`Ruqyah’ is the practice of treating illnesses through Quranic āyāt and invocations as prescribed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. It provides a cure for evil eye, magic and physical ailments.
The Qur’ān offers perfect solace to a believer – both spiritually and physically. Ruqyah should therefore play an essential role in our lives. Allah ﷻ says: “And say: The truth has come, and falsehood has vanished. Surely falsehood is ever bound to vanish by its very nature. And We send down in the Quran that which is a cure and a mercy for the believers.” (17:81-2)
As well providing a cure, Ruqyah is an excellent way for the believers to build their Imān and reaffirm their tawhīd for Allah ﷻ. Indeed seeking treatment through the Quran demonstrates complete belief in the Book of Allah ﷻ.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Make good use of the two cures: honey and the Quran.”
(Ibn Mājah)‘Ā’ishah said: “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was ill, Jibrīl ؑ performed Ruqyah on him.”
(Muslim)In another hadith, ‘Ā’ishah informs us that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered upon her and found a woman treating her with Ruqyah (through other than the words of Allah ﷻ). He ﷺ said: “Treat her with the book of Allah ﷻ.” (Ibn Hibbān) She also said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to command me to perform Ruqyah from the evil eye.” (Muslim)
Once the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw a girl whose face had changed color in the house of Umm Salamah , so he ﷺ said: “Seek Ruqyah for her, because she has been affected by the evil eye.” (Bukhārī)
‘Ā’ishah narrated that whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would become sick, he would recite [the last 3 Sūrahs of the Qur’ān] and then blow over his body. She says: “During his last illness from which he passed away, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to blow over himself. But when his sickness intensified, I used to (recite and then) blow over him using his own hands because of their blessings.” (Bukhārī)
In another hadīth, she mentions that whenever anyone from his family would become ill, he ﷺ would blow over them with these three Sūrahs. (Muslim)
‘The Qur’ān is the complete healing for all mental, spiritual and physical diseases; all the diseases of this world and the Hereafter. But not everyone is guided to use it for the purpose of healing. If the sick person uses the Qur’ān for healing in the proper way, and applies it to his disease with sincerity, faith, complete acceptance and firm conviction, fulfilling all its conditions, then no disease can resist it.’ (Ibn al-Qayyim)