The legal ruling on drinking water in which ayahs written on plates were washed

[bamalli]

Question:
Some scholars write down ayahs of the Holy Qur'an on a black plate and they wash the writing in water and drink it hoping that they may gain knowledge, health ...etc. They also write down ayahs of the Holy Qur'an on paper and hang them around their necks to protect them. Are such acts permissible?
  Answer :

The Prophet (peace be upon him) made it permissible to use incantations of the Holy Qur'an, remembrances and supplications if they do not imply blasphemy or polytheism. Imam Muslim narrated that 'Auf bin Malik said: We were in the habit of practising incantations in the pre-Islamic period. We asked: O Prophet of Allah, is this act permissible? He said: Show me your incantations. They are permissible once they do not entail an act of polytheism. . Reported by Imam Muslim (2200) in the chapter on Salutation.

The majority of scholars agreed that incantation is permissible if it conforms with the former Hadith, bearing in mind that all these acts could only be effective if Allah wills.

Hanging objects around the neck or any other limbs of the body is forbidden if they contain something other than the Holy Qur'an, and it could even be considered polytheism. Imam Ahmad related in his Musnad that 'Imran bin Al-Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) once saw a man wearing a gold ring. He said: What is that? The man answered: It protects me from weakness. The Prophet said: Take it off, for it only adds to your weakness. If you die while wearing it, you will never prosper. Reported by Imam Ahmad (4/445)

Imam Ahmad reported that 'Uqbah bin 'Amir narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Whoever wears an amulet, Allah will not accomplish (his errands) and whoever carries a bead, Allah will not grant him health and safety. Reported by Imam Ahmad (4/154). In another narration by Imam Ahmad also it was reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Whoever wears an amulet is a polytheist.

Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud reported that Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: Charms, amulets and incantations are all acts of polytheism. Reported by Imam Ahmad (1/381) and Abu Dawud in the chapter on Medicine (3883). Charms are things made by woman so as to appeal to their husbands, but they make use of magic and the like. (See Fath Al-Majid (97) and "An-Nihaya fi Gharib Al-Hadith wa Al-Athar" 1/2000)

If the object hung or worn includes ayahs of the Holy Qur'an, it is also forbidden due to the following three reasons:

First: Hadiths warning against hanging or wearing amulets are generalized, and there is no need to specify any of them.

Second: prohibition of what may lead to committing sins. Such acts may lead to hanging or wearing other prohibited things.

The ayahs hung or worn may be subjected to humiliation as they may be carried while urinating, washing after answering the call of nature, having sexual intercourse and the like.

Writing a surah or some ayahs of the Holy Qur'an on a plate or paper and washing them with water, saffron or any thing else and drinking such liquid hoping to be blessed, gain knowledge, money or good health, were not done by the Prophet (peace be upon him) either by applying them to himself or to any other person. He never declared such acts as permissible, allowed his Companions to do them, or gave permission to his nation to this effect even if there had been causes which may necessitate such acts.

It has never been authenticated - as far as we know - that any of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) performed such acts or allowed their successors to do them. Accordingly, it is better to abandon such act and to replace it by the use of what has been authenticated in the Islamic Law as regards incantations with the Holy Qur'an, the Most Beautiful Names of Allah, authentic Prophetic remembrances and supplications, and the like. Sticking to such authentic incantations is not an act of polytheism. It is an act of worship that makes one nearer to Allah by following His legislation, seeking His forgiveness, the relief of one's anguish, and gaining useful knowledge. These authentic incantations are sufficient. Whoever becomes satisfied with what Allah legalized shall not need anything else.

May Allah grant us prosperity. Peace and prayers be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions.
   The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Delivering Fatwas
(Member) 'Abdul-'Aziz bin Qa'ud
(Member) 'Abdul-'Aziz bin Ghudayan
(Vice-President of the Committee) 'Abdur-Razzaq 'Afifi
(President) 'Abdul-'Aziz bin Baz