Notice:Editorial team review only - scholar review pending
1. Core ruqyah verses
These are the verses every Muslim should know. They are the foundation of every ruqyah set the Prophet(ﷺ)and his Companions practised.
Surah Al-Fatihah - the Opening, and the Qur'an's own ruqyah
The Prophet(ﷺ)approved a Companion's use of Surat al-Fatihah as ruqyah over a tribal chief, asking: How did you know that it is a ruqyah? (وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ أَنَّهَا رُقْيَةٌ) He affirmed both the recitation and the permissibility of receiving a fair payment for it.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ١ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ٢ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٣ مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ٤ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ٥ ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ٦ صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ٧In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path, the path of those You have blessed, not of those who have incurred Your wrath, nor of those who have gone astray.
Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (radiy-Allahu anhu)
انْطَلَقَ نَفَرٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي سَفْرَةٍ سَافَرُوهَا حَتَّى نَزَلُوا عَلَى حَىٍّ مِنْ أَحْيَاءِ الْعَرَبِ فَاسْتَضَافُوهُمْ، فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُضَيِّفُوهُمْ، فَلُدِغَ سَيِّدُ ذَلِكَ الْحَىِّ، فَسَعَوْا لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُهُ شَىْءٌSome Companions of the Prophet travelled and asked the people of a tribe for hospitality; they refused. Their chief was bitten by a scorpion. They asked the travellers whether any of them could recite ruqyah, and one of the Companions recited Surat al-Fatihah over him. He recovered, and the Companions accepted the sheep that had been offered in payment.
Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (radiy-Allahu anhu)
أَنَّ نَاسًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَتَوْا عَلَى حَىٍّ مِنْ أَحْيَاءِ الْعَرَبِ فَلَمْ يَقْرُوهُمْ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ لُدِغَ سَيِّدُ أُولَئِكَWhen the Companions returned to the Prophet with the payment they had received for reciting Surat al-Fatihah over the bitten chief, the Prophet said: 'How did you know that it is a ruqyah?' He then approved the payment and instructed them to set aside a share for him from it.
Ayat al-Kursi - the Throne Verse
The single verse that declares Allah's absolute oneness, His perpetual life, and His complete control. Recite it after every fard salah, in the morning, in the evening, and before sleep. The Prophet(ﷺ)promised that a guardian from Allah will remain with you, and no shaytan will come near you until morning for the one who recites it before bed.
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ٢٥٥Allahu la ilaha illa huwa al-Hayyul-Qayyum...
Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what will be after them, and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (radiy-Allahu anhu)
إِذَا أَوَيْتَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ فَاقْرَأْ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ لَنْ يَزَالَ مَعَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَافِظٌ وَلاَ يَقْرَبُكَ شَيْطَانٌ حَتَّى تُصْبِحَWhen you go to bed, recite Ayat al-Kursi; a guardian from Allah will remain with you, and no shaytan will come near you until morning.
Last two ayat of Surat al-Baqarah
The Prophet(ﷺ)said: Whoever recites them at night, they will suffice him.
ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِۦ وَقَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَThe Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and so have the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, saying, 'We make no distinction between any of His messengers.' And they say, 'We hear and we obey. Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the final destination.' Allah does not charge a soul except with that within its capacity. It will have what it has earned, and it will bear what it has earned. 'Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people.'
Narrated by Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari (radiy-Allahu anhu)
مَنْ قَرَأَ بِالآيَتَيْنِ مِنْ آخِرِ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ كَفَتَاهُWhoever recites the last two ayat of Surat al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.
The three Mu'awwidhat - Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas
The Prophet(ﷺ)recited these three surahs every night, blew into his cupped hands, and wiped them over his body starting with his head and face - three times. He also taught reciting them three times in the morning and three times in the evening, saying: they will suffice you against everything.
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ١ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ ٢ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ٣ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ ٤Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah is the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent.
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ ١ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ٢ وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ٣ وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّٰثَٰتِ فِى ٱلْعُقَدِ ٤ وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ٥Qul a'udhu bi-rabbi-l-falaq...
Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak, from the evil of that which He created, and from the evil of darkness when it settles, and from the evil of the blowers in knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies.
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ ١ مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ ٢ إِلَٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ ٣ مِن شَرِّ ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ ٱلْخَنَّاسِ ٤ ٱلَّذِى يُوَسْوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ ٥ مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ ٦Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the retreating whisperer who whispers in the breasts of mankind, from among the jinn and mankind.
Narrated by Aishah (radiy-Allahu anha)
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ جَمَعَ كَفَّيْهِ ثُمَّ نَفَثَ فِيهِمَا فَقَرَأَ فِيهِمَا قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ وَ قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ وَ قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ ثُمَّ يَمْسَحُ بِهِمَا مَا اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ يَبْدَأُ بِهِمَا عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَوَجْهِهِ وَمَا أَقْبَلَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍWhenever the Prophet went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over them after reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to do that three times.
