Exorcism is the practice of evicting demons or other evil spiritual entities which are supposed to have possessed (taken control of) a person or object. The practice is quite ancient and still part of the belief system of many religions.

The person performing the exorcism, known as an exorcist, is often a priest, or an individual thought to be graced with special powers or skills. The exorcist may use religious material, such as prayers and set formulas, gestures, symbols, icons, amulets, etc. The exorcist often invokes some benign supernatural power to actually perform the task.

In general, possessed persons are not regarded as evil in themselves, nor wholly responsible for their actions. Therefore, exorcism is generally thought more as a cure than as a punishment. However, the two concepts are often confused in practice, and exorcism has often been (ab)used as a pretext for harsh physical punishment, or even sadism.

History

The concept of possession by evil spirits and the practice of exorcism are very ancient and widespread, and may originate in prehistoric Shamanistic beliefs.

The Christian New Testament includes exorcism among the miracles performed by Jesus. Because of this precedent, possession was part of the belief system of Christianity since its beginning, and exorcism is still a recognized practice of Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox and some Protestant sects.

In recent times, the practice of exorcism has diminished in its importance to most religious groups and its use has decreased. This is due mainly to a greater understanding of psychology and the functioning and structure of the human mind. Many of the cases that in the past might have been candidates for exorcism have been found to be the products of mental illness, and are handled as such. More generally, the change in worldview since the Age of Enlightenment, which put increased value on rationalism, materialism, and naturalism, has led to a decrease in the belief of the supernatural.

Exorcism in Judaism

In kabbalah and European Jewish folklore, a person may be possessed by a malicious spirit called a dybbuk — which is believed to be the dislocated soul of a dead person, escaped from Gehenna (a Hebrew term very loosely translated as "hell"). According to those beliefs, a soul which has not been able to fulfill its function in its lifetime is given another opportunity to do so in the form of a dybbuk. The dybbuk must be exorcised by a prescribed religious rite.

Exorcism in Christianity

Roman Catholicism

Solemn exorcisms, according to the Canon Law of the church, can only be exercised by an ordained priest (or higher prelate), with the express permission of the local bishop, and only after a careful medical examination to exclude the possibility of mental illness. The Catholic Encyclopedia (1908) enjoined: "Superstition ought not to be confounded with religion, however much their history may be interwoven, nor magic, however white it may be, with a legitimate religious rite." Signs considered to indicate demonic possession may include: speaking foreign or ancient languages of which the possessed has no prior knowledge; supernatural abilities and strength; blasphemy; and great aversion to God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the saints, and sacred objects.

The Catholic Church revised and renewed the Rite of Exorcism in January 2000. The act of exorcism is considered to be an incredibly dangerous spiritual task; the ritual assumes that possessed persons retain their free will, though the demon may hold control over their body, and involves prayers, blessings, and invocations with the use of the document Of Exorcisms and Certain Supplications. Other formulas may have been used in the past, such as the Benedictine Vade retro satana.

Popular interest in exorcism boomed after release of the horror movie movie The Exorcist in 1973. The Catholic diocese of Chicago was inundated with so many requests for exorcism that it had to add exorcists to its existing staff. The importance of the rite was reaffirmed by Pope John Paul II (who is reputed to have performed three exorcisms himself during his pontificate). As a result, a number of dioceses have officialy designated an Exorcist priest. In September 2005, Pope Benedict XVI spoke at the convention of Italian exorcists and encouraged them to "carry on their important work."

Protestant denominations

Some Protestant denominations also recognize possession and exorcism, although the practice is generally less formalized than it is in the Catholic Church. While some denominations perform exorcism very sparingly and cautiously, some may perform it almost routinely, as part of regular religious services (especially Pentecostal denominations). Some denominations hold that all Christians have the authority to perform exorcism, not just the clergy.

A test which is often used to determine whether a mental disturbance is psychological or spiritual in nature is to pray over the person for the healing of their affliction. If the person reacts violently or uncharacteristically in response to prayer in the name of Jesus, it is often taken as

Psychiatrist M. Scott Peck, a strong Christian believer, researched Protestant exorcisms (initially in an effort to disprove demonic possession), and conducted two himself. He concluded that the Christian concept of possession was a genuine phenomenon. He derived diagnostic criteria substantially different from those used by the Roman Catholic Church. He also claimed to see differences in exorcism procedures and progression, and conjectured whether Protestant and Catholic exorcisms may be distinct phenomena.

