Etiquette of Ruqyah (Healing Words) in the Quran & Sunnah

1. “We send down of the Quran what is a healing and a mercy.”

Allah says:

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا

We reveal the Qur’ān, which is cure and mercy for the believers; and it adds nothing to the unjust but loss. (Surah Al-Isra 17:82)

The first ruqyah is the Quran itself — healing is not something added to it; it is what the revelation was sent down as.

2. A healing for those who believe.

Allah says:

وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ قُرْءَانًا أَعْجَمِيًّا لَّقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا فُصِّلَتْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥٓ ۖ ءَا۬عْجَمِىٌّ وَعَرَبِىٌّ ۗ قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ هُدًى وَشِفَآءٌ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِن مَّكَانٍۭ بَعِيدٍ

Had We made it a non-Arabic Qur’ān, they would have said, “Why are its verses not clearly explained? Is it a non-Arabic (book) and an Arab (messenger)?” Say, “For those who believe, it is guidance and cure. As for those who do not believe, there is deafness in their ears, and for them it is blindness. Such people are being called from a distant place.” (Surah Fussilat 41:44)

For the believer the Quran is guidance and cure together; ruqyah begins by returning the heart to the words of its Lord.

1. The Prophet ﷺ blew the Mu‘awwidhat over the sick.

‘Aishah reported that when a member of the household fell ill, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to blow over him while reciting al-Mu‘awwidhatan (Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas). And in his own final illness he recited them and blew over his own body.

Lesson: Ruqyah in the house begins with the two refuge surahs, recited and blown — no specialist, no fee, no strange words.

2. Jibril’s ruqyah over the Prophet ﷺ.

Abu Sa‘id reported that Jibril came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: “Muhammad, have you fallen ill?” He said: “Yes.” Jibril said: “In the name of Allah, I perform ruqyah for you — from everything that would harm you, from the evil of every soul and every envying eye. May Allah cure you; in the name of Allah, I perform ruqyah for you.”

Lesson: Even the words of ruqyah were taught by revelation: their content is Allah’s name, His cure, and refuge from harm and envy — learn these very words.

3. Surah al-Fatihah is a ruqyah — and he ﷺ approved it.

A party of the Companions passed a tribe whose chief had been stung. One of them recited Surah al-Fatihah over him as ruqyah, and he recovered. When they told the Prophet ﷺ, he smiled and said: “How did you know that it (al-Fatihah) is a ruqyah?” — and approved their taking a fee for it.

Lesson: Al-Fatihah is the greatest ruqyah of the Quran: seven verses, taught by approval of the Prophet ﷺ himself.

4. The evil eye is real.

“The effect of the evil eye is a fact.” And Ibn ‘Abbas reported: “The influence of the evil eye is a fact; if anything could precede the decree, the evil eye would precede it.”

Lesson: Ruqyah is not superstition-management: the harm it treats is affirmed by revelation, and so is its cure.

5. When asked to wash because of the eye — wash.

“…and when you are asked to take a bath because of the influence of the evil eye, you should take the bath.” — the one whose eye harmed his brother cooperates in the cure by washing, and its water is poured over the afflicted.

Lesson: Part of the adab of the eye is the envier’s humility: he does not refuse the remedy his glance made necessary.

6. One pattern throughout: Allah’s words, blown over the body.

In his final illness, when he ﷺ could no longer do it himself, ‘Aishah recited the Mu‘awwidhat over him, blew over him, and rubbed his body with his own hand, seeking its blessing — the same two surahs, the same simple act, from his first household practice to his last illness.

Lesson: The ruqyah of the Sunnah needs no additions: the words of Allah and the supplications of His Messenger, understood, believed, and asked from Allah alone.