Hanging a piece of metal as a charm to bring about benefit or prevent evil

A: Among the kinds of Al-Shirk-ul-Akbar (major form of associating others in worship with Allah) that takes a person out of the fold of Islam is the act of hanging a piece of metal by a woman during the postpartum period or by a circumcised person as a charm to bring benefit or prevent evil. Allah (Exalted be He) says: And if Allâh touches you with harm, there is none who can remove it but He, and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can repel His Favour which He causes it to reach whomsoever of His slaves He wills. And He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. `Imran ibn Al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Prophet (peace be upon him) saw a man with a gold amulet in his hand. He then asked: What is that? He replied: A protection from weakness. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Cast it off, for verily, it would only increase your weakness and if you die wearing it, you will never succeed.' Also `Uqbah ibn `Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said in a Hadith Marfu` (a Hadith narrated from the Prophet with a connected or disconnected chain of narration): "Whoever wears an amulet to prosper, may Allah prevent his prosperity and whoever wears a mascot for good luck, may Allah debar his luck.'' (Both the two previous Hadiths are related by Ahmad). In another narration: Whoever wears an amulet commits an act of Shirk (associating others in worship with Allah. (Part No. 1; Page No. 329) Indeed, you have done well in advising your people and caring about guiding them to abandon this Bid`ah Shirkiyyah (rejected innovation in religion which is tantamount to associating others in worship with Allah); May Allah reward you with the best.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!