Table of Contents
Meaning and Purpose of Ruqyah
Ruqyah is seeking healing and protection by reciting the words of Allah, His names and attributes, and authentic supplications from the Prophet ﷺ, blowing lightly, and asking Allah alone for cure. It is not a magical act. It is worship and a form of duʿāʾ.
Allah tells us that the Qur’an is a source of healing.
“And We send down of the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy for the believers.”
(Qur’an 17:82)
The Prophet ﷺ himself used ruqyah, and allowed it, as long as it did not contain shirk or unknown words.
ʿAwf ibn Malik said, “We used to perform ruqyah in the pre-Islamic period, so we said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what do you think about that?’ He said, ‘Present to me your ruqā. There is nothing wrong with ruqyah so long as it does not contain shirk.’”
(Muslim)
Ruqyah reconnects the heart to Allah’s power, reminds the sick person of Allah’s mercy, and protects the believer from the harms of the unseen by His permission.
Conditions for Valid Ruqyah
For ruqyah to be correct, it must follow clear principles. Scholars derived these from the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah.
Valid ruqyah must meet three main conditions:
- It uses the words of Allah, His names and attributes, or clear, understood duʿāʾs in Arabic or a known language.
- It involves no shirk, superstition, or seeking help from other than Allah.
- The person believes that ruqyah is a means, and that Allah alone is the One who cures.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“There is no harm in ruqyah so long as it does not contain shirk.”
(Muslim)
And he taught that cure is from Allah alone.
“O servants of Allah, seek treatment, for Allah has not made a disease but that He has also made its cure, except one disease.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is it?” He said, “Old age.”
(Abu Dawud)
Types of Ruqyah
Ruqyah on Oneself
The best and safest form of ruqyah is a person reciting over himself or herself, turning directly to Allah. The Prophet ﷺ would recite over himself, especially before sleeping.
ʿĀʾishah said: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to his bed, he would blow into his hands after reciting Sūrat al‑Ikhlāṣ and al‑Muʿawwidhatayn (Sūrat al‑Falaq and Sūrat an‑Nās), then he would wipe his hands over whatever he could reach of his body.”
(al‑Bukhari)
Ruqyah for Others
It is also allowed to recite ruqyah for another person, such as a family member or friend, if one observes the conditions of ruqyah and avoids innovations or suspicious practices.
ʿĀʾishah said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to tell me to perform ruqyah for someone who had the evil eye.”
(Muslim)
The intention should be to help a Muslim brother or sister while relying on Allah, not to claim personal power or secret knowledge.
Texts Commonly Used in Ruqyah
There is no strict list that must be followed, but the authentic Sunnah shows certain verses and sūrahs with a special connection to protection and healing.
Al‑Fātiḥah
Al‑Fātiḥah is one of the greatest chapters of the Qur’an and is used for ruqyah.
A group of the companions passed by a tribe, whose chief had been stung. One of the companions recited al‑Fātiḥah over him and he was cured. When they later mentioned this to the Prophet ﷺ, he said to the one who recited: “How did you know that it is a ruqyah?”
(al‑Bukhari)
Āyat al‑Kursī
Āyat al‑Kursī, verse 255 of Sūrat al‑Baqarah, is a powerful verse of protection.
“Allah, there is no deity except Him, the Ever‑Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence…”
(Qur’an 2:255)
The Prophet ﷺ said concerning reciting it at night:
“Whoever recites Āyat al‑Kursī at night, there will remain over him a protector from Allah, and no devil will approach him until morning.”
(al‑Bukhari)
Al‑Ikhlāṣ, Al‑Falaq, and An‑Nās
The last three sūrahs are often called al‑Muʿawwidhāt or al‑Muʿawwidhatayn (for the last two), the chapters of seeking refuge.
ʿĀʾishah said: “Whenever the Prophet ﷺ would suffer from an illness, he would recite al‑Muʿawwidhatayn over himself and blow.”
(al‑Bukhari)
He also said:
“Recite Sūrat al‑Ikhlāṣ and al‑Muʿawwidhatayn three times in the evening and in the morning, they will suffice you against everything.”
(at‑Tirmidhi)
Other Verses and Duʿāʾs
Some other verses are often used because of their themes of mercy and cure, such as:
“And when I am ill, it is He who cures me.”
