Ruqyah: Spiritual Healing and Protection

Introduction

Ruqyah (رقية) in Islam is the recitation of the Quran and prophetic supplications in order to seek healing, protection, and refuge in Allah. It is an authentic prophetic practice — the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself performed it and authorised it.

The word "ruqyah" comes from raqa (to blow), and designates recitation with a light blow over the sick person or over water the sick will drink.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "There is no objection to ruqyah as long as it does not involve shirk" (Muslim 2200).

Conditions of legitimate Ruqyah

Islam prohibits every form of sorcery and all ruqyahs linked to powers other than Allah. For a ruqyah to be valid and permitted, it must meet the five conditions:

1. It must use the words of Allah (Quran) or the names and attributes of Allah, or prophetic supplications — not with unintelligible formulas, not with invocations to others.
2. It must be in the Arabic language, with known meaning — not obscure formulas.
3. One must believe that the ruqyah does not cure by itself — Allah is the Healer (Al-Shafi). Ruqyah is only a means.
4. It must contain no shirk — neither invoking a saint, nor swearing by other than Allah.
5. It must contain nothing forbidden — no consuming haram, no illegals like writing with blood or sacrificing to other than Allah.

What to recite — the prophetic canon

The Prophet ﷺ taught us a canon of recitations for ruqyah:

1. Al-Fatihah (Surah 1) — the foundation. The Prophet ﷺ recited it over a Companion bitten by a scorpion and he was cured.

2. Ayat al-Kursi (Quran 2:255) — the Verse of the Throne, greatest protection against the devil and jinn.

3. The last two verses of Al-Baqarah (Quran 2:285-286) — "The Messenger believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord..." the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever recites the last two verses of Al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him" (Bukhari 5009).

4. The three protective surahs — Al-Mu'awwidhat:

   • Al-Ikhlas (Surah 112) — declaration of tawheed.
   • Al-Falaq (Surah 113) — refuge from the evil of creation.
   • An-Nas (Surah 114) — refuge from the whisperer. The Prophet ﷺ recited them three times every morning and evening, and before sleep, blowing over his hands and passing them over his body (Bukhari 5017).

5. Specific prophetic supplications:

   • "Adhhib al-ba's, Rabb an-nas, ishfi anta ash-Shafi, la shifa'a illa shifa'uka, shifa'an la yughadiru saqama" (Remove the harm, Lord of mankind, heal for You are the Healer, there is no healing but Your healing, a healing that leaves no disease) (Bukhari 5743).
   • "Bismillah arqika, min kulli shay'in yu'thika, min sharri kulli nafsin aw 'ayni hasidin, Allah yashfika, bismillah arqika" (In the name of Allah, I perform ruqyah upon you, from everything that harms you, from the evil of every soul or envious eye; may Allah cure you, in the name of Allah I perform ruqyah upon you) (Muslim 2186).

Ruqyah in water and oil

It is sunnah to blow (without excessive saliva) over water filled in a vessel and then drink it or apply it to the affected area. It is also sunnah to blow over olive oil and apply it. This is done by:

• Reciting the surahs and supplications described.
• Blowing lightly (as if a sigh) over the vessel.
• Drinking or applying.

The method step by step

1. Wudu — ritual purification before ruqyah.
2. Sincere intention — the heart turned to Allah, trusting only He cures.
3. Recite the surahs described, ideally three times each.
4. Blow over your hands and pass them over your body (self-ruqyah), or over the sick person if doing it for another.
5. Repeat several times a day, especially morning and evening.
6. Combine with supplication and istighfar.

Indications for Ruqyah

• Physical illnesses of any kind, also resorting to medicine.
• Anguish, anxiety, depression — combined with medical treatment if needed.
• Evil eye (hasad) — especially if it is known that someone envied.
• Possession by jinn — diagnosed by a competent and pious raaqi (not a commercial healer).
• Sorcery (sihr) — diagnosed and treated with ruqyah shariyyah.

What to avoid

• Commercial healers who charge fortunes and attribute everything to "spells".
• Ruqyahs containing unintelligible formulas or invoking others besides Allah.
• Attributing power to the recitation itself — the power is Allah's.
• Attributing every ill to jinn or sorcery — many afflictions are natural trials or consequences of our acts.
• Substituting professional medicine for ruqyah — the Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah did not send any disease without sending its cure" (Bukhari 5676) and ordered treatment.

Conclusion

Ruqyah shariyyah is one of the most blessed prophetic sunnahs — uniting faith, supplication, Quran, spiritual medicine, and trust in Allah into one practice. It preserves the Muslim from the extremism of fatalism (doing nothing) and the extremism of superstition (everything is a spell). It is the middle way, the path of the Prophet ﷺ.