Dear Karin,
Peace to you.
I am happy that you have decided to discuss this as a family unit and to exhaust conventional routes first.
In response to your question, I wholeheartedly agree that the requirement for seeking assistance from God does not negate the need for humans to ensure every effort is taken to help themselves. This is clear even in the verse where precautions were expected to be taken in religious war. (4:71; 4:102).
Also, God’s guidance and assistance can manifest through other people. A simple case when one trains a dog to catch their food, they are training it with information that God has taught them, not by scripture, but through knowledge that He has manifested through other humans / means.
“…You teach them of what God has taught you …” (5:4)
Similarly, doctors are humans that God has taught wisdom in various ways.
However, there is a fundamental difference between a doctor and a witch doctor.
One deals with the realm of the
'seen', the 'tangible', where there is a systematic process of deep learning, testing, expertise, systematic and reviewed experimentations throughout the globe over many decades / centuries, analytics, cause and effect, data analysis, diagnosis in a broad spectrum of an ever expanding field. The data is measurable, quantifiable and in the main, reliable.
The world of the occult arts has no rigid foundation with a systematic learning process, there are no world recognised institutions of occult arts, it deals wholly with the
‘unseen’, has no real quantifiable or qualitative analysis scope which is rigorously tested and peer reviewed and is often based on suspicion, speculation and spurious results. This is at best a speculative arena with anyone potentially able to practice it.
When we visit a doctor we make best efforts for assistance from people whom we believe God has taught. We make an ‘informed’ decision based on verifiable criteria. Can we honestly say the same for those that practice occult arts whom we often know nothing about or their works which cannot be verified independently?
However, I accept there may be some that are good at what they do and I know there are those that speak highly of people such as Abu Muhammad. The credibility of the videos I leave to your own personal assessment. However, they are worth watching.
Jinn Interrupts during a live call in showhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B90CauxfDDcJinns and Exorcisms in Islam - Abu Muhammadhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro3kxkc7nYoPersonally, I have not dealt with such individuals or have subjected their works, claims to any scrutiny. However, I also do not dismiss the presence of such occult arts lightly. Having said this, I would always seek assistance from God and would always attempt to exhaust conventional routes first asking Him to manifest his guidance through whatever means he deems fit.
I hope that helps, God willing.
Joseph.