Ta'wiz - Permissibility of Wearing Amulets (ta'wiz) in Islam

Permissibility of Wearing Amulets (ta'wiz) in Islam

In Islam hanging or wearing of amulets (ta'wiz) is normally permissible for protection or healing provided certain conditions are met:

1. That they consist of the Names of Allah and His Attributes;
2. That they are in Arabic;
3. That they do not consist of anything that is disbelief (Kufr);
4. The user does not believe the words have any effect in themselves, but are empowered to do so by Allah, the Most High.

Most ta'wiz are made up of a small paper containing the prayers which is repeatedly folded and sewn inside a tiny cloth pouch, black in colour. A black thread is used to wear it as a locket. Wearing a ta'wiz is popular in India and Pakistan.

Salafi influenced Muslims object to Ta'wiz as they believe that wearing a Ta'wiz is shirk according to an interpretation of the hadith of Prophet Muhammad.

The opposing argument to this offered by some Muslims is that the said hadith relates to reciting the incantations or wearing the talismans of the time of ignorance (pre-Islam) and that the companions of the prophet also used ta'wiz which they would have hardly done if it had been prohibited.

A ta'wiz is shown in the movie Khuda Ke Liye where the American investigators misinterpret it as a secret code.

Muslims use written ta'wiz which have Quranic verses on a piece of paper or other material. Usually it is written in ink or with saffron paste. There are various types of ta'wiz in which the Quranic verses are written on small metallic sheets or pieces.

There are various types of ready-made ta'wiz available, but every single ta'wiz is written for a specific purpose and problem.