother and wife about this. What is your advice to my mother and wife? I hope that your advice will solve this common problem among the tribes of Zefar. Thus, please advise the Muslim women who think that this piece of metal can bring benefit or cause harm. Advise me in this regard in detail please, so I can invite people to adhere to the right path. Likewise, a circumcised boy stays for forty days without Sawm (Fast) or Salah (Prayer) wearing that piece of metal. I need advice based on religious evidence as soon as possible. May Allah reward you with the best for the efforts you exert for Islam and Muslims.

Answer: Among the kinds of Al-Shirk-ul-Akbar (major form of associating others in worship with Allah) that takes a person out of the fold of Islam is the act of hanging a piece of metal by a woman during the postpartum period or by a circumcised person as a charm to bring benefit or prevent evil. Allah (Exalted be He) says: And if Allâh touches you with harm, there is none who can remove it but He, and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can repel His Favour which He causes it to reach whomsoever of His slaves He wills. And He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. `Imran ibn Al-Husayn رضي الله عنه narrated: The Prophetﷺ saw a man with a gold amulet in his hand. He then asked: What is that? He replied: A protection from weakness. The Prophetﷺ said: 'Cast it off, for verily, it would only increase your weakness and if you die wearing it, you will never succeed.' Also `Uqbah ibn `Amir رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophetﷺ said in a Hadith Marfu` (a Hadith narrated from the Prophet with a connected or disconnected chain of narration): "Whoever wears an amulet to prosper, may Allah prevent his prosperity and whoever wears a mascot for good luck, may Allah debar his luck.'' (Both the two previous Hadiths are related by Ahmad). In another narration: Whoever wears an amulet commits an act of Shirk (associating others in worship with Allah.

Indeed, you have done well in advising your people and caring about guiding them to abandon this Bid`ah Shirkiyyah (rejected innovation in religion which is tantamount to associating others in worship with Allah); May Allah reward you with the best.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!

The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'.