When Muslims May Choose to Practice Ruqyah (رُقْيَة)

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Ruqyah is an established Islamic religious practice involving Qur'anic recitation, authentic supplications (du'a), remembrance of Allah, and spiritual guidance. Muslims may choose to practice Ruqyah when seeking spiritual comfort, protection, remembrance of Allah, or support concerning matters discussed in Islamic teachings such as al-'ayn (evil eye), hasad (envy), and sihr (magic).

Ruqyah is a religious and spiritual practice. It is not a diagnostic system, and physical, psychological, behavioral, or neurological experiences should not be used to establish that a person has jinn possession, sihr, or the evil eye.

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Religious & Health Information Notice

 

This page discusses Islamic religious beliefs and scholarly perspectives for educational purposes. The experiences sometimes discussed in connection with jinn, sihr, or the evil eye are not diagnostic criteria for any supernatural or medical condition.

Experiences such as pain, anxiety, depression, changes in behavior, sleep difficulties, hearing or seeing things, fainting, seizures, or other health concerns can have physical, psychological, environmental, or other causes.

Bukhari Ruqyah does not provide medical or psychiatric diagnosis and does not determine that a health concern is caused by jinn, sihr, or the evil eye.

Ruqyah may be practiced alongside appropriate medical and mental-health care. It should not be used to delay, replace, or interfere with professional healthcare.

If you have a health concern, seek appropriate care from a qualified healthcare professional.

If someone is experiencing a medical emergency, serious injury, loss of consciousness, seizure, danger to themselves or others, or another urgent condition, seek immediate professional or emergency assistance.

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Why Do Muslims Practice Ruqyah?

 

Muslims practice Ruqyah as part of their religious tradition while seeking protection, spiritual comfort, and healing from Allah.

Islamic sources discuss Ruqyah in connection with Qur'anic recitation, supplication, and matters such as al-'ayn and sihr. These teachings belong to the realm of Islamic belief and religious practice and should not be presented as a method for diagnosing a medical or psychiatric condition.

The Qur'an describes itself as healing and mercy for believers:

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌۭ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

“And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers.”

Surah Al-Isra 17:82

Muslims may therefore turn to Qur'anic recitation and authentic supplications while seeking healing from Allah.

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Ruqyah and Islamic Teachings

Al-'Ayn — The Evil Eye

 

The evil eye (al-'ayn) is discussed within Islamic sources. Muslims may practice Ruqyah and supplication while seeking Allah's protection from it.

References to al-'ayn should be understood within their Islamic religious context. A physical or emotional experience by itself does not establish that a person has been affected by the evil eye. Learn More

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Hasad — Envy

Hasad is addressed in Islamic teachings, including the seeking of Allah's protection from the harm associated with envy.

Muslims may use Qur'anic recitation, supplication, and authentic forms of remembrance as part of their religious practice.

Learn More

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Sihr — Magic

Sihr is discussed in Islamic scripture and scholarship. Muslims may seek Allah's protection through Qur'anic recitation, supplication, and other authentic religious practices.

However, ordinary difficulties or health concerns should not automatically be attributed to sihr. Bukhari Ruqyah does not diagnose sihr based on symptoms or circumstances. Learn More

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Jinn

The Qur'an and Sunnah discuss the existence of jinn. Islamic scholarship also discusses matters relating to jinn and their interaction with human beings.

However, experiences such as unusual behavior, anxiety, sleep difficulties, hearing or seeing things, physical sensations, or other health concerns cannot by themselves establish jinn possession.

Such experiences may have medical, psychological, environmental, or other explanations and should be evaluated appropriately when concerning. Learn More

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Ruqyah as a Religious Practice

 

Ruqyah may include:

• Qur'anic recitation

• Authentic supplications

• Dhikr and remembrance of Allah

• Seeking Allah's protection

• Islamic religious education

• Spiritual guidance

• Self-Ruqyah and personal worship

A person may also practice Ruqyah independently through authentic Qur'anic recitation and supplication.

Ruqyah should remain within the boundaries of Islamic religious practice and should not involve diagnosing diseases, prescribing medical treatment, changing medication, or advising someone to avoid professional healthcare.

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Self-Ruqyah and Daily Protection

Muslims may incorporate authentic Qur'anic recitation and supplications into their daily worship.

Examples commonly practiced for remembrance and seeking Allah's protection include:

1. Surah Al-Ikhlas (112)

2. Surah Al-Falaq (113)

3. Surah An-Naas (114)

4. Ayat al-Kursi — Al-Baqarah (2:255)

5. The final two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:285–286)

6. Authentic morning and evening adhkar

These practices are part of Islamic worship and spiritual practice.

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Dua for Healing

Among the authentic supplications reported in the Sunnah is:

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ النَّاسِ أَذْهِبِ الْبَأْسَ، اشْفِ أَنْتَ الشَّافِي، لاَ شِفَاءَ إِلاَّ شِفَاؤُكَ، شِفَاءً لاَ يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًا

“O Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the harm and cure, You are the Curer. There is no cure except Your cure, a cure that leaves no illness.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 5743

Muslims may make this supplication while seeking healing from Allah.

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When Should You Seek Professional Healthcare?

 

Ruqyah and professional healthcare do not have to be treated as competing choices.

If you are experiencing persistent, severe, or concerning physical or psychological experiences, seek appropriate evaluation from a qualified healthcare professional. You may practice Ruqyah alongside appropriate care.

Bukhari Ruqyah does not diagnose the cause of health concerns and does not advise clients to discontinue or change prescribed medication or professional treatment.

If someone is experiencing:

• A medical emergency

• Loss of consciousness

• A seizure

• Serious injury

• Severe bleeding

• Suspected overdose

• Serious withdrawal

• Suicidal crisis

• Immediate danger to themselves or others

seek immediate professional or emergency assistance rather than relying solely on Ruqyah.

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What Bukhari Ruqyah Provides

Bukhari Ruqyah provides Qur'anic Ruqyah and Islamic spiritual support rooted in the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah.

We do not provide medical or psychiatric diagnosis, psychotherapy, substance-use treatment, or medical treatment.

We provide Ruqyah as a religious practice while encouraging appropriate professional healthcare when health concerns require it.

Seek healing from Allah, practice your faith, and do not delay appropriate healthcare.​