just as he ﷺ calls down a curse upon anyone who wears cowrie shells for that same intention, praying that Allah will not leave him in comfort and reassurance, but will instead stir against him every source of harm. This supplication is meant as a deterrent, and in the second hadith he ﷺ states explicitly that such behavior is shirk toward Allah.

Relevance of the two hadiths to the chapter: Both indicate the prohibition of hanging talismans and cowrie shells and classify the practice as shirk, because the wearer’s heart depends on something other than Allah.

Points derived from the two hadiths:

1. Hanging talismans or cowrie shells is a form of shirk.
2. Whoever relies on something other than Allah will have Allah deal with him in the very opposite of what he intended.
3. The Prophet’s supplication against those who hang talismans or cowrie shells is that their aim be thwarted and their objective overturned.