Exorcism in Islam

Possession by evil spirits (Jinn) or the Devil (Shaitan) and exorcism is said to have been a part of Islam since its beginning.

It is believed that the Jinn can gain control only over those who do not hold true to God. According to Islamic scholars, "The Jinni enters the one seized by fits and causes him to speak incomprehensible words, unknown to himself; if the one seized by fits is struck a blow sufficient to kill a camel, he does not feel it." (ibn Taymiyyah, Majmoo al-Fatawa.)

Islamic clergy caution against the overuse of exorcism, citing that most cases are due to psychological and physical causes mistaken for possession. Real cases of possession are very rare and the faithful are warned to watch out for exorcists who encourage a diagnosis of possession too quickly, as they may merely be seeking profit.

Islamic authorities also deny the possibility of possession by souls of deceased persons, and warn that evil spirits may make this claim in order to encourage sinful behavior among the living. People can get cured from evil sprits and jinns by visiting the graves of Saints where the Jinns and Evil sprit cannot stand the company of the pious saints and thus leave the one they posses. Wearing of amulets have been allowed by the Prophet but is being advocated against by the Whabbis.

Hadith: Abu Khuzaymah (Radhiallaahu Ánhu) narrates from his father that he asked Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam), 'Inform me about Rukan (blowing in water and Taweez), medication, and means of security, does it change Taqdeer (predestination)? He replied, 'They (all the above) are within Taqdeer. (Mishkãt pg. 22)

Thus taweez have been in Islam and are effective

Exorcism in the Qur'an and Sunnah

The following verse of the Qur'an compares the state of sinners on the Day of Judgment to the state of those made insane by the Devil:

Those who devour usury will not stand (on the Day of Judgment) except as stands one whom the Evil one by his touch hath driven to madness. (Qur'an (Yusufali tr.), al-Baqara, 275)

Islamic scholars such as Al-Qurtabi cite this verse as proof against those who deny the possession by Jinn, or ascribe it to natural causes, as well as those who claim that the Devil (Shaitan) does not enter humans nor does he touch them.

There are also Sunnah (traditional statements not part of the Qur'an) that the Prophet Muhammad and his followers expelled evil beings from the bodies of believers using verses from the Qur'an, supplications to Allah, and holy Zamzam water. This example is related by Ya'la ibn Murah:

I saw Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) do three things which no one before or after me saw. I went with him on a trip. On the way, we passed by a woman sitting at the roadside with a young boy. She called out, 'O Messenger of Allah, this boy is afflicted with a trial, and from him we have also been afflicted with a trial. I don't know how many times per day he is seized by fits.' He (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: 'Give him to me.' So she lifted him up to the Prophet.

He (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) then placed the boy between himself and the middle of the saddle, opened the boy's mouth and blew in it three times, saying, 'In the name of Allah, I am the slave of Allah, get out, enemy of Allah!' Then he gave the boy back to her and said: 'Meet us on our return at this same place and inform us how he has fared.' We then went. On our return, we found her in the same place with three sheep. When he said to her, 'How has your son fared?' She replied: 'By the One who sent you with the truth, we have not detected anything (unusual) in his behavior up to this time.. (Musnad Ahmad (vol: 4, p. 170), and al-Haakim, who declared it Saheeh)

On the nature of the Jinn

In Islamic belief, the Jinn are intelligent creatures made from fire, much like human beings in that they have free will to choose between good and evil. While a Jinn may possess a human for pure wickedness, it may do it also for other reasons . Shaikh al-Islam ibn Taymiyyah suggests that the Jinn may do it in order to experience the physical world, for reasons of desire or love. In this case the Jinn might not actually have malicious intent, or may be unaware of the harm it is causing.

A Jinn might also do it for revenge. Jinn are said to be quick to anger, especially when they believe themselves to have been harmed on purpose (since Jinn are usually invisible to humans, a person can accidentally injure a Jinni not knowing that one is there).

Wearing amulets or taweezQ: What

Answer: In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

Hanging or wearing of amulets (ta’wiz) is normally permissible for protection or healing provided certain conditions are met:

a) that they consist of the names of Allah Almighty or his attribute

b) that they are in Arabic c) that they do not consist of anything that is Kufr

d) the user does not believe the words have any affect in themselves, but are empowered to do so by Allah Most High.

