The Verdict on knocking on wood for protection against envy.

*Salaamun 'alaykum wa rahmat-ul-lahi wa barakātuh* 

*_In the name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful._*

*“The Verdict on knocking on wood for protection against envy.”*

حكم النقر على الخشب خوفا من عين الحاسد بقوله: (دق الخشب)

A brother named ‘Amr from Damascus wrote a letter asking about knocking on wood. He wrote:

س: الأخ الذي رمز لاسمه بـ: أبي عمر - من دمشق يقول في رسالته:

"When mentioning a blessing or favour Allāh has bestowed on a brother or a friend some people knock on wood out of fear from the envious.

عند ذكر نعمة أنعم الله بها على أخ أو صديق يقوم البعض بالنقر على الخشب؛

And sometimes they request other people to do it by saying, “Knock on Wood”.

تعبيرا عن الخوف من عين الحاسد، وبعضهم قد يطلب من الآخر النقر علي الخشب بقوله: (دق الخشب) ،

What is the verdict on this action?

فما حكم الشرع في هذا الفعل؟

May Allāh reward you abundantly.”

أفتونا مأجورين إن شاء الله

Answer: “This act is forbidden and contains corrupt belief.

ج: هذا العمل منكر واعتقاد فاسد لا يجوز فعله.

It is impermissible to knock on wood for protection against the envious. The act legislated in Islām for the person who obtained Allāh’s favor or a smooth progress is thanking and praising Allāh. Additionally, the person must ask Allāh for all His blessings and His help in being thankful.

وإنما المشروع عند حصول النعمة أو السلامة من ضدها شكر الله، والثناء عليه، وسؤاله سبحانه تمام النعمة والعون على شكرها،

This deed is found in the verses:

كما قال عز وجل في كتابه العظيم:

And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: *“If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allāh), I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily! My Punishment is indeed severe.” [Sūrah Ibrāhīm: 7]*

{وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ}

*And the saying of Allāh the Sublime: {Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying, etc.). I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favours on you) and never be ungrateful to Me.}* [Sūrah Al-Baqarah 2:152]

وقال سبحانه: {فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ}

📚 ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz b. ʿAbd Allah b. Bāz, Majmūʿ al-Fatāwá 8/424

عبد العزيز ابن باز، مجموع فتاوى ٨/٤٢٤

*May Allaah accept our ibaadat and forgive our shortcomings.*

_❞Keep Reminding, for Indeed the ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅᴇʀ ʙᴇɴᴇꜰɪᴛs ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇʀ ❝_

*Allaahu l-Musta'aan*