In the shadows of every civilization lie secrets—some beautiful, some dangerous. Among the most seductive and spiritually lethal of these is Sihr al-Mahabba, also known as love magic or binding magic. Often romanticized as a harmless spell to win affection, in Islamic reality, Sihr al-Mahabba is an act of manipulation, coercion, and spiritual darkness. It violates the sacred principle of free will and opens the gates to one of the greatest sins in Islam: shirk (associating partners with Allah).
This article explores the forbidden world of Sihr al-Mahabba—its meaning, purpose, symptoms, spiritual dangers, and its devastating effects on individuals and relationships. No ruqyah instructions are provided here; the aim is awareness, not cure.
WHAT IS SIHR AL-MAHABBA
Sihr al-Mahabba (سحر المحبة) translates to “magic of love”, but its true nature is anything but loving. It is a form of black magic that manipulates emotions, desires, and thoughts in order to force love, sexual attraction, or emotional obsession upon a targeted person. It is commonly known in Islamic jurisprudence as tiwala, a term mentioned explicitly in authentic hadiths as haram and a form of disbelief.
The objective of this magic is not genuine connection or romance—it is dominance, possession, and emotional enslavement.
SOURCES OF SIHR AL-MAHABBA
Love magic does not operate on charm or poetry. Its mechanism lies in the world of the unseen—jinn, invoked through rituals that often involve unclean acts, sacrificial offerings, and invoking names other than Allah. These jinn are commanded to possess or influence the targeted individual, creating artificial feelings of love, lust, or obsession toward the one who commissioned the magic.
To perform such magic, the practitioner must first commit acts of kufr, including writing Qur’anic verses in filth, invoking devils, or pledging loyalty to the shayateen (devils). In return, the jinn agree to carry out the command.
Thus, every act of love magic is a transaction in spiritual corruption.
WHY IS IT DONE
Sihr al-Mahabba is tragically common, especially in societies where arranged marriages are prevalent, or where obsession overtakes faith. Reasons for commissioning this magic include:
Forcing a specific person to fall in love or marry
Reigniting a lost passion in a spouse
Breaking someone’s engagement to redirect their affection
Causing obsessive dependence or sexual desire
Ensuring a partner never leaves or cheats
Often, the magician is consulted by a scorned lover, a jealous rival, or even a spouse desperate to rekindle affection. Regardless of the intention, the act is categorically haram.
HADITH ABOUT TIWALA
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) made the ruling clear:
“Verily, ruqya (spells), amulets, and tiwala (love magic) are shirk.”
— [Sahih Abu Dawood, 3883]
This hadith classifies tiwala alongside other forms of sorcery, confirming that love magic is not just a social evil, but a spiritual betrayal of tawheed (pure monotheism).
SYMPTOMS OF SIHR AL-MAHABBA
The effects of this magic can be potent, even devastating. While the symptoms vary depending on the strength of the sihr and the nature of the jinn involved, some of the common signs include:
Obsessive thoughts about a specific person, to the point of dysfunction
Unnatural attraction or lust toward someone previously unattractive or disliked
Blind submission to the other person’s will or demands
Extreme jealousy and fear of separation from that person
Sudden emotional dependency, irrational affection
Inability to feel love for others except the target
Sexual dreams involving the target, even when not in contact
Feeling “pulled” spiritually toward someone, despite red flags
In some cases, the victim may sense something is “off” but cannot break away. Others may even develop psychosomatic symptoms, including anxiety, exhaustion, or spiritual numbness.
WHY SIHR AL-MAHABBA IS DANGEROUS
While some may justify love magic as harmless or even helpful, its consequences are often deeply destructive:
1. It Overrides Free Will
The essence of love is choice. Sihr al-Mahabba turns that sacred choice into a forced submission, effectively removing consent from the relationship.
2. It Invites Jinn Into the Body
To carry out the spell, jinn often possess the victim, manipulating thoughts, feelings, and even physical reactions. This can lead to long-term spiritual damage and mental instability.
3. It Often Backfires
Many who use love magic to gain someone’s heart later suffer tragic consequences—abuse, betrayal, or complete emotional dependence. The forced love often mutates into hatred, regret, or madness once the spell wears off or is disrupted.
4. It Leads to Spiritual Ruin
Both the practitioner and the one who commissions the magic are in danger. According to scholars, consulting a magician or believing in their power invalidates prayer for 40 days. Repeating such actions places one at the edge of disbelief.
CULTURAL NORMALIZATION AND MODERN PRACTICES
In many Muslim-majority cultures today, Sihr al-Mahabba is disguised as “white magic”, passed down in families or promoted by online “spiritual healers.” Social media and TikTok are saturated with love spells, potion rituals, and charm-making tutorials—all of which originate from the same core: rebellion against divine will.
Even worse, many people consult fortune-tellers or marabouts, unaware that this too constitutes a doorway to sihr. A few recited words, a lock of hair, a picture burned in a candle flame—these seemingly harmless acts are steeped in ancient darkness.
LOVE CANNOT BE FORCED
There is no nobility in forced affection. Real love flows from purity, patience, and divine alignment. When one uses sihr to bind the heart of another, they bind their own soul to forces of deceit and corruption.
Sihr al-Mahabba is not a love spell—it is spiritual warfare masquerading as romance. It undermines truth, poisons connection, and disrupts destinies. In the end, no heart won through sihr is truly won at all.
