It is stated in verse 102 of the chapter of al-Baqara that magic cannot harm anyone except by Allah’s permission. Why did Allah allow a cast to be spelled on the Prophet (pbuh)?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Verse 102 of the chapter of al-Baqara:

“They followed what the evil ones gave out (falsely) against the power of Solomon: the blasphemers Were, not Solomon, but the evil ones, teaching men Magic, and such things as came down at Babylon to the angels Harut and Marut. But neither of these taught anyone (Such things) without saying: ‘We are only for trial; so do not blaspheme.’ They learned from them the means to sow discord between man and wife. But they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah’s permission. And they learned what harmed them, not what profited them. And they knew that the buyers of (magic) would have no share in the happiness of the Hereafter. And vile was the price for which they did sell their souls, if they but knew!”

It is stated in the verse that magic is a fitnah (mischief/test), that is, a test for people showing whether they will believe in it or not and they will be busy with it or not and it is stated that magicians cannot harm anyone except by Allah’s permission. Allah gave them permission to test people with it. Thus, they cast a spell on our Prophet (pbuh). However, Allah informed our Prophet about the situation and saved him from the bad effects of magic.

The statement in the verse that they cannot harm anyone except by Allah’s permission aims to inform them that magic is not an independent source of power outside of Allah’s power. It is Allah who creates both good and evil. He shows both good and evil to people and put them to the test.

The elevator is under the command of people; the elevator takes people to whatever floor they want to go to; similarly, as a necessity of the test, if man wants evil, Allah creates evil; if man wants good, Allah creates good. 

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