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Khubayb (radiy-Allahu anhu)
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ وَالْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ حِينَ تُمْسِي وَحِينَ تُصْبِحُ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ تَكْفِيكَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَىْءٍRecite Surat al-Ikhlas and the two Mu'awwidhatayn (al-Falaq and an-Nas) three times in the morning and three times in the evening; they will suffice you against everything.
2. Verses against sihr and the work of magicians
These verses do not give the believer any personal power over sihr. They settle the believer's heart by reminding it of Allah's power over sihr. Recite them with the meaning in mind.
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:102 is the foundational verse on sihr. The key clause for the believer is the closing: they could not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah (مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ).
وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ مَا تَتْلُوا۟ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَٰنَ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَٰنُ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ ٱلسِّحْرَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى ٱلْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَٰرُوتَ وَمَٰرُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَآ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِۦ بَيْنَ ٱلْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِۦ وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِۦ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا۟ لَمَنِ ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـٰقٍ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ أَنفُسَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ ١٠٢And they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, 'We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic].' And [yet] they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah. And the people learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But the Children of Israel certainly knew that whoever purchased the magic would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew.
Allah's declaration through Musa (عليه السلام) over the magicians of Pharaoh: Allah will surely make it useless. Allah does not make right the work of corrupters.
فَلَمَّآ أَلْقَوْا۟ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ مَا جِئْتُم بِهِ ٱلسِّحْرُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَيُبْطِلُهُۥٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُصْلِحُ عَمَلَ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ ٨١When they had thrown, Musa said: 'What you have brought is magic; indeed, Allah will make it useless. Allah does not make right the work of corrupters.'
وَيُحِقُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَٰتِهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ ٨٢And Allah will establish the truth by His words, even if the criminals dislike it.
From the same confrontation, in Surah Taha - two clauses that the heart should hold like keys: what they have crafted is but the trick of a magician and the magician will not succeed wherever he comes.
وَأَلْقِ مَا فِى يَمِينِكَ تَلْقَفْ مَا صَنَعُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا صَنَعُوا۟ كَيْدُ سَٰحِرٍ وَلَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلسَّاحِرُ حَيْثُ أَتَىٰ ٦٩And throw what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have crafted. What they have crafted is but the trick of a magician, and the magician will not succeed wherever he comes.
The outcome that always lands when truth meets falsehood: the truth was established, and abolished was what they were doing.
فَوَقَعَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَبَطَلَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ١١٨So the truth was established, and abolished was what they were doing.
فَغُلِبُوا۟ هُنَالِكَ وَٱنقَلَبُوا۟ صَٰغِرِينَ ١١٩So they were overcome right there and became debased.
وَأُلْقِىَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ سَٰجِدِينَ ١٢٠And the magicians fell down in prostration.
The phrase from Surah Al-Falaq that names the work of sihr directly - the evil of the blowers in knots (a reference recognised across classical tafsir as sihr).
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ ١ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ٢ وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ٣ وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّٰثَٰتِ فِى ٱلْعُقَدِ ٤ وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ٥Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak, from the evil of that which He created, and from the evil of darkness when it settles, and from the evil of the blowers in knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies.
3. Verses against shaytan, fear, and waswasah
The shaytan is real, but not powerful in the way the unprotected mind makes him out to be. The Qur'an names the response to him in three precise words: fa-sta'idh bi-Allah (فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ), seek refuge in Allah.
وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ نَزْغٌ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ إِنَّهُۥ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ٢٠٠And if there comes to you from Satan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing.
وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ نَزْغٌ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٣٦And if there comes to you from Satan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
The same command, repeated in two surahs - because the shaytan repeats his attack, and we must repeat our refuge.
Recited before every Qur'an recitation, by direct command of Allah:
فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ ٩٨So when you recite the Qur'an, seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the expelled.
The Qur'anic du'a Allah Himself taught against the shaytan's whisperings and presence:
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَٰتِ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِAnd say: 'My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils, and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, that they may come near me.'
On the actual power of the shaytan - directly named by Allah: indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak (إِنَّ كَيْدَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ كَانَ ضَعِيفًا).
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱلطَّٰغُوتِ فَقَٰتِلُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ إِنَّ كَيْدَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ كَانَ ضَعِيفًا ٧٦Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of taghut. So fight against the allies of Satan. Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak.
Allah's direct word to the shaytan, recorded for the believer's certainty: indeed, over My servants there is for you no authority (إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَٰنٌ).