It is narrated from Amr ibn Shu’ayb, from his father, from his grandfather (Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-Aas (Allah be pleased with them all), that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) used to teach them (the Sahabas) for fearful situations the following words:

“I seek refuge in Allah’s perfect words from His wrath, the evil of his servants, the whispered insinuations of devils, and that they come to me”

Abdullah ibn Amr used to teach these words to those of his sons who had reached the age of reason, and used to write them and hang them upon those who had not reached the age of reason (narrated by Abu Dawud & Tirmizi, and Tirmizi classed it as an authentic narration).

In the of the Musannaf of Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shayba, the permissibility of hanging Ta’wizes is reported from many of the Companions and early Muslims (Salaf), including:

Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib, Ata', Mujahid, Abd Allah ibn Amr, Ibn Sirin, Ubaydullah ibn Abd Allah ibn Umar, and others (Allah be well pleased with them all). .

Due to the above, most of the scholars have declared the using of amulets (ta’wiz) permissible as long as the conditions are met. It is similar to using medication which is permissible and not against the concept of Tawakkul or Tawhid.

However, it is not permissible to regard the Ta’wiz to be effective in it self, just as it is not permissible to regard medicines to be effective in them selves.

As for that which is reported from some, including Ibn Mas’ud (Allah be pleased with him), that hanging ta’wizes is shirk, this is understood to mean those Ta’wizes that resemble the one's used in Jahiliyya, or if used thinking that it is the ta’wiz itself that cures or protects, not Allah, or if it contains impermissible invocations or one's whose meaning is not known.

The great Hanafi Jurist, Ibn Abidin states:

“Using of Ta’wizes will be impermissible if they are written in a non-Arabic language in that its meaning is not known. They may consist of black magic, disbelief or impermissible invocations. However, if they consist of Qur’anic verses or prescribed supplications (duas), then there is nothing wrong with using them (Radd al-Muhtar).

Imam Ibn Taymiyya (Allah have mercy on him) says in his Fatawa:

“It is permissible for an ill or troubled person that certain verses from the Qur’an are written with pure ink, then it is washed and given to the ill to drink. Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have mentioned a certain Dua that should be written and placed close to the woman who is experiencing hard labour at the time of giving birth.

Sayyiduna Ali (Allah be pleased with him) says:

This Dua should be written and tied to the arm of the woman. We have experienced that there is nothing more amazing then this” (Fatawa Ibn Taymiyya, 19/65).

Ibn Taymiyya’s student Imam Ibn al-Qayyim also narrates the permissibility of using Ta’wizes from a number of salafs including the great Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (Allah have mercy on him). Thereafter Ibn al-Qayyim himself quotes various Ta’wizes (Zad al-Ma’ad, 3/180).

In view of the foregoing, it becomes clear that generally using of Ta’wizes is not something that is impermissible and Shirk. However, it is necessary that the above mentioned conditions are met.

Today we have people who are victims of immoderation. There are some people who declare all types of Ta’wizes to be Shirk and Kufr. Others, on the other hand, think Ta’wizes to be everything. Both these types of understandings are incorrect.

Using of Ta’wizes is permissible, but with moderation. Normally it is better to recite the Duas which are prescribed for every problem and illness, and along with that resort to medical treatment. However, if Ta’wizes are used sometimes, then it is permissible.

If there is a fear that a person will begin to think the Ta’wizes to be effective in it self, then he should not be given the Ta’wiz. This will be the decision of the person who is giving the Ta’wiz, and not for us to decide for him.

There are many ignorant people who never make Dua and are neglectful of the Shari’ah injunctions, but always depend on Ta’wizes. For such people, it is better not to give them Ta’wizes, rather to direct them to the straight path.

Once, a sister asked me to mention to her a Dua or write something for her in order to get married to someone she desired, and she also mentioned that her Duas were not being answered.

I asked: “Do you cover your self when you emerge out of your home”, no, was the reply.

I said: “Do you perform your Salat (Prayers)”. Again, “no” was the reply.

I said: “From tomorrow, you make this special Dua after the Fajr Salat, and you carry on performing this for 6 months, and Insha Allah your Dua will be accepted. Also a very Important Ta’wiz is that you recite a certain Dua and blow on your scarf and wear that scarf when emerging out of your home”!

In conclusion, generally it is permissible to use amulets (Ta’wizes). However, if there is something that is impermissible, then it will not be allowed.

And Allah Knows Best.