(Qur’an 26:80)
Also, general duʿāʾs of the Prophet ﷺ for healing and protection are used in ruqyah.
ʿĀʾishah reported that when the Prophet ﷺ visited a sick person, he would say: “Remove the harm, Lord of the people. Cure, for You are the Curer. There is no cure but Your cure, a cure that leaves no sickness.”
(al‑Bukhari)
Ibn ʿAbbās reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to say: “I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and poisonous creature and from every evil eye.”
(al‑Bukhari)
How to Perform Ruqyah in Practice
Ruqyah is simple. It does not require special items or a special place beyond what is generally recommended for worship.
Preparing the Heart
The most important preparation is spiritual. One should repent from sins, renew intention, and rely upon Allah alone.
Allah commands the believers:
“And upon Allah let the believers rely.”
(Qur’an 14:11)
The person performing ruqyah should have a clean heart from major hatred and should avoid showing off. The one receiving ruqyah should be hopeful of Allah’s mercy and patient with His decree.
Basic Method on Yourself
A person may follow a pattern similar to that reported from the Prophet ﷺ.
One method is:
- Make wuḍūʾ if possible, face the qiblah, sit calmly, and begin with sincere duʿāʾ that Allah cures you and protects you.
- Recite Sūrat al‑Fātiḥah slowly, with reflection and humility.
- Recite Āyat al‑Kursī.
- Recite Sūrat al‑Ikhlāṣ, Sūrat al‑Falaq, and Sūrat an‑Nās, three times each.
- You may recite other verses and prophetic duʿāʾs of healing if you know them.
- Blow lightly into your hands with a small amount of moisture after reciting, as the Prophet ﷺ did, and wipe your hands over your head, face, and body.
- Put your hand on the place of pain if there is a specific area, and recite while asking Allah for cure.
The Prophet ﷺ taught placing one’s hand on the area of pain:
ʿUthmān ibn Abī al‑ʿĀṣ complained of pain to the Prophet ﷺ. He said to him: “Place your hand where you feel pain in your body and say ‘Bismillah’ three times, and say seven times: ‘I seek refuge in Allah and in His power from the evil of what I find and fear.’”
(Muslim)
Performing Ruqyah for Another Person
When reciting for someone else, the same general pattern is followed.
The one performing ruqyah may:
- Sit near the sick person, reminding them gently to rely on Allah.
- Recite the Qur’an and duʿāʾs mentioned above with a clear voice.
- Blow lightly, with a little moisture, over the person, or over water or oil that will be used by the patient, if desired.
- Place the hand gently on the head or on the area of pain if both are comfortable with that, and recite, following the prophetic duʿāʾs.
The Prophet ﷺ himself did this.
He would visit the sick from among his family, wipe his right hand over them and say: “O Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the harm, cure him (or her), for You are the Curer. There is no cure but Your cure, a cure that leaves no sickness.”
(al‑Bukhari)
Using Ruqyah with Other Means
Ruqyah is a spiritual treatment. Islam allows combining ruqyah with physical medicine, as long as both are lawful and one’s heart relies on Allah.
The companions used both ruqyah and normal treatment. The Prophet ﷺ approved both.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Seek treatment, O servants of Allah, but do not seek treatment through what is unlawful.”
(Abu Dawud)
It is allowed to recite Qur’an over water or oil, then blow into it and use it. This is considered ruqyah through a permissible means, but it should not be turned into superstition or trade in a way that misleads people.
Ruqyah is a means. Medicine is a means. The only true Healer is Allah. A believer must not attach the heart to any means as if it works by itself.
Signs of Beneficial Ruqyah
When ruqyah is correct and sincere, it benefits by Allah’s permission, whether the result is immediate or gradual.
Some possible signs include:
Inner calm and comfort, even if physical symptoms remain for some time.
Increased remembrance of Allah, hope, and tawakkul.
Reduction in fears, bad thoughts, or disturbing dreams.
Sometimes physical symptoms may temporarily intensify as a person confronts a spiritual problem, then decrease. The important measure is not dramatic outward reactions, but closeness to Allah and steady improvement.
Allah reminds:
“And whoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him.”
(Qur’an 65:3)
Ruqyah and the Evil Eye, Magic, and Jinn
The unseen world is real for the believer, but the way to deal with its harms is simple faith, obedience, and ruqyah within the Sunnah.
