Witchcraft and exorcism as therapy in Algeria
2007-11-09
The phenomenon of faith healing known as roquia enjoys a large and growing following in Algeria, despite recent deaths linked to the practice.
By Nazim Fethi for Magharebia in Algiers – 09/11/07
 [Getty Images] Raquis practice rituals used for purposes ranging from curing headaches to relieving a soul from demonic possession |
The phenomenon of exorcism is a growing force in Algerian society, with many seeking aid from spiritual healers when traditional medicine is unavailable or unaffordable.
Such healers – known as raquis – practice roquia, or rituals used for purposes ranging from curing headaches to relieving a soul from demonic possession. The treatments centre on the recitation of specific Qur'anic verses over a container of water; which is then either given to the afflicted person to drink or applied directly to the affected area. Roquia has become a highly respected therapy among some Algerians.
In the case of people possessed by djinn or under curses, some raquis resort to magic and witchcraft. Such practices include hypnotising the patient, invoking God and watching to see whether the patient’s left hand moves, to confirm that they are haunted by a djinni. If necessary, the healer touches the hand to ascertain exactly which part of the body is haunted.
These methods are not universally approved by those practising roquia. Some feel that the inclusion of djinn or magic is wrong, particularly where the patients say they have fallen victim to a talisman, curse or evil eye.
In addition to numerous imams who have converted to this practice, a great many laypeople have established themselves as raquis in a society where the respect shown for religious authority and traditions is sometimes boundless. So it is that thousands of people meet every day on Internet forums to exchange experiences or offer their services.
In Islam, roquia as practised in the days of the prophet Mohammed could be performed by the afflicted person or those around them, without need of an intermediary, by simply following the time-honoured procedures and reciting particular verses from the Qur’an over water.
Religious authorities have nothing against roquia as recommended in the Qur'an; it is merely the excesses they dislike. For Abdelkader Reguig, imam in the Great Emir Abdelkader mosque in Constantine, east of Algiers, roquia should not be considered an alternative to medical treatment for illnesses. The imam rails against the gullibility of people who put their lives in the hands of charlatans resorting to witchcraft.
Last year east of Algiers, a youth and his sister, aged 18 and 17, died under the powerless and fatalistic gaze of their mother and grandmother after drinking 60-litre jerry cans full of water. "They were possessed; the treatment the doctor had described had done nothing, so I thought I was doing the right thing calling in a raqui. It was my faith in God that compelled me to do it," the mother explained.
Algerian authorities have also given warnings. "The dysfunction is not in the principle of roquia, but in the avarice and greed of the self-proclaimed raquis. Treatment using the holy words of the Qur'an is intended to give a certain calmness and serenity to troubled souls, but in no case can it replace medical treatment," said Madjid Tamine, spokesman for the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
"Our department published a fatwa in April 2006, banning the practice of roquia in mosques and attached buildings, as well as in public places," Tamine said.
Ignorance “encourages the spread of this charlatanism," he said, adding, "Our job is to raise awareness and inform people."
Why do so many Algerians place themselves into the hands of charlatans? "Supply and demand," replied Mouna Boudjemâa, a psychiatrist at the Mustapha Bacha hospital in Algiers. "Everyone needs to believe in something to live," she said. "People visiting a raqui believe in healing through the Qur'an or mystical forces. In the search for healing, the afflicted person falls back on magical, childish and archaic thinking; these people are looking for magic through the religious text."
"Some raquis exploit the distress and weakness of these people to get rich," Boudjemâa concluded. "They do much better when their turning to irrational actions pushes their families to call upon them."
In the case of Mohamed, a young man being treated for nervous depression at the psychiatric ward in Mustapha Bacha hospital, two years of treatment yielded insufficient results. His family felt that, given a lack of improvement, they should consult a raqui, who quickly made his diagnosis: possession by an evil spirit. The recommended treatment to dislodge the "demon" consisted of striking Mohamed, who ultimately died from injuries. The raqui was sentenced to five years in prison for involuntary homicide.
