Is it permissible to seek treatment for sorcery at the hands of non-Muslims and through means other than the Book of Allah, and what are the symptoms of sorcery?

The symptoms of sorcery (sihr), demonic possession (mass), and the evil eye (ayn) are similar. However, sorcery may be distinguished by symptoms such as extreme distress upon entering the home, involuntary crying or laughter, abdominal pain and vomiting, aversion to dhikr (remembrance of God) and worship, irrational hatred or intense love for one's spouse, one spouse seeing the other in an ugly form, and being severely affected by verses about magic.

It is a prerequisite that the raqī (exorcist) be a righteous Muslim with sound belief. It is not permissible to perform ruqyah (definition) (exorcism) at the hands of a disbeliever or an innovator, nor to go to churches and priests to undo sorcery. The ruqyah must be with understandable words, free from shirk (definition) (polytheism) or seeking assistance from devils. It is permissible for a person of the Book (Christian or Jew) to perform ruqyah for a Muslim if it involves the remembrance of God or that which is in their scripture that contains no shirk.

It is recommended to perform legitimate ruqyah as soon as any of these symptoms are felt, without being preoccupied with determining the type of affliction.