❖ Ruqyah (Spiritual Healing) and Tawakkul: The Practice of the Prophet ﷺ and Islamic Teachings ❖
Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Is performing ruqyah (spiritual healing through Qur'anic recitation) contrary to tawakkul (reliance upon Allah)?
Who is the greatest example of tawakkul in human history?
Did the Prophet ﷺ adopt means to avoid harm, or did he rely on Allah without using worldly means?
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
Tawakkul means to have true reliance upon Allah in seeking benefit or warding off harm, while also adopting the means and methods that Allah has commanded or permitted.
Tawakkul does not mean to abandon all means and rely on Allah alone.
Doing so would be a misunderstanding of the divine system, as Allah has linked outcomes (musabbabāt) with their causes (asbāb).
To neglect the means while expecting the result is akin to objecting to Allah’s wisdom.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the one who had the highest level of reliance upon Allah.
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ would take necessary precautions along with his trust in Allah.
◈ When going to battle, the Prophet ﷺ wore body armor to protect himself from enemy arrows.
◈ On the Day of Uhud, he ﷺ wore two layers of armor, fully preparing for the potential dangers of war.
It is therefore clear that:
Adopting the means is not against tawakkul,
Provided the belief is maintained that:
➊ These are merely means,
➋ And they have no independent effect except by the will and permission of Allah.
◈ Performing ruqyah—whether for oneself or for another sick person—is not contrary to tawakkul.
◈ It is proven from authentic Hadith that the Prophet ﷺ would recite the Muʿawwidhāt (Sūrah al-Falaq and Sūrah al-Nās) and perform ruqyah upon himself.
◈ It is also authentically reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to perform ruqyah on his companions when they were ill.
Performing ruqyah is:
– Permissible,
– In accordance with the Sunnah,
– And does not contradict true tawakkul on Allah,
As long as the individual believes that healing ultimately comes only by the will of Allah.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām❖ Question:
Is performing ruqyah (spiritual healing through Qur'anic recitation) contrary to tawakkul (reliance upon Allah)?
Who is the greatest example of tawakkul in human history?
Did the Prophet ﷺ adopt means to avoid harm, or did he rely on Allah without using worldly means?
✔ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
❖ Understanding Tawakkul (Reliance on Allah):
Tawakkul means to have true reliance upon Allah in seeking benefit or warding off harm, while also adopting the means and methods that Allah has commanded or permitted.
Tawakkul does not mean to abandon all means and rely on Allah alone.Doing so would be a misunderstanding of the divine system, as Allah has linked outcomes (musabbabāt) with their causes (asbāb).
To neglect the means while expecting the result is akin to objecting to Allah’s wisdom.
❖ Who Had the Highest Level of Tawakkul?
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the one who had the highest level of reliance upon Allah.❖ Did the Prophet ﷺ Use Means to Avoid Harm?
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ would take necessary precautions along with his trust in Allah.
Examples:
◈ When going to battle, the Prophet ﷺ wore body armor to protect himself from enemy arrows.
◈ On the Day of Uhud, he ﷺ wore two layers of armor, fully preparing for the potential dangers of war.
❖ Conclusion:
It is therefore clear that:
Adopting the means is not against tawakkul,Provided the belief is maintained that:
➊ These are merely means,
➋ And they have no independent effect except by the will and permission of Allah.
❖ Ruling on Ruqyah (Spiritual Healing):
◈ Performing ruqyah—whether for oneself or for another sick person—is not contrary to tawakkul.
◈ It is proven from authentic Hadith that the Prophet ﷺ would recite the Muʿawwidhāt (Sūrah al-Falaq and Sūrah al-Nās) and perform ruqyah upon himself.
◈ It is also authentically reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to perform ruqyah on his companions when they were ill.
Final Ruling:
Performing ruqyah is:
– Permissible,
– In accordance with the Sunnah,
– And does not contradict true tawakkul on Allah,
As long as the individual believes that healing ultimately comes only by the will of Allah.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
