Love Through Black Magic

Black magic is common in Yemen and it has become a growing phenomenon. With no control by the government, magicians openly practice their job, claiming they can make your partner love you.

Surprisingly, dozens flock to magicians' houses believing they could help them, return them their lovers back, recover their illnesses, help bring children, fortune, or success in business, etc. 

Most magicians are illiterate and lack the basic knowledge of religion. When this is their case, their practices upon people turn to be harmful rather than beneficial.

"My husband and I have been married for 11 years and blessed with three children. We lead a very happy life. He used to make more money before 2004; however, he was sacked from his job. At that time, I was pregnant. Being jobless for over a year, he became fussy and divorced me. My neighbor advised me to go to Al-Awbali – a famous magician in Al-Baidha's Rada'a – and I did. It worked well and my husband returned to me," said Nawal Saleh, a resident of Rada’a.

Additionally, some people resort to the internet to get the help of magicians worldwide. "I hear that some people sought the help of magicians from foreign countries and just through sending them certain sums of money by a credit card," noted Fadhl Ahmed.

It has become common for some women to seek black magic as a dose of love to be given to the husband.  They further believe black magic could bring them perfect love, knowing not the health risks posed by it.

Magicians chant people with their respectful and quiet attitudes through which they conceal their evil actions. They claim practices help society and they are in no way destructive and hint people come to them after they realized their capacity to heal. “If we are of no help to them, they would never return to us”, boasted a local magician.

Hundreds of places nationwide exist where black magic (Sihr), is practiced. According to Sufyan Al-Nuzaili, a Mosque preacher in the capital, more than 100 centers are known in Sana’a where Sihr could be treated. Looking at other parts of the country, most of the places are located in major cities.

People seek the help of black magic to inflict harm on other people. These acts of magic on targeted people could destroy their lives. They could also create family problems or tensions, affect children and even lead some people crazy.

"My younger sister used to have deteriorating health. We consulted some doctors, but they could not help nor cure her.  Further, she is not getting any marriage proposal and this caused her depression; while, my other sisters got married," noted Samira Al-Saleh.

Al-Saleh added they later sought the help of Al-Awbali who managed to cure her and revealed she is harmed by magic by someone who asked for her hand in marriage previously and whose proposal for marriage was declined by our family.

Like women, men also seek magicians' help in their professional life. However, women seek black magic to keep their husbands, enrich their love.

Religion wise, black magic is prohibited in Islam and its practicing is considered to be unlawful. Preacher Sheikh Mas'ud Bagish indicates that it is widely practiced and it is an act of polytheism.

Magicians have set up trade, selling their services to people in rural areas, towns and cities. Some people even claim that magic could help them win in competitions and sportive activities. Sociologist and Sana'a University Professor Mohamed Al-Faqih declares that ignorance and frustration are the main reasons what make people restort to magicians, stating it is nonsense to speak of magic helping male youth to win the hand of a lady who has many marriage proposals. 

”Islamic Shari'ah regulates the teens' lives as it orders them either to marry when competent or to give up the idea of marriage," Al-Faqih concludes.