Exorcism in other religions

Since Hinduism itself lacks any central set of dogmas, Hindus in the Indian villages and the more conservative ones believe in demonic possession, while the modern ones condemn it as superstition. In Hinduism, the soul of a living being is supposed to undergo a series of rebirths until it attains liberation. However, if a human being leads a highly sinful and evil life, or performs suicide, etc, his soul (due to the law of Karma) directly reincarnates (sic) as a demon or an evil spirit till it is so destined. Such demons (bhūtas, pretas, pishāchas, etc.) feel pleasure in possessing others' bodies and tormenting humans. Cases have been known when Brahmin priests of the mainstream Hindu society have performed such exorcisms to drive off the evil spirit. But usually, such exorcisms are the work of obscure priest-magicians, called ojhās and tāntriks. It may involve animal-sacrifice too. In some other local Hindu communities, the possession of the body by spirits is often accorded a more holy status as it is believed that Goddess Kali or her various incarnates enter a body. People often worship them and also ask for their blessings. However if the spirit refuses to leave after sometime then a village exorcist is brought in to drive out the spirit. Often the priest resorts to beating the said person with neem leaves in an elaborate and dramatic "exorcism".

In Wicca, because no spirits/people/things are inherently evil, the practice of an exorcism would be unlikely. Demons however, in Witchcraft are often seen as psychological and non-corporeal.

In Shamanic cultures a form of spirit releasement exists. Anthropologist Michael Harner PhD, has argued that a form of exorcism exists in all shamanic cultures. Various new age proponents use a format of spirit releasement, and authors such as Ken Page have pioneered its popularity in that community.

Exorcism-related deaths

Exorcism may end up bringing considerable physical harm to the patient. This is particularly the case when it is performed by improperly trained people, given the common belief that exorcism is necessarily a violent process. Some of the most notorious cases are listed below.

• Anneliese Michel (September 21, 1952 - June 30, 1976) was a German college student who died during an exorcism. Her parents and the two Bavarian priests who carried out the exorcism were later convicted.
• Kyung-A Ha was beaten to death in 1995 in San Francisco, California by members of the Jesus-Amen Ministries.
• Kyung Jae Chung died in 1996 in Glendale, California from blunt-force trauma by her husband (a reverend) and members of the Glendale Korean Methodist Church.
• In Ontario, 1996, two-year-old Kira Canhoto was killed by her grandmother Ana Maria Canhoto, who force-fed water to the child in order to "ward off evil spirits". (Vancouver Province, 1/11/96)
• Charity Miranda was suffocated with a plastic bag in 1998 in Sayville, New York by her mother and sister, during a Cuban Voodoo exorcism ritual.
• Terrance Cottrell Jr., an eight-year-old autistic child, died of asphyxiation in 2003 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin during an exorcism carried out by members of the Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith, in an attempt to expel the boy's demons. The coroner ruled that the boy died "due to external chest compression" as the part-time pastor lay on top of him. On July 10, 2004, the pastor was convicted of child abuse.
• In June 2005, in Tanacu, Bacău County, Romania, Maricica Irina Cornici, a 23-year-old nun, was found crucified to a wall in her convent room. She had been undergoing exorcism with Father Daniel Petru Corogeanu, a Romanian Orthodox priest, who faced murder charges.

Exorcism in fiction

Exorcism has been a popular subject for fiction, especially of the horror variety:

• The Exorcist (1973, re-released 2000), and its sequels and prequels, were inspired in Catholic exorcism ritual and folklore.
• The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) was inspired by the Anneliese Michel case.
• Requiem (2006) is another movie on Annelise's case.
• Constantine (2005) is a movie with Keanu Reeves, based on the DC/Vertigo comic book Hellblazer

See also

• Spiritual warfare for a broader discussion of demonic activity and Christians.
• Satanism
• Demon
• Spiritual healing
• Shamanism
• Yoruba mythology
• List of exorcists
• Anneliese Michel and the Klingenberg Case.

References

• Malachi Martin, Hostage to the Devil. ISBN 006065337X.
• M. Scott Peck, Glimpses of the Devil : A Psychiatrist's Personal Accounts of Possession, Exorcism, and Redemption. ISBN 0743254678
• Max Heindel, The Web of Destiny (Chapter I - Part III: "The Dweller on the Treshold"--Earth-Bound Spirits, Part IV: The "Sin Body"--Possession by Self-Made Deamons--Elementals, Part V: Obsession of Man and of Animals), ISBN 0-911274-17-0,

Exorzismus Εξορκισμός Exorcismo Exorcisme Esorcismo Exorcisme 悪魔払い Egzorcyzm Exorcismo Exorcism