I have a very, very important question. I need a lot of knowledge about this aspect of our QUR'AN. I have heard that each "Surat" of the Quran has a use. I have heard of people who can use a "Surat" in the Qur'an to cure someone for example. I have also heard that SHEIKHS can recite parts of the Qur'an to remove the "Shaitan" from somebody, that there are books which have all the "Surat" and how each Surat can be used. I have heard of a man who can bring up and talk to the spirits of the dead by reciting some "Surats" of the Qur'an, and nobody can read from these books, let alone recite from them, except for that sheikh. Of course there must be many of them. Please give me any information you know about these aspects and topics. I would greatly appreciate it. Please explain all this to me in your answer. If all this is true, what other great powers does the Quran have? If none of this is true, what great powers does the Quran have? Thank you very much.

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 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Allaah has revealed the Quran for the great purpose of guiding human beings to their Lord and Creator. He Says: {Indeed, there has come to you from Allaah a light (i.e., Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and a plain Book (this Quran) wherewith Allaah guides all those who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to a straight way.} [Quran 5:15]

Allaah has also informed us that the Quran is a cure and a mercy to the believer; He says: {O mankind, there has come to you a good advice from your Lord and a healing for that in your breasts - a guidance and a mercy (explaining lawful and unlawful things, etc.) for the believers.} [Quran 10:57]

Allaah also says: {And We send down from the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism and act on it).} [Quran 17:82]

In another verse, Allaah says: {Say: “It is for those who believe a guide and a healing."} [Quran 41:44]

These are the great powers of the Quran; it is guidance, a mercy and a cure for the diseases of the heart and body.

Some people's belief that every verse or chapter of the Quran, or every beautiful name of Allaah has a specific impact or a given effect is an incorrect belief that Allaah has not revealed. What is confirmed from the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, though is that there are some verses and chapters which protect a Muslim from Satan, drives Satan's whispers away, invalidate the effect of magic and evil eye, and cure diseases - with the permission of Allah. Therefore, one should stick to what is revealed or reported in this regard without declaring that a specific verse or chapter has a particular benefit in any way except with an authentic evidence.

The following are some of these beneficial chapters and verses:

Chapters:

1. Al-Faatiha: it is reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari and others that some Companions recited this on an afflicted person and he woke up with a start and walked away without feeling any more harm.

2. Al- Baqarah: it is reported in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Satan flees from the house where Soorat Al-Baqarah is being recited."

3. The "two exorcists": which are Al-Falaq and Al-Naas: it is reported in Sunan Al-Tirmithi, Al-Nasaa’i and Ibn Majah that the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would supplicate to Allah against the Jinn and the evil eye until the "two exorcists" were revealed, and then he would seek refuge through them and abandoned the other chapters or verses he would use for seeking refuge. It is reported in Sunan Al-Tirmithi and Abu-Dawood that the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever recites the "two exorcists" in the morning and in the evening three times, it is enough for him (i.e., he will be protected from every evil)".

It is reported in Sunan An-Nasaa’i that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "People cannot not seek refuge with anything better than Qul a’oothu bi Rabb’il falaq, and Qul a’oothu bi Rabb’in-naas."

Verses:

1. The last two verses of Soorat Al-Baqarah: It is reported in Sahih-Al Bukhari, Muslim and others that the Prophet sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said about them: “Whoever reads the last two verses of Soorat Al-Baqarah, he will be protected (from every evil)."

2. Ayat Al-Kursi (the Verse of the Chair [Quran: 2:255]): The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever reads Ayat Al-Kursi, Satan will not come near to him." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

As regards to bringing up the souls of the dead, nobody can do this. When the soul departs from the body, it goes to the Barzakh (the period after death until the Day of Judgment). The soul therein is either in enjoyment or being punished. People claiming to be able to bring up the souls of the dead are fallacious and untruthful. What they really do is call the Jinns, and this is a forbidden act which Allah has condemned in the Quran and those that do so are threatened with Hellfire; Allah says: {…and their friends and helpers amongst men will say, "Our Lord, we benefited one from the other, but now we have reached our appointed term which You did appoint for us." He will say: "The Fire be your dwelling place; you will dwell therein forever, except as Allaah may will. Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing.} [Quran 6:128]

Allaah Knows best.