My father suffered from a psychological disease and we sought medical treatment. Some of our relatives advised us to visit a specific woman as they said she knew a cure for such disease. They said all one needs to do is give her his name and she will tell what is afflicting him and also give the cure. Is it allowed for us to visit such a woman? A – It is not allowed to either put questions to or to believe in that woman or anyone like her. This is because she is from among the fortune-tellers and soothsayers, who claim to have knowledge of the unseen and who seek the help of the jinn for their cures and their information about people. It has been authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “If a person goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for 40 nights.” Muslim recorded this in his Sahih. It is authentically narrated that he said, “Whoever goes to a fortune-teller or a soothsayer and believes in what he says, he has then disbelieved in what has been revealed to Muhammed (peace be upon him).” (Ahmad) There are many Ahadith with that meaning. Therefore, it is a must to stop such people and those who visit them. They should neither be asked about any matter, nor believed. They should be taken to the people in authority in order to receive the punishment they deserve. Not taking them to the authorities harms society as a whole. Leaving such people would also allow them to continue deceiving ignorant people, who will ask them questions and believe in them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “If anyone of you sees an evil, he must change it with his hand. If he is not able to, then he should do so with his tongue. And if he is still not able to, then with his heart and that is the weakest of faith.” (Sahih Muslim) There is no doubt that taking them to the authorities, such as the mayor of the city, the people whose job is to enforce right and forbid evil, and the courts, is part of the general concept of removing (evil) by one's tongue. It is also part of helping one another in righteousness and piety. May Allah support all Muslims in that which is best for them and protect them from every evil. – Sheikh Bin Baz; Islamic Fatawa Regarding Women, p. 30