وَٱسْتَفْزِزْ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتَ مِنْهُم بِصَوْتِكَ وَأَجْلِبْ عَلَيْهِم بِخَيْلِكَ وَرَجِلِكَ وَشَارِكْهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَٰدِ وَعِدْهُمْ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا ٦٤And incite whoever you can among them with your voice, and assault them with your horses and foot soldiers, and become a partner in their wealth and their children, and promise them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion.
إِنَّ عِبَادِى لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَٰنٌ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ وَكِيلًا ٦٥Indeed, over My servants there is for you no authority. And sufficient is your Lord as Disposer of affairs.
The shaytan's own admission, recorded by Allah in the Qur'an. Read it slowly:
وَقَالَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ لَمَّا قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَعَدَكُمْ وَعْدَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُكُمْ وَمَا كَانَ لِىَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَٰنٍ إِلَّآ أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَٱسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِى فَلَا تَلُومُونِى وَلُومُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُم مَّآ أَنَا۠ بِمُصْرِخِكُمْ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُصْرِخِىَّ إِنِّى كَفَرْتُ بِمَآ أَشْرَكْتُمُونِ مِن قَبْلُ إِنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ٢٢And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded, 'Indeed, Allah had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me; but blame yourselves. I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be called to my aid. Indeed, I deny your association of me [with Allah] before. Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment.'
The shaytan, on the Day of Judgement, will deny every promise he made and confess he had no authority except that he called (وَمَا كَانَ لِىَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَـٰنٍ إِلَّآ أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ) and people answered. The whisper is his only weapon; the response is yours.
4. Verses that warn of the consequence of following shaytan
A note before recitation: these verses are reminders to the reader that the shaytan and his followers are destined for Hell unless they repent before death. They are not formulas the reciter directs at the unseen. The Muslim recites them as Qur'an, with humility, asking Allah for protection.
إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَٱتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا إِنَّمَا يَدْعُوا۟ حِزْبَهُۥ لِيَكُونُوا۟ مِنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ٦Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the Blaze.
قَالَ ٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا مَذْءُومًا مَّدْحُورًا لَّمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ١٨Allah said: 'Get out of Paradise, disgraced and rejected. Whoever follows you of them, I will surely fill Hell with you all together.'
وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَوْعِدُهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ٤٣And indeed, Hell is the promised place for them all.
لَهَا سَبْعَةُ أَبْوَٰبٍ لِّكُلِّ بَابٍ مِّنْهُمْ جُزْءٌ مَّقْسُومٌ ٤٤It has seven gates; for each gate is an assigned portion of them.
5. On Surah Az-Zalzalah 99:2
Some traditional ruqyah lists include this verse:
وَأَخْرَجَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا ٢And the earth discharges its burdens.
What we will say honestly: the verse is Qur'an and may be recited as Qur'an. We will not, however, attribute to it specific guaranteed effects such as "this verse forces black magic out of the ground" or "this verse removes buried sihr" unless those usages are supported by authentic evidence and qualified scholar review. The safest foundation remains the verses and du'as Allah explicitly revealed for protection and that the Prophet(ﷺ)explicitly practised.
6. Authentic du'as from the Sunnah
Jibril's ruqyah for the Prophet
When the Prophet(ﷺ)was ill, Jibril(عليه السلام)recited this ruqyah over him - preserved in Sahih Muslim:
Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (radiy-Allahu anhu)
بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ يُؤْذِيكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ أَوْ عَيْنِ حَاسِدٍ اللَّهُ يَشْفِيكَ بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَIn the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you, from everything that harms you, from the evil of every soul or envious eye. May Allah cure you. In the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you.
The Prophet's du'a for the sick
Narrated by Aishah (radiy-Allahu anha)
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ النَّاسِ أَذْهِبِ الْبَاسَ اشْفِهِ وَأَنْتَ الشَّافِي لاَ شِفَاءَ إِلاَّ شِفَاؤُكَ شِفَاءً لاَ يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًاO Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the harm and cure him. You are the Healer. There is no healing except Your healing - a healing that leaves behind no illness.
For localised pain
The Prophet(ﷺ)taught Uthman ibn Abi al-As: place your hand on the painful spot, say bismillah three times, then say the refuge phrase seven times.
Narrated by Uthman ibn Abi al-As ath-Thaqafi (radiy-Allahu anhu)
ضَعْ يَدَكَ عَلَى الَّذِي تَأَلَّمَ مِنْ جَسَدِكَ وَقُلْ بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ ثَلاَثًا وَقُلْ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُPlace your hand on the part of your body that pains you and say 'bismillah' three times. Then say seven times: 'I seek refuge in Allah and in His power from the evil of what I feel and fear.'
