“And We send down in the Qur’an that which is healing and mercy for the believers.”
Al-Isra (17:82)
Islamic Spiritual Medicine
Islamic spiritual medicine (also known as Ruqyah Shar’iyyah) is the practice of healing through the Qur’an, supplications (duas), and the beautiful names of Allah. It is based on the belief that the Qur’an and the Sunnah contain remedies and protection against spiritual, psychological, and physical ailments. This is not an alternative religion but an integral part of Islamic practice, rooted in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
There are many traditions where the Prophet recited specific chapters and verses for protection or healing. Among the most well-known are Surah Al-Fatiha, Surah Al-Falaq, Surah An-Nas, Ayat al-Kursi, as well as specific supplications (duas) and forms of remembrance (dhikr). These are recited for health, tranquility, protection against envy, magic (sihr), and harmful jinn. One of the most significant invocations is Ya Shafi – “O You who heal.”
In practice, this often means reciting verses and prayers over the sick, writing prayers on paper or porcelain plates, then washing them with pure water which the patient drinks or bathes with.
According to Bosnian spiritual healers, there are around 3,000 illnesses in the world, and conventional medicine can cure fewer than a thousand of them. The rest, they claim, fall into the domain of spiritual healing.
Main Practices in Spiritual Healing
Spiritual healers use several traditional methods, often combined with others such as writing talismans (ta’weez), amulets, numerological charts (wafq), reciting ruqyah (exorcistic prayers), tying knots, using olive oil and honey, or burning incense. While primarily intended for spiritual disorders, some remedies overlap with physical illnesses traditionally treated in medicine.
Methods of Diagnosis and Healing
Testing the patient’s condition
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The patient’s name and mother’s name are written on a piece of paper, along with selected names of Allah.
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The paper is placed in water overnight.
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If the paper sinks: recovery is expected.
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If it floats: the illness remains.
Verse for general healing
Anyone suffering from illness may write the verse:
“And We send down in the Qur’an that which is healing and mercy for the believers.” (17:82)
on clean white paper, dissolve it in water, and then drink or bathe with it, seeking Allah’s healing.
For leukoderma (white patches on the skin)
A verse is written on paper and applied to the affected area. The area is then washed with water mixed with salt and black cumin seeds while reciting the prayer:
“O Allah, You are the Healer, heal me!”
For fever
Recite Surah Yasin, tying a knot on a string with each verse until seven knots are made. The string is tied around the patient’s neck.
For paralysis
Massage the body and spine with sesame and olive oil, reciting:
“And when I am ill, it is He (Allah) who cures me.” (26:80)
For diarrhea
Drink milk over which the invocation Ya Latif has been recited 21 times, with the addition of cloves and cumin if desired.
For blood clots and blockages
Carry the verse:
“Nothing will befall us except what Allah has decreed for us; He is our Protector. And in Allah let the believers place their trust.” (9:51)
For insomnia and breathing difficulties
Carry or hang the verse:
“Have We not expanded for you your chest and relieved you of your burden?” (94:1-2)
The Role of Saffron
All written remedies are believed to have effect only if written with saffron ink. Arabs have long believed that saffron not only serves as a spice but also has the power to remove negative energies (such as magic and demonic influence). In spiritual healing, saffron is said to:
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Neutralize ingested magic.
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Treat early stages of epilepsy.
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Remove spells when one bathes in water containing saffron-written verses.
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Protect against the evil eye.
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Assist in the treatment of cancer.
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Help with both organic and psychological illnesses.
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Resolve marital problems caused by sorcery.
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Relieve infertility when caused by magical interference.
The Qur’an – A Heavenly Book, A Heavenly Cure
The name Qur’an (Kuran) itself carries deep meaning. In Latin, the word cura (cure, healing) or the verb curare means “to heal,” “to care for,” or “to prepare for publication” (like a book). Since the Qur’an is referred to as a divine revelation, it is often described as both the Heavenly Book and the Heavenly Cure.
