Ruqyah is the treatment of spiritual afflictions and medical conditions as well. There are 2 types of ruqyah mainly:
- Ruqyah Ash-Sharia
- Ruqyah Shirkiya
Ruqyah Ash-Sharia
This is the prescribed Islamic means to teat spiritual afflictions. It is according to Islam legislations.
It consists of:
- Relying on Allah alone, that the cure comes from him
- Not using other methods such as taweez/amulets/jinns/demons
- Using Quran and prescribed dua
- Using honey, zamzam water, olive oil, costus hindi
One is allowed to go to a raqi, someone who recites the quranic verses and prescribed dua’s during the treatment. One needs to have the correct Aqeedah (belief) for the treatment to be effective
The Elite scholars have agreed on the permissibility of Ruqyah on the 3 following conditions:
(Fath Al bari 10/195 and the religious rulings of the erudite scholar Ibn Baaz 2/384)
- It should be with the speech of Allah, the exalted, his names and attributes or the speech of this prophet (peace be upon him)
- It should be pronounced in the Arabic language or others that are understood
- It should be believed that the Ruqyah has not effect in or of itself, rather it is by the power of Allah;and that Ruqyah are only causes from the numerous causes of healing
Self-Ruqyah
It is high recommended to do self ruqyah upon oneself and it is a must. However is someone is afflicted and is doing self ruqyah and does not notice improvements s/he should not delay and seek ruqyah from someone who is upon tawheed and sunnah
Seeking Ruqyah from others
People who have studied this field are aware of the different types of spiritual afflictions and should have an understanding of medical problems as well. It is not haraam to seek ruqyah from others as long as the raqi is upon tawheed. However the one seeking ruqyah should realize that a raqi is a means and it is Allah (the exalted) who cures.
It is not haram for someone to charge when he offer his services as a raqi.
Comments from Scholars regarding this issue
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: We heard of some people who treat others by means of the Qur’aan; they recite Qur’aan and du’aa’s that are prescribed in sharee’ah over water or olive oil as a remedy for witchcraft, the evil eye and madness (the touch of the shaytaan), and they receive payment for that. Is this permissible according to sharee’ah? Does reciting over water or olive oil come under the same ruling as reciting over the sick person himself?
He replied:
There is nothing wrong with receiving payment for reciting ruqyah for one who is sick, because it is proven in al-Saheehayn that a group of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) set out on a journey and travelled until they made came near one of the Arab tribes. (These people were either kaafirs or very stingy, as Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned in al-Madaarij). They asked them for hospitality but they refused to do so. Then the leader of that tribe was stung, and they tried everything but nothing helped him. Then some of them said, Why don’t you go to those people who are staying (nearby)? Maybe some of them have something. So they went to them and said, O people, our leader has been stung and we have tried everything and nothing helped him. Do any of you have something? One of them said, Yes, by Allaah. I will perform ruqyah for him, but by Allaah we asked you for hospitality and you did not give us anything, so we will not perform ruqyah for you unless you give us something in return. So they agreed on a flock of sheep, then he started to blow on him and recite Al-hamdu Lillaahi Rabb il-‘Aalameen. Then he recovered quickly from his complaint and started walking, and there was nothing wrong with him. Then they have them what they had agreed to, and some of them (the Sahaabah) said, Let us share it out. The one who had performed ruqyah said, Do not do anything until we come to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and tell him what happened, and we will wait and see what he tells us to do. So they came to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and told him what had happened. He said, “How did you know that it is a ruqyah?” Then he said, “You did the right thing.”
Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz (19/338).
However, it should be noted that a raqi should not extort money from others and bear in mind that Allah is watching him.
Ruqyah Shirkiya
This is forbidden and takes one out of the fold of islam when used. It consists of:
- Going to magicians
- Sacrificing of animals
- Using amulets/taweez
- Jinn Catching
- Filthy acts such as pouring blood
- Insulting Quran
If one has resorted to such means, s/he should repent sincerely and turn back to Allah and seek Ruqyah based on Sharia