Author: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha (ḥafiẓahullāh)
Is it true that the best ruqyah (spiritual cure) is Sūrat al-Fātiḥah?
Allah ﷻ says:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٧﴾
“All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path — the path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your favor, not of those who have incurred wrath, nor of those who are astray.” [al-Fātiḥah: 1-7]
In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, it is narrated from Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (RA):
When they informed the Prophet ﷺ, he said:
«وما يدريك أنها رقية؟ قد أصبتم، اقسموا واضربوا لي معكم سهما»
“How did you know it is a ruqyah? You have done right. Divide (the reward) among yourselves, and include me as well.” Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ smiled. [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2156; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2201]
Another narration mentions that the companion recited Sūrat al-Fātiḥah seven times (or three times).
Scholars explain: Blowing (nafth) should be done after recitation, so that the blessing of the Qur’ānic words reaches the afflicted body. [Nayl al-Awṭār 5/290]
Sūrat al-Fātiḥah contains:
These meanings combine the reasons for attaining all blessings and removing all ailments.
Thus, Sūrat al-Fātiḥah is regarded as:
✔ The greatest of remedies
✔ A means of complete healing
✔ A sufficient cure
Question:
Is it true that the best ruqyah (spiritual cure) is Sūrat al-Fātiḥah?
Answer:
Allah ﷻ says:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٧﴾
“All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path — the path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your favor, not of those who have incurred wrath, nor of those who are astray.” [al-Fātiḥah: 1-7]
Ḥadīth Evidence
In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, it is narrated from Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (RA):
- A group of the Prophet’s ﷺ companions were on a journey and sought hospitality from an Arab tribe, but the tribe refused.
- Their chief was then bitten by a snake, and despite all efforts, he could not recover.
- They approached the companions, asking if they had something beneficial. One companion said: “Yes, by Allah, I perform ruqyah, but since you denied us hospitality, I will not do so unless you give us something in return.”
- They agreed on a flock of sheep as compensation. The companion went and recited Sūrat al-Fātiḥah, blowing upon the chief, and he was cured instantly, walking as though he had never been ill.
- The tribe gave them the agreed payment, but the companions decided to ask the Prophet ﷺ before consuming it.
When they informed the Prophet ﷺ, he said:
«وما يدريك أنها رقية؟ قد أصبتم، اقسموا واضربوا لي معكم سهما»
“How did you know it is a ruqyah? You have done right. Divide (the reward) among yourselves, and include me as well.” Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ smiled. [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2156; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2201]
Another narration mentions that the companion recited Sūrat al-Fātiḥah seven times (or three times).
Scholars explain: Blowing (nafth) should be done after recitation, so that the blessing of the Qur’ānic words reaches the afflicted body. [Nayl al-Awṭār 5/290]
The Greatness of Sūrat al-Fātiḥah
Sūrat al-Fātiḥah contains:
- Pure devotion in worship
- Praise of Allah ﷻ
- Reliance upon Him
- Supplication in comprehensive words
- Request for true guidance
These meanings combine the reasons for attaining all blessings and removing all ailments.
Thus, Sūrat al-Fātiḥah is regarded as:
✔ The greatest of remedies
✔ A means of complete healing
✔ A sufficient cure
