Ruqyah is reciting verses of the Qur'an and authentic supplications over yourself or over someone who is ill, seeking healing and protection. It is agreed upon as permissible — provided it is the words of Allah or transmitted supplication, and provided one believes that the Healer is Allah alone.
Gathered here is what is actually recited: al-Fatihah, Ayat al-Kursi, the protective surahs, the verses against the evil eye, 'I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah', and the supplication for visiting the sick.
The method: recite, breathe into your hands, and wipe over what you can reach — or recite directly over the person. No talismans, no unknown names, no fee conditional on a cure.
Bismi-llahi-r-Rahmani-r-Rahim. Al-hamdu lillahi Rabbi-l-'alamin. Ar-Rahmani-r-Rahim. Maliki yawmi-d-din. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in. Ihdina-s-sirata-l-mustaqim. Sirata-lladhina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayri-l-maghdubi 'alayhim wa la-d-dallin.
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. All praise is for Allah, Lord of all the worlds — the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path — the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour, not of those who have earned anger, nor of those who are astray.
Virtue: A Companion recited it over a man who was cured; the Prophet ﷺ then affirmed: "How did you know it was a ruqyah?"
Allahu la ilaha illa Huwa-l-Hayyu-l-Qayyum. La ta'khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm. Lahu ma fi-s-samawati wa ma fi-l-ard. Man dha-lladhi yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi-idhnih. Ya'lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum, wa la yuhituna bi-shay'in min 'ilmihi illa bima sha'. Wasi'a kursiyyuhu-s-samawati wa-l-ard, wa la ya'uduhu hifzuhuma, wa Huwa-l-'Aliyyu-l-'Azim.
Allah — there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Virtue: Whoever recites it has a guardian from Allah, and no devil draws near him.
Qul a'udhu bi-Rabbi-l-falaq. Min sharri ma khalaq. Wa min sharri ghasiqin idha waqab. Wa min sharri-n-naffathati fi-l-'uqad. Wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad.
Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak, from the evil of that which He created, and from the evil of darkness when it settles, and from the evil of the blowers in knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies.
Qul a'udhu bi-Rabbi-n-nas. Maliki-n-nas. Ilahi-n-nas. Min sharri-l-waswasi-l-khannas. Alladhi yuwaswisu fi suduri-n-nas. Mina-l-jinnati wa-n-nas.
Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the Sovereign of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the retreating whisperer who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind, from among the jinn and mankind.
Virtue: The Prophet ﷺ would recite the protective surahs, blow into his hands, and wipe over his body.
Wa yashfi sudura qawmin mu'minin. Wa nunazzilu mina-l-qur'ani ma huwa shifa'un wa rahmatun lil-mu'minin. Wa idha maridtu fahuwa yashfin. Yakhruju min butuniha sharabun mukhtalifun alwanuhu fihi shifa'un lin-nas. Qul huwa lilladhina amanu hudan wa shifa'. Wa shifa'un lima fi-s-sudur.
And He will heal the breasts of a believing people. And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers. And when I am ill, it is He who cures me. There comes forth from their bellies a drink of varying colours, in which there is healing for people. Say, it is, for those who believe, a guidance and a healing. And a healing for what is in the breasts.
Bismillah (×3); A'udhu billahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhadhir (×7)
Place your hand on the place of pain and say: In the name of Allah (three times), then: I seek refuge in Allah and His power from the evil of what I feel and fear (seven times).
Allahumma Rabba-n-nas, adhhibi-l-ba's, ishfi anta-sh-Shafi, la shifa'a illa shifa'uk, shifa'an la yughadiru saqama.
O Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the harm and heal — You are the Healer. There is no healing but Your healing, a healing that leaves no illness behind.
Bismillahi arqik, min kulli shay'in yu'dhik, min sharri kulli nafsin aw 'aynin hasid, Allahu yashfik, bismillahi arqik
In the name of Allah I perform ruqyah upon you, from everything that harms you, from the evil of every soul or envious eye — may Allah heal you. In the name of Allah I perform ruqyah upon you.
Virtue: Jibril performed this ruqyah upon the Prophet ﷺ when he fell ill.
The Khalily app
Don't lose tomorrow's adhkar
The app reminds you at the right time, keeps your progress across devices, and shows your companion that you finished.
By keeping to the morning and evening adhkar, Ayat al-Kursi before sleep, the protective surahs three times morning and evening, and 'I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He created'.
Can I perform ruqyah on myself?
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Yes — and doing it yourself is safest, because it needs no intermediary and leaves no opening for charlatans.