The government's warnings have had little impact on those who practise this new therapy, as numbers of clients appears to be increasing.
In certain cities like Oran, children can be found selling water for self-medication. Whether it is for possession, forced celibacy, the evil eye or even unemployment, hawkers boast that every afflicted person can find their cure in these magical waters.
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M'hammed Posted 2007-11-09
The people’s government needs to make legislation against and criminalise these antiquated practitioners. If you get a deadly disease, you can have your life saved by adequate medical treatment and have your suffering reduced during your recovery. But, this I consider to be the neglect of someone in danger. Not to mention that our Arab ancestors contributed so brilliantly to modern medicine. Ibn Sina (Averoes) would be stunned by this. Even Sidna Mohammed (SAAWSLM) would not be able to tolerate such ignorance, which he so considered our worst enemy. The Qur'an is for the recharging of the soul, not of a body, which the lord has put in peril to judge the strength of your faith.
leila Posted 2007-11-20
Do not criticise Islam, please!
M'hammed Posted 2007-11-20
Dear Leila, I invite you to reread my comment. I did not criticise Islam. Rather, I am a practicing Muslim and proud to have the same name as the prophet, Saawslm. But, I am criticising those who practice methods so degrading to our great religion, profiting from the people’s despair just to get rich. Reading Qur'an is a moral relief to an illness, but it should never be seen as detracting from modern medical treatment.
Barbara Pagan USA Posted 2007-11-21
If people want the help of a raqui, or healer that makes them feel better, where is the harm? Adults are able to make choices, and should be able to decide for themselves if magic might help them. It's finding an ethical healer that seems to be a problem. Beating is NEVER used to help or cure any creature. The water the children sell at least causes no harm.
Ahcene Posted 2007-12-05
Dear people I live in Algeria and I know what Roquia is .It's a method where the raqui tries just to read coran inside water and make you drink it or get your body wet using it .Can this method really heal people .I don't think so.I think people who run to this kind of practice are just depressed and need psycologists instead . Dear Barbara, I know this method of getting rid of spirit from your body does not harm but believe me it's dangerous practice for our people who suffer from misery poverty and all kinds of problems .We have to find real solutions instead.I am not supersticious man .I don't believe that people can get healed with this riqia . Thanks Ahcene
fateh Posted 2007-12-05
I say that this topic is very interesting because it raises an important issue to the readers in particular and most people. But I have an objection: when the author or writer of the article says at the beginning 'Phenomenon', he should have said healing with the Holy Koran and not phenomenon...
محمو د الهمامي Posted 2007-12-26
God Almighty says in his book we have not omitted nothing in the book. Modern medicine, in spite of its outstanding progress, has not come up with anything new. All diseases, if you read the Qur'an attentively and thoughtfully you will find that they are stated in the Qur'an, including psychological diseases. We don’t deny the progress of the medical machine which made the progress without medicine. Medicine has become confined to the machine, why? Because he thinks with his brain and not with his mind, like those who seek treatment in the Qur'an and tradition of the Prophet. The messenger of God, peace and prayer be upon him, said ask for treatment people, because He who created the illness created the medicine.
rajaa Posted 2008-02-04
Hello people In Algeria, there is a real social problem related to religion. A large number of people engage in sorcery out of jealousy and greed. Many do not care that it is a sin, thinking the ends justify the means. This is incredible, where has the rightful place of religion and God Almighty gone? This is unfortunate. If you practice the prayer according to the Sunna, spiritual healing (Rokya) is lawful "and we made Quran a healing and blessing for you". I am sorry that Islam has become just a mere name for some. In this article the repercussions are spoken of, but not what has created this sickness. Rather than dealing with them, inhabitant keep silent about these hidden religious problems (e.g. sorcery, clairvoyance, idolising the dead, etc.) If certain Algerians (not all, fortunately, as there are people who are already quite respectable, praise be to God) were to stop doing evil with help of the devil and sorcery, a whole chapter of our social problems such as unemployment and people being single beyond the marrying age would be solved. Islam is not a mere façade , may God guide us all.
fifi Posted 2008-03-09
Good evening. I am looking for a very, very competent specialist in possession here in Algiers. Please respond.
