What is the ruling on treatment using the Quran? What are the Sharee‘ah-approved ways of treatment with the Quraan? What is the ruling on establishing clinics for such treatment?

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 Quran is an effective cure for all spiritual and physical diseases in this world and the Hereafter, but not everyone is qualified or guided to benefit from it unless the person firmly believes that the Quran is his or her cure, and meets the conditions for this treatment, in which case no ailment would resist it.

How would ailments resist the words of the Lord to whom belong the earth and the skies? These words, which would split the mountains or tear up the earth, if they fell upon them?

This was indicated by Ibn Al-Qayyim who said that the Quran is the effective cure for all diseases, overt and covert, especially when the patient is a dedicated Muslim who firmly believes that the Quran is their cure and that Allaah The Almighty is the one who grants health. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

• {Say, "It is, for those who believe, a guidance and cure."} [Quran 41:44]

• {O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord (Allaah) and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers.} [Quran 10:57] 

• {And We send down of the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.} [Quran 17:82]

Treatment by the Quran is permissible, to say the least. Indeed Allaah The Almighty made the Quran an effective cure and Muslims should primarily seek cure with it. The best way to treat illness using the Quran is for the patient to read the Quran, as the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , did.

If someone else reads the Quran before the patient, it is also permissible, as ‘Aa’ishah did with the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, when his pain was intense. ‘Aa’ishah said that if the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had a disease, he would read chapters Al-Falaq and An-Naas, blow into his hands, then wipe his body with them. When his pain intensified, ‘Aa’ishah read the chapters before him and wiped his body with his hand, seeking its blessing. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

In another narration ‘Aa’ishah said that if a member of the family of the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had a disease, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would read chapters Al-Falaq and An-Naas before the person and blow onto them.

It is also permissible to read the Quran before a container of water, then to allow the patient to drink from it or use it for a bath.

Furthermore, it is permissible to write some verses of the Quran on a substance, then erase the words using water, giving the patient this water to drink or use for a bath. Imam Ahmad and others indicated this.

There is no need to establish a clinic for treatment using the Quran because every Muslim is competent to read the Quran for himself or for others, as mentioned above. However, if a person known for his righteousness is recommended by good and upright people and his Ruqyah (Quranic treatment) proves to be effective, then it is permissible for him to establish a clinic for treatment using the Quran.

Allaah Knows best.