❖ Comprehensive Explanation in Light of Qur’an and Sunnah
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allāh. To proceed:
① Is Understanding the Translation Necessary for Performing Ruqyah (Ritual Healing)?
✔ It is not a condition to understand the translation or meaning of Qur’anic verses when using them for ruqyah (ritual healing).
✔ The purpose of ruqyah is to convey the spiritual effect of the words to the afflicted person.
✔ Even if the person performing ruqyah does not know the meaning, the words themselves still hold divine impact.
The Prophet ﷺ said:"Indeed, some eloquence is a form of magic."
(Sunan Abū Dāwūd: 5007)
✿ Practical Observations Support This View
➤ Some spiritual practitioners or magicians recite incantations in unknown languages (such as Hindi, Bengali, or other obscure dialects),
yet their effects are observed.
➤ Some people mispronounce the Qur’anic verses but still achieve healing results, even when they’ve simply memorized the verses.
➤ This confirms that the impact of ruqyah is not solely dependent on understanding, though clarity and correctness are ideal.
Prophetic Guidance:Narrated by Mālik ibn Shu‘ayjī:
"In the days of ignorance, we used to perform ruqyah. We asked: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! What do you say about it?
He ﷺ said:
‘Present your ruqyahs to me. There is no harm in ruqyah as long as there is no trace of shirk (polytheism) in it.’
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2200)
✔ Therefore, as long as the words of ruqyah are from the Qur’an or permissible supplications,
not knowing their meaning does not invalidate their effect.
✔ There is no Islamic text that denies the spiritual impact of Qur’anic ruqyah due to lack of translation knowledge.
② What is the Shar‘i Ruling on Recorded Ruqyah (from Audio Devices)?
✔ As mentioned earlier, the effect of ruqyah stems from the recited words,
not merely from the physical presence or intention of the reciter.
➤ Once the words are uttered, they inherently possess divine influence,
even without the reciter’s physical presence or express intention.
Example:
In many homes today, recordings of Sūrah al-Baqarah or other Qur’anic verses are played aloud.
In such cases:
➤ Only the sound is heard
➤ The reciter is absent, and there is no direct intent behind the playback
Yet the spiritual effect persists.
⚠ Difference from Ṣalāh (Prayer):
➤ In Ṣalāh, the presence of the Imām and a valid intention are essential conditions.
➤ Hence, one cannot follow a recorded Imām in prayer.
However, in the case of ruqyah,
✔ Only the recitation matters, not the presence of the reader.
✔ No intention is required for the recitation to be effective.
Key Points of Valid Ruqyah
① The afflicted person does not have to be a Muslim
② The person need not understand the meanings of the words
③ Recorded ruqyah also produces effect
④ The impact lies in the words themselves, not in the person or intent
وَبِاللّٰهِ التَّوْفِيق
