What Is Ruqyah?
Ruqyah is reciting the Qur’an, Allah’s names and authentic du’a, over yourself or someone else, to ask Him for protection and shifa. It is a form of remembrance rather than a technique, and the reciter holds no power of their own.
At our wellness center, Ruqyah Counseling is calm spiritual support that sits alongside your medical and mental-health care, never in place of it. We begin with what you can do on your own: the daily adhkar the Prophet ﷺ taught.
“And We send down of the Qur’an that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.”
«وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا»
— Surah Al-Isra (17:82)
We read this verse as mercy for the heart, not a promise of physical recovery.
When Ruqyah Is Permissible
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Only the Qur’an, Allah’s names or authentic du’a are recited
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The words are Arabic, or clearly understood
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Shifa comes from Allah alone, never from the reciter
Jinn, Ayn and Sihr
The Qur’an speaks about the unseen calmly and clearly. Here is a short overview, with sources you can read for yourself.
Jinn
Jinn are an unseen creation of Allah, accountable just as we are, with believers and deniers among them. A group once heard the Qur’an and embraced it (Al-Jinn 72:1). Seeking their help only adds burden (Al-Jinn 72:6), so we turn to Allah directly.
At home: recite Surah Al-Baqarah there, since Shaytan flees a house where it is read (Muslim 780).
Ayn (the evil eye)
The Prophet ﷺ said, “The evil eye is real” (Bukhari 5740; Muslim 2188). It may arise from admiration or envy, sometimes without intent, yet touches no one except by Allah’s decree. Many commentators link a verse to it (Al-Qalam 68:51), and he directed that Ruqyah be done for it (Bukhari 5738).
In daily life: when something impresses you, ask Allah to bless it (Ibn Majah 3509).
Sihr (magic)
The Qur’an affirms that magic is real, yet it harms no one except by Allah’s permission (Al-Baqarah 2:102). Practicing it ranks among the seven destructive sins (Bukhari 2766). There’s no need to look for it behind every hardship.
Stay guarded: seek refuge through the surah naming those who blow on knots (Al-Falaq 113:4) and through An-Nas. Avoid fortune-tellers or anyone selling charms (Muslim 2230).
Signs People Commonly Report
Visitors often describe experiences like these. They are not a diagnosis: each can have physical, emotional or spiritual causes, and many have more than one.
While awake
- Tightness or heaviness in the chest during prayer or Qur’an
- Restlessness that makes worship hard to settle into
- A sudden pull away from home, family or a spouse
- Low mood or tiredness that lingers without a clear reason
- A run of setbacks that began after praise or envy
During sleep
- Trouble falling asleep, or broken rest through the night
- Distressing or recurring dreams
- Talking, crying or grinding teeth while asleep
- A sense of pressure, or brief stillness, on waking
- Rising more drained than at bedtime
Check in with a doctor too. Please see a physician and, where it helps, a mental-health professional alongside Ruqyah. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged treatment, teaching that Allah created no illness without a remedy (Abu Dawud 3855; Bukhari 5678).
What to Expect
During a Visit
- Recitation of the Qur’an and authentic du’a
- Time to share what’s on your mind
- Simple adhkar to keep up at home
- Sisters may request a female practitioner and a private room
Daily Self-Ruqyah
- At bedtime, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, three times (Bukhari 5017)
- Ayat al-Kursi before sleep (Bukhari 5010)
- The final two verses of Al-Baqarah at night (Bukhari 5009)
- Morning and evening remembrance
Note: Allah alone knows the unseen, and by remembering Him hearts find assurance (Ar-Ra’d 13:28).