What is the Ruqyah acceptable in the Sharee'ah and what are the verses that must be recited therein?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

The Ruqyah that is acceptable in the Sharee'ah is that which fulfills three conditions:

1 - The Ruqyah must be done with the Quran, with the Names and Attributes of Allaah The Almighty, or with a supplication reported on the authority of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

2 - The Ruqyah must be composed of comprehensive Arabic words because it is not appropriate to use a language other than Arabic in supplication. It is only permissible for those who are not fluent in Arabic. Using foreign words in Ruqyah is unacceptable. This was stated by Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah .

3 - It must be known that Ruqyah has no effect on its own, but it is effective only by the will of Allaah The Almighty.

Once these three conditions are fulfilled, it becomes a valid Ruqyah. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, mentioned that Ruqyah is permissible, provided that it does not include any of the features of Shirk (polytheism). [Muslim]

The most beneficial and effective Ruqyah is that which is recited by the afflicted person himself, and this is supported by texts from the Quran and Sunnah (tradition). However, most people nowadays search for other people, who may be magicians or just common people, to recite Ruqyah for them.

The best thing that can be recited over a sick person is Al-Faatihah (Chapter 1 of the Quran). Indeed, this great Soorah (chapter) includes a declaration of a person’s full sincerity in the worship he offers Allaah The Almighty, the glorification of Allaah The Almighty, a person’s full reliance on Allaah The Almighty and need for Allaah The Almighty.

Moreover, there are several Hadeeths (narrations) mentioning that Ruqyah is done with Al-Faatihah, like the Ruqyah recited over the person who had been stung by a scorpion. [Al-Bukhari] In addition, there is a Hadeeth where it is mentioned that the following supplication could be used as a Ruqyah for the sick: “Bismillaahi arqeek min kulli shay’in yu’theek wa min sharri kulli nafsin aw ‘ayn haasidin Allaah yashfeek, bismillaahi arqeek. (I perform Ruqyah over you with the Name of Allaah, to protect you from whatever harms you and from the evil of every person or every eye, may Allaah grant you recovery. I perform Ruqyah over you with the Name of Allaah).” [Muslim]

If a Muslim suffers pain in his body, he may put his hand on the place where he feels the pain and say: “Bismillaah" (three times) and say (seven times): “A‘oothu bi ‘izzatillaahi wa qudratihi min sharri maa ajidu wa uhaathir (In the Name of Allaah, I seek refuge in the Might and Omnipotence of Allaah from the evil of what I feel and fear of).” [Muslim]

A valid Ruqyah serves as a means for protection against the evil eye, magic, demonic possession and physical diseases as well. The evil eye can, indeed, cause serious harm, as mentioned by the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. [Muslim] Hence, he ordered us to recite Ruqyah to protect us against the evil eye, as mentioned in a Hadeeth on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah . [Al-Bukhari]

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, once saw a female slave at the home of Umm Salamah and her face was full of abscesses, so he commanded them to recite Ruqyah over her because that was the effect of an evil eye. [Al-Bukhari]

If the person with an evil eye is known, a person is to be encouraged to do what the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, commanded ‘Aamir ibn Rabee‘ah to do. ‘Aamir once saw Sahl ibn Hunayf performing Ghusl (ritual bath) and commented that he had never seen a body more beautiful or stronger than his. Upon saying so, Sahl fell to the ground and became sick. Hearing of this the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered ‘Aamir to ask Allaah The Almighty to bless Sahl and to perform Ghusl for his sake. ‘Aamir thus washed his face, hands, elbows, knees, the end of his feet and the inner portion of his lower garment in a vessel and then this water was poured over Sahl and he recovered from his sickness. [Maalik]

The morning and evening Athkaar (remembrance) and reliance upon Allaah The Almighty can also protect a person against the evil eye. Another means of protection against magic and any kind of evil, besides the morning and evening Athkaar, is the recitation of Aayat Al-Kursi, Soorat Al-Ikhlaas and Al-Mu‘awwithataan after each prayer and at the time of sleeping, and reciting the last two verses of Soorat Al-Baqarah every night.

For further information see Fatwa 4678.

And Allaah Knows best.