احمد Posted 2008-03-29
Salam alikoum. To the brother who is looking for an exorcist, there is Sheikh Massoudou, this is his cell phone number.
sophia Posted 2008-05-04
Hello, I am looking for a shaman to heal my sister. She is 26 years old and she has been possessed for five years now. Can you recommend me a good shaman?
الحسين حديوي Posted 2008-07-01
My dear sister. Salam alaikum. You are looking for a sorcerer who uses magic to treat your sister. In no way will they help her. You should go to a sheikh who treats people with the Qur’an. This is best. Thank you. Sorry for this advice. Your brother in God, a Qur’anic healer in Morocco.
joseph kedesch muammad Posted 2008-07-08
My name is Joseph Kedesch Muammad. I am a Haitian. Also, I belong to the Haitian Freemasons. I would like to let everyone who lives on Earth know that the Great Architect of the Universe has given us all the power to put the evil minds to flight. Personally, I have had a lot of experience, particularly with very potent exorcisms, and I assure you that they are very effective in fighting demonic powers.
Abdelila Posted 2008-09-26
I have the opinion that no witchcraft serves as a therapy. It is very badly against the teachings Islam. Totally a devilish work and a mere futile exercise. Human beings are set free to choose. An abuse to this freedom of choice has a payable due cost.
mimi Posted 2008-10-11
What is the value of having a discussion and exchanging ideas if each person wanting to help somebody by giving them telephone numbers and addresses and you go and delete them? I will just go talk to my neighbours or my friends offline.
khalid Posted 2008-11-10
Thank you, everybody.
YASMINA Posted 2008-12-24
My sister hears voices. How do I take care of her? My parents have kept her in the house and, in seeing that her condition is worsening, they have gotten her psychiatric care. Currently, she will have treatment for life because she has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. My mother says she is possessed and wants to take care of her in Algeria, but she does not know how or where to do it. Well, thank you for your responses.
Mya Posted 2009-01-19
Salam alaikoum- First of all, curing one form of witchcraft with another is haram! Only the Qur’an or, more precisely, the roquia can cure this evil. Second of all, know that witchcraft belongs to the sins that Allah does not forgive! Witchcraft will be punished on this earth with the evil you do being returned upon you, and it will be punished after death. Lastly, it is important to not believe that all of our problems are due to witchcraft. Sometimes, in this life, we need go through hard times. Life is like that. We need to ask God’ help – this is the bet solution – and read the Qu’ran a lot. In order to find out if you are affected by a sihr, type “roquia” and “sihr” into Google, for example, and you are going to understand lots of things in my opinion, and you will even find people who do roquia. Yasmina, it is possible that your sister is affected by a spell, so get yourself informed using the websites that talk about this. God willing, she will get better. May God help and care for us. He will never abandon his servants if they do not abandon Him.
عنيبة عبدالقادر Posted 2009-03-02
Please don't delude people. May God guide you for what He likes and approves.
