Is it permissible to wear an amulet (tumar) containing Qur'anic verses?

Tumar – in the terminology of Islamic jurists, has two meanings:

• In pre-Islamic times, Arabs would hang beads (amulets) around their children's necks, believing it would protect them from the evil eye. Scholars are unanimously agreed that this is forbidden [2].

  The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever wears an amulet has committed shirk (associated partners with Allah)" [3].

• An amulet containing Qur'anic verses or supplications, worn for the purpose of seeking blessing. Some scholars have permitted this [5]. In a narration from Amr ibn Shu'ayb, from his father, from his grandfather, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

  "If any of you wakes up frightened from sleep, let him say these words and he will not be harmed: «أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَعِقَابِهِ وَشَرِّ عِبَادِهِ. وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ». Meaning: (I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His anger, His punishment, and the evil of His servants. And from the whisperings of devils and from their presence)."

  The Companion Abdullah ibn Amr would teach these words to his children who had reached maturity, and for his younger children, he would write them on a paper and hang it around their necks as an amulet [6].

In the book "Ad-Durr al-Mukhtar", it is stated: "If the amulet contains anything other than Qur'an, it is considered makruh (disliked). Some have said that it refers to the beads hung around the neck in the pre-Islamic era. In "al-Mujtaba": "In our time, it is permitted and people practice it, because there are reports about it as evidence," it is said [7].

Imam Malik said there is no harm in hanging something with the names of Allah on a sick person's neck for blessing [8]. The hadith prohibiting amulets is understood to refer to the pre-Islamic belief that the amulet itself brings benefit or harm, which is contrary to Islamic teachings. Also, amulets written by sorcerers with things other than Qur'an are forbidden [9].

Therefore, it is permissible to wear an amulet containing Qur'anic verses or supplications from the Sunnah for the purpose of seeking blessing. However, one must believe that benefit and harm come only from Allah, and care must be taken not to disrespect the Qur'anic verses. Amulets written in incomprehensible languages or with symbols are not permitted.

Department of Sharia and Fatwa, Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan

• [1] "Hashiyat Ibn Abidin", 6/363. "An-Nihayah fi Gharib al-Hadith wa al-Athar", 1/191.

• [2] "Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya", 5/356. Ibn Hajar, "Al-Fatawa al-Hadithiyya", 90. Ibn Muflih, "Al-Adab ash-Shar'iyyah", 2/455-459.

• [3] Ahmad, "Musnad", 4/156.

• [4] "Hashiyat al-Jamal", 1/76.

• [5] "Hashiyat Ibn Abidin", 6/364. Ad-Dardir, "Ash-Sharh as-Saghir", 4/769. Ibn Hajar, "Al-Fatawa al-Hadithiyya", 90. Nawawi, "Al-Majmu'", 9/56. Ibn Muflih, "Al-Adab ash-Shar'iyyah", 2/455-459.

• [6] Tirmidhi, No. 3528.

• [7] "Ad-Durr al-Mukhtar", 6/363-364.

• [8] Qurtubi, "Al-Jami' li Ahkam al-Qur'an", 10/319.

• [9] https://www.dar-alifta.org/ar/ViewResearchFatwa/110/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%85