Many Muslims are confused about the topic of Ruqyah. What exactly is Ruqyah and do you have to have some specific credential or skill to perform it?
Let’s first begin with what ruqyah exactly is.
Ruqyah is at the same status of a dua’a, it is nothing more than the recitation of specific Quranic verses or saheeh hadith which are known for seeking refuge in Allah.
More specifically these ayat are said to be a source of healing. Specifically from ailments and sickness, for protection from the evil eye and exorcism of Jinns, or from sihr (meaning black magic or witch-craft).
You do not need to be skilled in order to perform Ruqyah.
In fact, what is best and most perfect is to recite ruqyah yourself, to ask others would be permissible but there are things which are better done by the individual themselves. Performing ruqyah is not complicated, you could begin by simply recite Surah fatiha or the Al-Mu’awwidhaat (Surah Falaq and Surah Nas).
These are regarded as the verses of refuge and it is the Sunnah that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite them when he was sick.
WHAT IS SIHR (BLACK MAGIC) AND IS IT EVEN REAL?
Sihr is definitely real and refers to black magic or witchcraft. In Islam it can be learned by someone who has the knowledge and is a serious crime. There are many passages in the Quran which are testament to it’s danger.
In Surah Baqarah ayah 102 Allah says,
And they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, “We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic].” And [yet] they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah . And the people learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But the Children of Israel certainly knew that whoever purchased the magic would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew.
And In Surah Yunus Ayat 81,
And when they had thrown, Moses said, “What you have brought is [only] magic. Indeed, Allah will expose its worthlessness. Indeed, Allah does not amend the work of corrupters.
HOW TO PERFORM RUQYAH:
The exact process is to make supplication to your palms just as you would when making a dua’a. After blow into your hands and wipe the area which is causing pain or discomfort.
When Prophet Muhammad used to become very ill, Aisha would have done this for him as reported in the following hadith.Narrated by Aisha:
Whenever Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) became sick, he would recite Mu’awwidhat (Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An- Nas) and then blow his breath over his body. When he became seriously ill, I used to recite (these two Suras) and rub his hands over his body hoping for its blessings.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5016
QURAN VERSES FOR RUQYAH:
Here’s a list of the different verses from the Quran which can be recited.
- Surah Fatiha
- Surah Falaq
- Surah An-Nas
- Surah Ikhlas
- Ayatul Kursi (Surah Baqarah ayat 255)
- Surah Al A’raf Ayat 106-122
- Surah Taha Ayat 65-69
- Surah Al-Kafirun
SUPPLICATION FOR RUQYAH FROM HADITH THAT CAN BE RECITED:
Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
When the Prophet (ﷺ) visited any ailing member of his family, he would touch the sick person with his right hand and would supplicate: “Allahumma Rabban-nasi, adhhibil-ba’sa, washfi, Antash-Shafi, la shifa’a illa shifa’uka, shifaan la yughadiru saqaman [O Allah! the Rubb of mankind! Remove this disease and cure (him or her)! You are the Great Curer. There is no cure but through You, which leaves behind no disease].” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Reference is Riyad As Salihin Book 7, Hadith 10, in Arabic this dua is written:
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ النَّاسِ مُذْهِبَ الْبَاسِ اشْفِ أَنْتَ الشَّافِي لَا شَافِيَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ شِفَاءً لَا يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًا