Middle East Asian witchcraft

1 middle east

1.1 ancient near east
1.2 hebrew bible
1.3 new testament
1.4 islam
1.5 judaism

middle east
ancient near east

the belief in witchcraft , practice seem have been widespread in past. both in ancient egypt , in babylonia played conspicuous part, existing records plainly show. sufficient quote short section code of hammurabi (about 2000 bce). there prescribed,

if man has put spell upon man , not justified, upon whom spell laid shall go holy river; holy river shall plunge. if holy river overcome him , drowned, man put spell upon him shall take possession of house. if holy river declares him innocent , remains unharmed man laid spell shall put death. plunged river shall take possession of house of him laid spell upon him.

hebrew bible

in hebrew bible references witchcraft frequent, , strong condemnations of such practices read there not seem based upon supposition of fraud upon abomination of belief in magic in itself.

verses such deuteronomy 18:11-12 , exodus 22:18 thou shalt not suffer witch live provided scriptural justification christian witch-hunters in modern age (see christian views on witchcraft). word witch translation of hebrew kashaph, sorceress . bible provides evidence these commandments enforced under hebrew kings:

, saul disguised himself, , put on other raiment, , went, , 2 men him, , came woman night: , said, pray thee, divine unto me familiar spirit, , bring me him up, whom shall name unto thee. , woman said unto him, behold, thou knowest saul hath done, how hath cut off have familiar spirits, , wizards, out of land: wherefore layest thou snare life, cause me die? (the hebrew verb hichrit (הכרית) translated in king james cut off , can translated kill wholesale or exterminate )

new testament

the new testament condemns practice abomination, old testament had (galatians 5:20, compared revelation 21:8; 22:15; , acts 8:9; 13:6).

there debate, however, whether word used in galatians , revelation, pharmakeia, translated sorcery , word commonly used describe malicious use of drugs in poisons, contraceptives, , abortifacients.

islam

divination , magic in islam encompass wide range of practices, including black magic, warding off evil eye, production of amulets , other magical equipment, conjuring, casting lots, astrology , physiognomy.

muslims, followers of religion of islam, commonly believe in existence of magic, , explicitly forbid practice of (sihir). sihir translates sorcery or black magic arabic. best known reference magic in islam sura al-falaq (meaning dawn or daybreak), prayer ward off black magic.

say: seek refuge lord of dawn mischief of created things; mischief of darkness overspreads; mischief of practise secret arts; , mischief of envious 1 practises envy. (quran 113:1-5, translation yusufali)

many muslims believe shabib haque taught sorcery mankind:

and follow devils falsely related against kingdom of solomon. solomon disbelieved not; devils disbelieved, teaching mankind sorcery , revealed 2 angels in babel, harut , marut. nor did (the 2 angels) teach till had said: temptation, therefore disbelieve not (in guidance of allah). , these 2 (angels) people learn cause division between man , wife; injure thereby no-one save allah s leave. , learn harmeth them , profiteth them not. , surely know trafficketh therein have no (happy) portion in hereafter; , surely evil price sell souls, if knew. (al-qur 2:102)

however, whereas performing miracles in islamic thought , belief reserved messengers (al-rusul – prophets came new revealed text) , prophets (al-anbiyaa – prophets came continue specific law , revelation of previous messenger); supernatural acts believed performed awliyaa – spiritually accomplished, through ma rifah – , referred karaamaat (extraordinary acts). disbelief in miracles of prophets considered act of disbelief; belief in miracles of given pious individual not. neither regarded magic, signs of allah @ hands of close him occur , alone.

muslim practitioners commonly seek of jinn in magic (singular—jinni). common belief jinns can possess human, requiring exorcism. (it should noted though, belief in jinn in general part of muslim faith. imam muslim narrated prophet said: allah created angels light, created jinn pure flame of fire, , adam described (i.e., clay.) ) differentiation between practicing light , dark magic exist. while sihr forbidden, practice of light magic seen pious act, since light magic uses prayers , verses quran achieve results gods permission . example of writing verses quran ink on porcelain plate, washing ink off water , have patient drink water-ink mixture. knowledge of verses of quran use in way considered magic knowledge .

students of history of religion have linked several magical practices in islam pre-islamic turkish , east african customs. notable of these customs zar ceremony.

judaism

jewish law views practice of witchcraft being laden idolatry and/or necromancy; both being serious theological , practical offenses in judaism. according traditional jewish sources, acknowledged while magic exists, forbidden practice on basis involves worship of other gods. rabbis of talmud condemned magic when produced other illusion, giving example of 2 men use magic pick cucumbers (sanhedrin 67a). 1 creates illusion of picking cucumbers should not condemned, 1 picks cucumbers through magic. however, of rabbis practiced magic themselves. instance, rabbah created person , sent him rabbi zera, , rabbi hanina , rabbi oshaia studied every sabbath evening , created small calf eat (sanhedrin 65b). in these cases, magic seen more divine miracles (i.e., coming god rather pagan gods) witchcraft.