— namely, the recitation of the prescribed invocations: Ayat al-Kursi, “Say: He is Allah, One,” “Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of daybreak,” “Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind,” and the like that are found in the Qur’an and the Prophet’s ﷺ authentic sayings. This is the greatest shield that, by Allah’s permission, protects a person from sorcery.

Next, the author (may Allah have mercy on him) cites the Almighty’s words: “Solomon did not disbelieve; rather, it was the devils who disbelieved.” The opening of the verse states, “They followed what the devils recited during the reign of Solomon,” meaning that people pursued what the devils had promoted in Solomon’s kingdom—the devils were teaching the people sorcery. Allah says, “Solomon did not disbelieve; rather, it was the devils who disbelieved, teaching people sorcery.” Solomon (upon him be peace) never fell into unbelief, nor did he leave behind any manual of sorcery; what he bequeathed was the knowledge of prophethood, for he was one of the noble prophets, may peace be upon them all. The phrase “but the devils disbelieved, teaching people sorcery” proves that learning sorcery from devils is itself disbelief. Hence we stated moments ago that whoever enlists the aid of devils for his sorcery becomes a disbeliever.

Allah also says, “and (they followed) what was sent down to the two angels in Babylon, Hārūt and Mārūt.” These were two angels whom Allah sent to the land of Babylon—where sorcerers were many—to teach the people sorcery, yet they would admonish them: “We are only a trial, so do not disbelieve.” Thus Allah dispatched them to teach people sorcery, and one might ask: How could Allah send two angels—creatures honored and ennobled by Him—to teach mankind sorcery?