samia Posted 2009-03-07
Salam alaikoum- I am looking for a professional who seriously practices roquia because, God willing, I am planning on going to Algeria very soon. salam alikoum wa rahmatala wa barakatou. Allah y chafi mouslimine amin
Anonymous Posted 2009-07-15
Salam alaikoum, - God created Good and Evil, illness and healing, roquia and a dou'a, and people of these means to an effective healing. As a Muslim, we need to categorically believe everything revealed by Prophet, may God rest his soul, in the sura "The Cow", verse 102, God said: "And they did what the devils told them to do against Souleymane, though Souleymane was never a non-believer. But the devils taught the people magic As for what had come from the angles Harout and Marout from Babylon: they themselves had never taught anything to anyone. They had said first of all "They nothing more than a temptation. Do not be a non-believer. They have tought only that which sows disunion between men and their wives." This verse is very explicit regarding the existence of magic and how even our Prophet, may God rest his soul, was put under a spell by Alabide and his daughter in concern for the healing of roquia. Certain conditions of the patient and the raquis need to be respected. Regarding the patient, he must absolutely feel certain symptoms of the presence of a djinn; regarding the raqui, he must be a pious man and he must practice the verses of the Qur'an and dou'a alone, without and artificiality or charlatanism. He can be remunerated, but not overly so. May God guide us, Salam Aleikoum.
Anonymous Posted 2009-08-01
I agree with our sister Mimi. What good is this website if we cannot help those who are sick and disoriented because you systematically delete all the address and telephone numbers people give. I think your website has no use at all. This is a shame. I would like to see it disappear. This would be the best. In any case, we have always done things halfway, as usual...
سيداحمد Posted 2009-08-17
Legal Rokia is medicine.
Hadj Posted 2009-08-25
For anyone who has a problem with a sihr, I can help you. Contact me.
Ben Raissa Posted 2009-09-02
Salam alaikoum- I found pieces of paper with Arabic writing on them all over my house. I do not understand Arabic, so, after having them translated, I found that my wife wants to put a muzzle on my family and have power over the house and me, keeping me under her heel and feeding us so the food shuts us up and makes us accept her will. She is originally from El Gettar, just beside Mazouna. Her father is a "notary" there and calls himself a professional Muslim. Sometimes she takes a bottle of water and puts it in her shirt and then goes and stays in front of the house's front door with a vial of ink powder. She spends hours copying passages from the Qur'an and, at night-time she burns noxious materials such as our children’s hair. Can anyone tell me what this is? -Salam
ali Posted 2009-10-23
Help me get rid of a djinn’s curse. Your Excellency, it is with great hesitation that I decided to come to you to ask for help and to save me from suicide. My story begins when I was young and I did not want to marry my cousin. All of my family turned against me and, since that day, I have never tasted a normal life. For a long time now I have consulted healers. They told me that I was surrounded by negative waves, which disturb me yet still. Your Excellency, I will have you know that I am an engineer and I speak four different languages, but, with this magic, I have had no luck in finding work to earn feed me for my travails. At the same time, I have had no luck across the board – work, money and health. People run away from me. They do not even want to talk to me. So, Your Excellency, I have come to you because I sense that you are a humanitarian man and that you love the poor people who are suffering tremendously. I promise you that when I find work, the first penny to fall in my hands will go to you. I beg you to take care of me. I am suffering in this life, and it is my family that wanted this. Your Excellency, here is my contact information: First name – Ali, Date of Birth – 8 November 1960, Sex – Male, Country – Algeria. I await your favourable response and give you a big hug. –Your faithful, Ali. ---- Good evening Your Excellency- Today, I am very sad because a man whom I trusted betrayed me. When I had a normal standing and was working, I had a daughter who was disabled from birth. They told me that my daughter was disabled because of a curse, which I have had on me up until now. I…
youcef Posted 19 days ago
Salam- We need to fight during every day that God makes for us and thank Allah even for our troubles. Personally, I have been suffering for more than 20 years. I am at the limits of my strength, but such is the will of God. Nothing is done without the will of God. This is perhaps a reminder. Let us be good and in good mental health and otherwise; I do not know. We need to pray and be near Him. Here is a story: More than 10 years ago, I got on the wagon in two weeks. I felt so good that I distanced myself from Allah. Oh, how I drank alcohol. The next day I found myself back in the state I was before, which is to say a schizo or psycho or something else. Believe me, I suffered night and day. My mind would not let go of me. Let us beg pardon from Allah. Let us be near to him. That is all. May Allah be with us! -Salam
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