Question:
1) What is the ruling of wearing a tawees on the neck for protection ? especially tawees of Ayatul Qursi
2) On what basis do some scholars regard this practice to be ‘shirk’ ?
Answer:
All praise be to Allah.
The scholars are agreed that wearing amulets that contain anything other than Quranic verses or duas narrated from the Prophet alayhi as salam are prohibited. As for an amulet made from Quranic verses or Prophetic duas, there is a difference of opinion amongst the Sahabah.
The evidence for the general prohibition of amulets is the hadith that was narrated from ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir al-Juhani that a group came to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) [to swear their allegiance (bay’ah) to him]. He accepted the bay’ah of nine of them but not of one of them. They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, you accepted the bay’ah of nine but not of this one.” He said, “He is wearing an amulet.” The man put his hand (in his shirt) and took it off, then he (the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) accepted his bay’ah. He said, ‘Whoever wears an amulet has committed shirk.”
(Narrated by Ahmad, 16969)
As for the permissability of amulets containing verses of the Quran or hadith, this was the view of Aisha and others from the Sahabah, and the apparent position of Ibnul Qayyim.
Some scholars preferred to close this door of using amulets altogether, since it can lead down the path of Shirk and using symbols and incoherent writings as forms of protection. There are also people who profit from making such charms and ‘treating’ people, although they have no knowledge of the religion.
And Allah knows best.