Does magic (Sihr) have real effects?

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Magic, defined as contracts, writings, or actions performed on the body, heart, or mind of the afflicted without direct physical contact, possesses objective reality. Some forms of magic can cause death, illness, impotence in marital relations, separation between spouses, or create extreme love or hatred between individuals. This view is held by Al-Shafi'i. The evidence supporting the reality of magic includes the command to seek refuge in Allah from the evil of the breakers of knots (Al-Falaq 4), which refers to sorceresses who knot and blow upon them, implying that if magic lacked reality, seeking refuge would be pointless. Furthermore, the Quran mentions that people learned magic from the two angels in Babylon, Harut and Marut, specifically that which causes separation between a man and his wife (Quran 2:102). A hadith narrated by Aisha states that the Prophet, peace be upon him, was enchanted to the extent that he perceived he was doing things he was not, and an angel related that he was poisoned by Lubayd ibn al-A'sam using a comb and hair in a palm spathe found in a specific well, confirming the tangible effect of enchantment.