Ruqyah Free from Shirk: Permissible and a Cure for the Evil Eye
Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
◈ Permissibility of Ruqyah without Shirk
For treating the evil eye and similar afflictions, performing ruqyah (spiritual healing) is permissible as long as it is free from shirk.
◈ Prophetic Hadiths on Ruqyah
➊ ‘Awf ibn Mālik al-Ashja‘ī (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
“In the Days of Jāhiliyyah we used to recite ruqyahs. We asked, O Messenger of Allah, what is your opinion about this? He (ﷺ) said:
«اعرضوا علي رقاكم لا بأس بالرقى ما لم يكن فيه شرك»
‘Present your ruqyahs to me. There is no harm in ruqyah so long as there is no shirk in it.’”
[Muslim: 2200, Abū Dāwūd: 3886]
➋ Jābir (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade ruqyah, then the family of ‘Amr ibn Ḥazm came and said, “O Messenger of Allah, we have a ruqyah we use for scorpion stings, but you have forbidden ruqyah.” They presented it, and the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
«ما أرى بأسا فمن استطاع منكم أن ينفع أخاه فليفعل»
“I see no harm in it. Whoever among you can benefit his brother should do so.”
[Muslim: 2199]
➌ Anas (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
«رخص رسول الله فى الرقية من العين والحمة والنملة»
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) permitted ruqyah for the evil eye, for poison (from a sting), and for small sores (blisters).”
[Muslim: 2196, Tirmidhī: 2056, Ibn Mājah: 3516]
➍ ‘Ā’ishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated:
“When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was in his final illness, he would recite al-Mu‘awwidhāt (al-Falaq and al-Nās) and blow over himself. When he became too weak, I would recite them over him and rub his hands over his body for blessings.”
[Bukhārī: 5735, Muslim: 2192, Aḥmad: 6/104, Ibn Mājah: 3529]
➎ ‘Ā’ishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated:
«أمرني رسول الله أن يسترقى من العين»
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded me to perform ruqyah for protection against the evil eye.”
[Bukhārī: 5738, Muslim: 2195, Aḥmad: 6/63]
◈ Clarification on Hadiths that Call Ruqyah “Shirk”
The Hadiths that describe ruqyah as shirk refer to:
- Ruqyahs based on shirkī formulas.
- Belief that the ruqyah itself independently cures, instead of Allah being the ultimate healer.
[Nayl al-Awṭār: 5/297–298, Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī: 6/209–210]
◈ Scholarly Opinions on Types of Ruqyah
Imām al-Qurṭubī (رحمه الله): Ruqyah is of three kinds:
① Unknown phrases of Jāhiliyyah: Avoid them, since they may contain shirk or lead to shirk.
② Ruqyah with Allah’s Names or Qur’anic verses: Permissible, and if established in Sunnah, recommended.
③ Ruqyah invoking other than Allah (e.g., angels, righteous men, or great creations such as the Throne): Not legislated, should best be avoided.
[Fatḥ al-Bārī: 11/353]
Imām al-Nawawī (رحمه الله): There is ijmā‘ (consensus) that ruqyah should be done with blowing without spitting saliva.
[Sharḥ Muslim: 7/438]
