Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (6/16)

and that they learn what harms them and brings them no benefit.

Then He said:

{They certainly knew that whoever purchased it would have no share in the Hereafter} [al-Baqarah: 102].

That is, no portion whatsoever. In other words, these people are fully aware that the one who practices it has no share in the Hereafter, yet they pursue it only to achieve their worldly aims, driven by their own desires; and that is harmful to them, not beneficial—just as He said about the idolater:

{He calls upon one whose harm is nearer than his benefit} [al-Hajj: 13].

The Exalted also said:

{If only they had believed and been mindful of Allah, reward from Allah would have been far better—if only they knew} [al-Baqarah: 103].

Thus He—glorified be He—makes clear that through faith and God-fearing one attains from Allah a recompense that is better for them than this sorcery, for they seek it only in the hope of some imagined benefit, whereas this (faith and taqwā) is truly better for them. This is like His statement:

{When the call is made for the prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade; that is better for you} [al-Jumuʿah: 9].

وَأَنَّهُمْ يَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنْفَعُهُمْ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: {وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ} [البقرة: ١٠٢] أَيْ مِنْ نَصِيبٍ، أَيْ هَؤُلَاءِ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ صَاحِبَهُ لَا نَصِيبَ لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ، وَإِنَّمَا يَطْلُبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يَقْضُونَ بِهِ أَغْرَاضَهُمُ الدُّنْيَوِيَّةَ لِمَا لَهُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْهَوَى، وَذَلِكَ ضَارٌّ لَهُمْ لَا نَافِعٌ، كَمَا قَالَ فِي الْمُشْرِكِ: {يَدْعُو لَمَنْ ضَرُّهُ أَقْرَبُ مِنْ نَفْعِهِ} [الحج: ١٣] قَالَ تَعَالَى: {وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَمَثُوبَةٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ} [البقرة: ١٠٣] فَبَيَّنَ سُبْحَانَهُ أَنَّهُ بِالْإِيمَانِ وَالتَّقْوَى يَحْصُلُ مِنْ ثَوَابِ اللَّهِ مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُمْ مِنْ هَذَا، فَإِنَّهُمْ إِنَّمَا يَطْلُبُونَهُ لِمَا يَرْجُونَ بِهِ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ لَهُمْ، وَهَذَا خَيْرٌ لَهُمْ، وَهَذَا كَقَوْلِهِ: {إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ} [الجمعة: ٩]