The Prophet ﷺ confirmed the reality of the evil eye.
“The evil eye is real.”
(al‑Bukhari)
He used ruqyah for those affected, and taught the believers to seek protection and to use the Qur’an and prophetic supplications.
Concerning magic, the Prophet ﷺ suffered from it for a time, and Allah taught him and us Sūrat al‑Falaq and Sūrat an‑Nās, which especially mention seeking refuge from those who blow on knots and from the whisperer.
“Say, ‘I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak, from the evil of that which He created, and from the evil of darkness when it settles, and from the evil of those who blow on knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies.’”
(Qur’an 113:1‑5)
The solution is not to go to magicians or fortune tellers. It is to turn more sincerely to Allah, strengthen ṣalāh and dhikr, and practice ruqyah in a lawful way.
Dangers and Wrong Practices in Ruqyah
Many wrong practices mix with ruqyah in some cultures. A beginner must know clearly what to avoid, so that this worship stays pure.
Shirk and Seeking Help from Other than Allah
The greatest danger is calling upon jinn, the dead, saints, or any other being for help, or believing they can control harm and benefit.
Allah says:
“And that the masājid are for Allah, so do not invoke anyone along with Allah.”
(Qur’an 72:18)
Anyone who claims to work with jinn, or asks a patient to call upon spirits, angels, or dead people for healing, is not practicing Islamic ruqyah.
Any ruqyah that includes calling upon other than Allah, using magic, or seeking the help of jinn is forbidden and can be major shirk.
Unknown Words, Symbols, and Charms
Ruqyah must use clear words, understood duʿāʾs, or known Qur’anic verses. Strange letters, drawings, symbols, or incomprehensible phrases may hide shirk or magic.
The Prophet ﷺ approved ruqā only after checking their words.
“Present to me your ruqā. There is nothing wrong with ruqyah so long as it does not contain shirk.”
(Muslim)
Talismans, amulets, and written charms that people believe protect them by themselves are not allowed.
Claiming Special Secret Powers
The person who performs ruqyah is only a servant of Allah using His words. Claiming secret knowledge, guaranteeing cure, or taking advantage of people’s fear and money is a sign of corruption.
The Prophet ﷺ taught humility.
“Whoever is humbled for the sake of Allah, Allah will raise him.”
(Ibn Majah)
A true helper will remind the patient to keep up ṣalāh, dhikr, and trust in Allah, and will not seek fame or control over people.
Neglecting Worship and Medical Treatment
Another mistake is to treat ruqyah as a substitute for the basic duties of Islam, or as a replacement for all medical care. A believer must still pray, make dhikr, and seek normal treatment when needed.
“And establish prayer and give zakāh and bow with those who bow [in worship].”
(Qur’an 2:43)
If an illness has a clear physical cause, a Muslim should use lawful medicine while also asking Allah for cure.
Ruqyah as Daily Protection
While ruqyah can be used when a problem appears, the Sunnah shows a pattern of daily readings that protect the believer before harm strikes.
The Prophet ﷺ encouraged regular recitation of:
Āyat al‑Kursī in the evening and morning, and after obligatory prayers.
The last two verses of Sūrat al‑Baqarah at night.
Sūrat al‑Ikhlāṣ, al‑Falaq, and an‑Nās, three times in the morning and evening.
He ﷺ said about the last two verses of Sūrat al‑Baqarah: “Whoever recites the last two verses of Sūrat al‑Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.”
(al‑Bukhari)
These recitations are a form of continuous ruqyah. They surround the believer with the protection that Allah promised in His words.
Returning to Allah Through Ruqyah
Ruqyah is not only about removing pain. It is a chance to return to Allah, to clean the heart from sins, and to renew the feeling of being His servant.
When trying ruqyah, a person should also:
Increase repentance and ask forgiveness often.
Strengthen ṣalāh on time, especially Fajr and ʿIshāʾ.
Increase recitation of the Qur’an in general.
Guard the morning and evening adhkār.
Give charity, if able, seeking Allah’s mercy.
Allah promises that turning back to Him brings ease.
“So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful.”
(Qur’an 2:152)
“And your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me, I will respond to you.’”
(Qur’an 40:60)
Ruqyah is one form of this calling upon Allah, using His own words and the supplications of His Messenger ﷺ, with certainty that cure is in His hand alone.