Sahih Muslim

The Book on Salutations and Greetings (Kitab As-Salam)

Book Number: 026 / Hadith Number: 5460

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported. We landed at a place where a woman came to us and said: A scorpiorn has bitten the chief of the tribe. Is there any incantator amongst you? A person amongst us stood up (and went with her). We had no idea that he had been a good incantator but he practised incantation with the help of Sura al -Fatiha and the (the chief) was all right. They gave him a flock of sheep and served us milk. We said (to him): Are you a good incantatory Thereupon he said: I did not do it but by the help of Sura al-Fitiha. He caid: Do not drive (these goats) until we go to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and find out (whether it is permissible to accept ( this reward of incantation). So we came to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon hin) and made a rrention of that to him, whereupon he said: How did you come to know that this (Sura al-Fatiha) could be used as an incantation? So distribute them (amongst those who had been present there with him) and allocate a share of mine also.