Death as a Result of Witchcraft

Praise be to Allah.

After researching the matter, we could not find any evidence or report which indicates that there is any special virtue for one who dies as a result of witchcraft, except that if the victim of witchcraft bears this calamity with patience, he will have the reward of those who are patient, and what a great reward that is. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning.”
[39:10] 

“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As‑ Sabirun (the patient).

Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’

They are those on whom are the Salawat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones.”

[2:155-157] 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The greater reward comes with the greater trial. When Allah loves a people He tests them; whoever accepts that will earn divine pleasure and whoever is discontent with that will earn divine wrath.” [al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah]

And he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Calamities will continue to befall the believing man and woman in regard to themselves, their children and their wealth, until they meet Allah with no sins on them.” [al-Tirmidhi]

Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated that ‘Ata ibn Abi Rabah said: Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said to me: Shall I show you a woman from among the people of Paradise?” I said, “Yes.” He said: “This black woman came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, ‘I suffer from epilepsy and I become uncovered. Pray to Allah for me.’ He said, ‘If you wish, you may bear it with patience and Paradise will be yours, or if you wish I will pray to Allah to heal you.’ She said, ‘I will be patient.’ Then she said, ‘But I become uncovered; pray to Allah for me that I will not become uncovered.’ So he prayed for her.” 

It should be noted that witchcraft is something real, and it may lead to the victim becoming sick, and may even kill him. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: In sharee’ah (Islamic law), witchcraft is divided into two kinds: 

1 – Spells and incantations, i.e., recitations and unclear words by means of which the practitioner of witchcraft is able to use the devils to do what he wants of harming his victim. But Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“… but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah’s Leave.” [2:102] 

2 – Medicines and potions that affect the body, mind, will and inclinations of the victim, so that he turns away from a person or inclines towards him or her.   

So they make a man incline towards his wife or towards another woman, so that he becomes like a dumb beast that she can lead wherever she wants. Or they make the opposite happen. 

They affect the victim physically by weakening him little by little, until he dies. 

Or they make him imagine things to be other than they really are. 

Their effect on his mind may go so far as to make him insane – Allah forbid. 

End quote from Sharh Kitab al-Tawheed, 2/5. 

The victim may attain the reward of the martyr, if the witchcraft leads to him suffering a stomach disease, the plague or pleurisy, or it leads to a woman dying in pregnancy. Ahmad, Abu Dawood  and al-Nasa’i  narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “What do you think martyrdom is?” They said: “Being killed for the sake of Allah.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Martyrdom is seven things besides being killed for the sake of Allah: the one who dies of the plague is a martyr; the one who dies by drowning is a martyr; the one who dies of pleurisy is a martyr; the one who dies of a stomach disease is a martyr; the one who dies by burning is a martyr; the one who dies beneath a collapsed wall or building is a martyr; and the woman who dies in pregnancy is a martyr.”

It says in ‘Awn al-M’abood: 

“… the one who dies by drowning …” – if his journey was for a permissible purpose. “The one who dies of pleurisy” – this refers to ulcers or abscesses which a person gets in his side, then they open and the pain ceases at the time of death; its signs include pain beneath the ribs and difficulty in breathing accompanied by fever and coughing. “The one who dies of a stomach disease” – this refers to diarrhea or dropsy, or pain in the stomach. … “the woman who dies in pregnancy” – al-Khattabi said: this means, if she dies with a child in her womb. End quote. 

And Allah knows best.