For morning and evening protection
Narrated by Uthman ibn Affan (radiy-Allahu anhu) (via Aban ibn Uthman)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَىْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُIn the name of Allah, with whose Name nothing on earth or in heaven can harm; and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
Recite three times in the morning and three times in the evening. Graded Sahih by al-Albani; also narrated by Tirmidhi as Hasan.
For children, family, and the affected person
The Prophet(ﷺ)recited over his grandsons Hasan and Husayn (رضي الله عنهم) using the same words Ibrahim (عليه السلام) recited over his sons Isma'il and Ishaq:
Narrated by Ibn Abbas (radiy-Allahu anhu)
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍI seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from every devil, every harmful creature, and every envious eye.
Tahlil for the day's shield
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (radiy-Allahu anhu)
مَنْ قَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ فِي يَوْمٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ كَانَتْ لَهُ عَدْلَ عَشْرِ رِقَابٍ وَكُتِبَتْ لَهُ مِائَةُ حَسَنَةٍ وَمُحِيَتْ عَنْهُ مِائَةُ سَيِّئَةٍ وَكَانَتْ لَهُ حِرْزًا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ يَوْمَهُ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى يُمْسِيَ وَلَمْ يَأْتِ أَحَدٌ أَفْضَلَ مِمَّا جَاءَ بِهِ إِلاَّ أَحَدٌ عَمِلَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَWhoever says: 'There is no deity but Allah alone, He has no partner, His is the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is over all things omnipotent' one hundred times in a day, it will be equal in reward to freeing ten slaves, one hundred good deeds will be recorded for him, one hundred sins will be wiped from him, and it will be a shield from the shaytan for that day until evening. None will surpass it except one who does more.
7. The complete ruqyah session, start to finish
Whether you are reciting on yourself, on a child, or on a family member, the structure below holds. Slow down. Do not rush. Allah hears every word.
Begin with isti'adha and bismillah
Allah commanded this directly in Surah An-Nahl 16:98. Say: a'udhu bi-Allah min ash-shaytani-r-rajim. Bismi-Allahi-r-rahmani-r-rahim.
Recite Surah Al-Fatihah once
The Qur'an's own ruqyah, prophetically approved in Sahih al-Bukhari 5736. With attention to its meaning - every clause is a creedal statement.
Recite Ayat al-Kursi once
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255. The throne verse - Allah's declaration of His own oneness, permanence, and sovereignty. Recite it with the heart present at every name and attribute.
Recite the last two ayat of Surat al-Baqarah
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:285-286. "Whoever recites them at night, they will suffice him." (Sahih al-Bukhari 5009).
Recite the three Mu'awwidhat: Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas
Cup your hands at chest height, recite the three surahs in order, blow softly into your hands, wipe over your body starting with head and face. Repeat the whole sequence three times - exactly as in Sahih al-Bukhari 5017.
Recite verses against sihr if you specifically suspect it
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:102 - they could not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah (مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ). Surah Yunus 10:81-82 - Allah will surely make it useless (إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَيُبْطِلُهُۥ). Surah Taha 20:69 - the magician will not succeed wherever he comes (وَلَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلسَّاحِرُ حَيْثُ أَتَىٰ). Surah Al-A'raf 7:118-120.
Recite verses against shaytan and waswasah if those are the present trial
Surah An-Nisa 4:76 - indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak (إِنَّ كَيْدَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ كَانَ ضَعِيفًا). Surah Al-Isra 17:65 - over My servants there is for you no authority (إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَٰنٌ). Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:97-98 - the refuge du'a Allah Himself taught.
Recite the prophetic du'as
Jibril's ruqyah (Sahih Muslim 2186). The Prophet's du'a for the sick (Sahih al-Bukhari 5743). For localised pain, the bismillah-three-times then a'udhu-seven-times formula (Sahih Muslim 2202). The bismi-llahi-lladhi du'a three times (Sunan Abi Dawud 5088, Sahih). For children, the perfect-words du'a (Sahih al-Bukhari 3371).
Close with personal du'a in your own language
Ask Allah by His names. Ya Hafiz (the Preserver), Ya Wakil (the Disposer), Ya Shafi (the Healer), Ya Salam (the Source of Peace). Speak your specific need. He hears every word in every language.
If treating someone else, place your hand on their head
Continue reciting Surah Al-Fatihah, Ayat al-Kursi, and the Mu'awwidhat over them. Blow softly toward them after each surah. The Prophet(ﷺ)did this nightly for himself; Aishah (radiy-Allahu anha) did this for him during his final illness (Sahih al-Bukhari 5735).
A reminder before you close: these verses are not magic words. They are the words of Allah, recited with tawheed, humility, du'a, and reliance upon Allah. Protection and cure come from Allah alone. The believer recites, asks, and trusts.