❖ Islamic Ruling on Ruqyah, Spiritual Healing, and Hanging Written Verses and Supplications ❖
Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
What is the Shariah ruling on ruqyah (spiritual healing) through Qur’anic recitation and hanging verses and supplications around the neck or tying them to the body?
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
It is permissible and legislated in Islam to perform ruqyah for those afflicted by magic, illness, or harm using Qur’anic verses and permissible duʿās.
This practice is established from the Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ used to perform ruqyah on himself and on his companions (رضي الله عنهم).
رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ الَّذِي فِي السَّمَاءِ... فَاجْعَلْ رَحْمَتَكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ...
“Our Lord is Allah who is in the heavens… place Your mercy on the earth… send healing from Your healing and mercy from Your mercy upon this pain.”
The Prophet ﷺ would recite this and the ill would recover by Allah’s will.
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ أَرْقِيكَ... مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ أَوْ عَيْنٍ حَاسِدٍ...
“In the Name of Allah, I perform ruqyah upon you from every ailment and from the evil of every soul or envious eye. May Allah heal you...”
Place your hand where you feel pain and say:
أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ وَعِزَّتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth 2202)
“I seek refuge with Allah and His might from the evil of what I feel and fear.”
Regarding the writing of Qur’anic verses or supplications and then:
– Hanging them around the neck,
– Tying them on the arm,
– Or placing them under pillows,
There exists scholarly disagreement.
◈ Some scholars allowed it,
◈ Others have prohibited it.
The more correct and stronger view is that:
Hanging written verses or duʿās on the body is not permissible, because:
➊ It is not proven from the Prophet ﷺ or his companions.
➋ The prescribed method is to recite the verses—not write and hang them.
➌ Tying such items around the neck, arm, or placing under the pillow is considered prohibited, according to the stronger view due to lack of Sharʿī evidence.
If someone declares a practice to be a means of healing or protection without Sharʿī proof, then:
– They have attributed causality to something Allah has not made a cause.
– This can become a form of shirk (associating partners with Allah) if one believes such things have intrinsic power.
✔ Ruqyah with Qur’anic verses and prophetic supplications by recitation is Sunnah and permissible.
Hanging or tying written verses or duʿās is not established from the Sunnah and is therefore prohibited, especially when used with belief in independent efficacy.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām❖ Question:
What is the Shariah ruling on ruqyah (spiritual healing) through Qur’anic recitation and hanging verses and supplications around the neck or tying them to the body?
✔ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
❖ Ruling on Ruqyah and Spiritual Healing:
It is permissible and legislated in Islam to perform ruqyah for those afflicted by magic, illness, or harm using Qur’anic verses and permissible duʿās.
This practice is established from the Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ used to perform ruqyah on himself and on his companions (رضي الله عنهم).
Sample Duʿās Used by the Prophet ﷺ:
① From Sunan Abī Dāwūd (Ḥadīth 3892):
رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ الَّذِي فِي السَّمَاءِ... فَاجْعَلْ رَحْمَتَكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ...
“Our Lord is Allah who is in the heavens… place Your mercy on the earth… send healing from Your healing and mercy from Your mercy upon this pain.”
The Prophet ﷺ would recite this and the ill would recover by Allah’s will.② From Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Ḥadīth 2186):
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ أَرْقِيكَ... مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ أَوْ عَيْنٍ حَاسِدٍ...
“In the Name of Allah, I perform ruqyah upon you from every ailment and from the evil of every soul or envious eye. May Allah heal you...”
③ Another method:
Place your hand where you feel pain and say:
أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ وَعِزَّتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth 2202)
“I seek refuge with Allah and His might from the evil of what I feel and fear.”
❖ Ruling on Hanging Written Verses or Duʿās:
Regarding the writing of Qur’anic verses or supplications and then:
– Hanging them around the neck,
– Tying them on the arm,
– Or placing them under pillows,
There exists scholarly disagreement.
⚖ Opinions:
◈ Some scholars allowed it,
◈ Others have prohibited it.
Stronger and More Cautious Opinion:
The more correct and stronger view is that:
Hanging written verses or duʿās on the body is not permissible, because:➊ It is not proven from the Prophet ﷺ or his companions.
➋ The prescribed method is to recite the verses—not write and hang them.
➌ Tying such items around the neck, arm, or placing under the pillow is considered prohibited, according to the stronger view due to lack of Sharʿī evidence.
A Warning Against Inventing Unlegislated Means:
If someone declares a practice to be a means of healing or protection without Sharʿī proof, then:
– They have attributed causality to something Allah has not made a cause.
– This can become a form of shirk (associating partners with Allah) if one believes such things have intrinsic power.
❖ Conclusion:
✔ Ruqyah with Qur’anic verses and prophetic supplications by recitation is Sunnah and permissible.
Hanging or tying written verses or duʿās is not established from the Sunnah and is therefore prohibited, especially when used with belief in independent efficacy.ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
