How can I make sure ruqyah is safe and Islamically sound?

The short answer

Ruqyah is permissible when its words are free of shirk and the help is sought from Allah. Keep consent, modesty and medical care in view, and leave anyone who uses threats, secret rituals or exploitation [1][2].

Evidence 1 2 3

Explanation

The Prophet ﷺ approved incantations after asking to hear them, then said there is no harm in a ruqyah that contains no shirk 1. The Quran is described as healing and mercy for believers 2. These sources support reciting known Quranic passages and sound supplications while believing that healing comes from Allah, not from a practitioner's independent power.

A sound practice should be understandable and respectful. A practitioner should explain what they do, obtain consent, protect privacy and avoid touching or isolating someone inappropriately. Do not accept claims that a person can reveal hidden facts, guarantee a cure, or demand harmful acts. The texts do not authorize coercion, humiliating rituals or blaming a patient for being ill.

Ruqyah can accompany ordinary medical or psychological care; it should not be used to pressure someone to stop treatment. You may recite for yourself, and you can ask a trusted, knowledgeable person for help. If a practitioner makes you feel unsafe, leave and seek help from family, a qualified scholar or relevant authorities. Ask a local scholar about specific disputed practices.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2200
    Sahih Muslim

    The Prophet ﷺ permitted ruqyah that does not contain shirk.

    Auf b. Malik Ashja'i reported We practised incantation in the pre-Islamic days and we said:Allah's Messenger. what is your opinion about it? He said: Let me know your incantation and said: There is no harm in the incantation which does not smack of polytheism

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَوْفِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ الأَشْجَعِيِّ، قَالَ كُنَّا نَرْقِي فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ تَرَى فِي ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ اعْرِضُوا عَلَىَّ رُقَاكُمْ لاَ بَأْسَ بِالرُّقَى مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ شِرْكٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  2. 2
    Quran Al-Israa · 17:82

    The Quran is described as healing and mercy for believers.

    وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءࣱ وَرَحۡمَةࣱ لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارࣰ ا ۝٨٢

    And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss

  3. 3
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 5736
    Sahih Bukhari

    Companions recited ruqyah for a tribe leader and the Prophet ﷺ approved their action.

    Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:Some of the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) came across a tribe amongst the tribes of the Arabs, and that tribe did not entertain them. While they were in that state, the chief of that tribe was bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion). They said, (to the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) ), "Have you got any medicine with you or anybody who can treat with Ruqya?" The Prophet's companions said, "You refuse to entertain us, so we will not treat (your chief) unless you pay us for it." So they agreed to pay them a flock of sheep. One of them (the Prophet's companions) started reciting Surat-al-Fatiha and gathering his saliva and spitting it (at the snake-bite). The patient got cured and his people presented the sheep to them, but they said, "We will not take it unless we ask the Prophet (whether it is lawful)." When they asked him, he smiled and said, "How do you know that Surat-al-Fatiha is a Ruqya? Take it (flock of sheep) and assign a share for me

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمُتَوَكِّلِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ نَاسًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَتَوْا عَلَى حَىٍّ مِنْ أَحْيَاءِ الْعَرَبِ فَلَمْ يَقْرُوهُمْ، فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ لُدِغَ سَيِّدُ أُولَئِكَ فَقَالُوا هَلْ مَعَكُمْ مِنْ دَوَاءٍ أَوْ رَاقٍ فَقَالُوا إِنَّكُمْ لَمْ تَقْرُونَا، وَلاَ نَفْعَلُ حَتَّى تَجْعَلُوا لَنَا جُعْلاً‏.‏ فَجَعَلُوا لَهُمْ قَطِيعًا مِنَ الشَّاءِ، فَجَعَلَ يَقْرَأُ بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ، وَيَجْمَعُ بُزَاقَهُ، وَيَتْفِلُ، فَبَرَأَ، فَأَتَوْا بِالشَّاءِ، فَقَالُوا لاَ نَأْخُذُهُ حَتَّى نَسْأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلُوهُ فَضَحِكَ وَقَالَ ‏ "‏ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ أَنَّهَا رُقْيَةٌ، خُذُوهَا، وَاضْرِبُوا لِي بِسَهْمٍ ‏"‏‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-25

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