BENEFIT: Ruling on Killing a Sorcerer

Question: We have sorcerers who harm people with their magic. Is it permissible for young people to kill them if they are sure there will be no fitnah (trial or chaos)? Sheikh Yahya Al-Hajoori hafidhahullah: They should not go and kill them. Rather, I remind myself and them with the words of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic: “And they cannot harm anyone with it except by Allah’s permission…” [Al-Baqarah 2:102] And with the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: “If the entire Ummah gathered to harm you with something, they would not harm you except with what Allah has already written for you; the pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.” [Tirmidhi, authentic narration from Ibn Abbas] And with the saying of Allah: “Say: Nothing will ever befall us except what Allah has written for us; He is our Protector. And upon Allah let the believers rely.” [At-Tawbah 9:51] It is necessary to expose such people and clarify their evil condition, just as the Prophet ﷺ did with Ibn Sayyad. It should be explained that they are sorcerers, deceivers, and disbelievers, because the sorcerer is a disbeliever. Allah says: “…but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic…” [Al-Baqarah 2:102] So the sorcerer is a disbeliever if his magic is of the type mentioned in the Ayah. People should be made aware that such individuals should not be approached except to expose them—just as the Prophet ﷺ went to Ibn Sayyad to expose him. It is not allowed to cooperate with them or ask them questions, and their harm upon people is very severe. However, killing them is the responsibility of the ruler. Yes, Jundub killed a sorcerer, and Hafsah killed a sorceress, and some of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also killed sorcerers, while they were not acting independently as rulers. At that time, the leaders were aware of the crimes of those sorcerers. In our present time, however, acting in this way may lead to fitnah between rulers and people, imprisonment, retaliation, and harm to those who are committed to the religion—such as being labeled as extremists or terrorists and other harms. We are in no need of such actions. Rather, we should do what we are able to do within our capacity, and Allah is the One whose help is sought. Source: https://t.me/sh_yahia_duroos/913