What is ruqya and where does it come from?

Ruqya is the practice of reciting the Quran and authentic prophetic supplications over a person who is unwell, asking Allah for healing. The word itself simply means a recitation or incantation used for protection and cure.

It is not a folk custom that grew up around Islam. It sits inside the Sunnah. The Prophet, peace be upon him, recited over his companions and over his own family. Jibril recited over the Prophet when he fell ill. Al-Fatiha was used by a companion to treat a tribal chief, and the Prophet later approved what he had done.

The core idea is simple: the words carry no power of their own. Healing comes from Allah alone. The recitation is an act of worship and a means, not a mechanism.

Ruqya is practised alongside medical care, never as a substitute for it.