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Why did the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, not exclude eloquent speech (sihr al-bayan) from the destructive sins (al-Mubiqat), even though he excluded unlawful killing ("except by right")? And is it correct to say that there is permissible magic (sihr halal)?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

True magic is entirely forbidden. As for eloquence (Bayan), it is not true magic; rather, it is like magic in captivating hearts. Scholars have differed regarding the Prophet's ﷺ saying, "Indeed, there is magic in eloquence." Some have interpreted it as blameworthy, likening it to the act of magic in overwhelming hearts, beautifying the ugly, and disfiguring the beautiful. Others have interpreted it as praiseworthy, because hearts are captivated by it, the displeased are appeased by it, and difficulties are overcome by it. Eloquence is the combination of articulacy, rhetoric, and a sharp mind with a glib tongue.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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