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Secrets of the Black Arts: Practitioners of Black Magic are liable for punishments under Syariah Law BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Brunei - New 2 Borneo

Secrets of the Black Arts: Practitioners of Black Magic are liable for punishments under Syariah Law

Posted: 03 Jun 2014 05:39 PM PDT

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Islam recognises the existence of black magic and other Left Hand Path ritualistic practices and gnosis that aimed to destroy a targeted individual by means of inflicting covert misfortune, destruction of sanity, even death, Brudirect reported.

Although this topic has been subjected to centuries-long debate in a world where science and technology conquered the minds of men, insidious worship of Iblis and his armies of darkness remained rampant in some parts of the world where superstition is first and foremost in primitive livelihood. The Sultanate is no exception when it comes to this type of discourse.

Hence, Islam has zero tolerance toward black magic and other arcane occultism. This issue was highlighted yesterday by the Syariah Court of Appeal Judge during a workshop on Black Magic: Prosecution and Evidence in a court case.

Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Hj Awg Salim Hj Besar said satanic-consecrated black magic ritual will inflict negativity to the intended target, such as causing bouts of arguments in marriage life that eventually leads to divorce. Other forms of black magic are alleged to have rendered the husband impotent while he is actually of good constitution with clean bill of health. Such acts of mischief will certainly invoke the wrath of Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala, causing the practitioners of the black arts to forever be in a sinful state so grave that they are deemed as unbeliever primarily because of two things; evil witch doctors themselves are spellbound to carry out their wickedness in exchange of transient rewards promised by Iblis; and they are sowing discord between man and wife or society in general which is extremely discouraged by Islam for the faith promotes love and brotherhood in peaceful manner. The rewards mentioned earlier can come in a form of wealth, supernatural strength and deceptively alluring beauty.

Despite Islam condemning black magic or "ilmu hitam" as completely heinous and inhuman (no pun intended), many Malay Muslims continued to practise the arts of the underworld. Yang Dimuliakan Pehin said, in judging the black magic case in a court will totally eradicate it by imposing tough action against its practitioners.

In order to curb activities related to satanic rituals performed by adherents of the dark mysticisms, a number of regulations under the first phase of the Syariah Criminal Code Order 2013 have been enforced that it is an offence for a person to practise black magic under Section 208. If found guilty, a person could be fined not exceeding BND$20,000 or sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or both. However, those who hire or seek assistance from black magicians (known in Malay speaking countries as "bomoh", "pawang", "dukun" or "orang pandai") also commit an offence that led to a fined of not more than BND$8,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.

If the blasphemous black magic is used to murder a person, it is also an offence under Section 152 and is liable to death penalty. This includes an attempt to decimate person or persons by means of black arts or in conspiracy to kill using black magic is an offence under Sections 153 and 154.

A Workshop on 'Introduction to Black Magic, History and Related Regulations' was delivered by the Director of Islamic Centre and Human Development, University Malaysia Pahang, Dr Mahyudin Ismail. The workshop among others shared the issue of the use of sinister arts of darkness in human livelihood which is nothing new in the Malay speaking regions because it had been practised since the fall of Babylon when Harut and Marut were first sent by Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala to teach the arts as a test to mankind, to see who among them was pious enough to not fall for the trickery from the dark side. Yet, many fell for the temptation and learned black magic for their own selfish desire.

In a workshop on 'Understanding the Ways of Black Magic and Its Relation to Legal Aspect', Doctor Mahyudin said that such action will cause them to deviate from the real Islamic teaching especially in relation to the use of invisible spiritual creatures such as jin and syaitan. He said items and methods used black magic play the role in determining the desire and target of the practitioners. Moreover, placing hope or belief on talisman deemed magical while treating illnesses in secluded areas are against Islamic practice.

Over fifty participants comprising of Syariah Judges, Register, Syariah Court and government department officers and other agencies involved in the implementation of the Shari'ah Criminal Code Order 2013 attended the two-day workshop.

The workshop provide further explanation and information on the investigation procedure, arrest and raids in cases involving black arts including the handling of the case in the prosecution and trial level.