Question: I received an image with the label “Herbal Dhoni Pack” in English, which mentions “harmal, googol, and loban (anti-bacterial/anti-viral)” and lists benefits like removing negative effects, purifying the environment, and relieving fatigue. What is the truth behind this?
Answer: Those who perform amulets and suggest remedies for magic and evil eye often recommend using the smoke of harmal (esfand), googol, and loban. They claim that harmal smoke drives away evil spirits, googol smoke eliminates magic, and loban smoke removes negative effects and magic from the house. While some weak hadiths mention burning loban and other herbs in the house, none of these hadiths are authentic. For example, Imam Bayhaqi called one hadith weak that suggests burning loban and shīh (a plant) in the home. Other similar hadiths about using loban for magic are also considered weak or fabricated. However, there is no harm in using fragrant smoke like incense or bakhoor in the home, but the claims about harmal, googol, and loban’s powers to remove magic are false. The real solution for magic and evil is the recitation of authentic supplications (adhkar) from the Sunnah.
Respondent: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi Hafizahullah
Jeddah Dawah Center, Saudi Arabia
Interpreter: Hasan Fuzail
Islamic fatwa on permissible intimacy during Haiz and Nifas, prohibition of intercourse before Ghusl, and Kaffarah for violations. Backed by… Read More
Clarifying Islamic rulings: If menstruation starts before Iftar, the fast is invalid and must be made up. Learn the wisdom… Read More
Explore the authenticity of viral sayings like "Remain chaste, your women will remain chaste" and "Zina is a debt." This… Read More
Discover how forgiveness in Islam, guided by the Quran and Hadiths, can heal your heart and bring peace to your… Read More
Delve into Sharia's prohibition of matam, wailing during calamities, watching mourning processions, and facts about Aisha (RA)'s actions, supported by… Read More
Understand Islamic guidelines on exchanging Salaam between non-mahram men and women, backed by Quran, Hadith, and scholars like Ibn Uthaymeen,… Read More
View Comments
very informative