Quran Therapy
The best remedy for illnesses and hardships
The Final Prophet Sayyiduna Muhammad صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘خَيْر ُالدَّوَاءِ الْقُرآنُ’, meaning, ‘The best remedy is the Quran.’[1]
Allah Almighty has revealed the Quran as a cure and mercy for us.[2] Hence, the Quran is a cure for our body, heart and soul.[3] Whether we have an illness that is apparent or hidden, physical or not physical, the Quran is an excellent remedy for its cure.[4]
Upon analysing the period when the Quran was revealed, it will become clear that misguidance, disbelief, polytheism and other societal ills were widespread due to ignorance. In such an era, the verses of the Quran were revealed as a cure and mercy. Whoever sat in the company of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and benefitted from the Quran’s mercy became amongst those who were honoured and a beacon of guidance.
It was from the prophetic era that the Quran was introduced as a fine remedy for worries and illnesses and began to be used as a cure. Read the following accounts from that era:
1. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘Surah al-Fatihah is a medicine for every illness.’[5] One of the names of this Surah is ‘Shafiyah,’ and another name is ‘Surah al-Shifa,’ for it is a cure for every illness.’[6]
A group of companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم visited an Arab tribe. At the time, the chief of the tribe had been stung by a scorpion. A companion placed his saliva on the wounded area, recited Surah al-Fatihah and then blew on the affected area, and the pain immediately disappeared.[7]
2. A person once complained to the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم about pain in his throat, and so the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم told him, ‘Recite the Quran.’[8]
The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘Shall I not inform of you something that if you were to recite it at the time of a worldly concern or difficulty, then that concern would be removed?’ It was said, ‘Yes, Messenger of Allah, tell us!’ So, he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘It is the supplication (Du’a) of Yunus: ‘لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّآ اَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ اِنِّیْ كُنْتُ مِنَ الظّٰلِمِيْن.’’
It is mentioned in another narration that ‘لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّآ اَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ اِنِّیْ كُنْتُ مِنَ الظّٰلِمِيْن’ is the Greatest Name (al-Ism al-A’zam) and any supplication that is made with it will be accepted.[9] This Quranic supplication is known as Ayah Karimah, and it is very beneficial for removing calamities.[10]
3. A sick individual became well by Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Masood رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ reciting something and blowing on him. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘What did you recite in his ear?’ And so Abdullah Bin Masood رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ recited verse no. 115 of Surah al-Mu’minoon until the end. He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said: ‘If a person of certitude were to recite this upon a mountain, even the mountain would crumble into pieces.’[11]
and asked, ‘Why are you sad?’ He replied, ‘My son is sick; he is in a critical condition.’ The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘Where is your attention regarding the verses of cure[19]?’ Thus, (after waking up,) he recited the verses of cure three times and blew on his son. By the blessings of this, he was cured.[20]
6. Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman Bin Awf رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ would write down verse no. nine of Surah al-Hijr for the protection of his possessions.[21]
7. A man once complained to Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه regarding his eye ailment. The Imam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه wrote down ‘بِسْمِ الله’ along with verse no. 22 of Surah Qaaf and verse no. 44 of Ha Meem Sajdah and gave it to him. Through its blessings, his illness disappeared.[22]
the Quran, the Ka’bah, the prophets, salah—and noble religious personalities.
6. Reciting litanies with complete concentration.
7. Having complete conviction and belief in the efficacy of whichever litany is being recited. Having doubt will remove the effect of the litany or spiritual cure.[27]
verse 44
[20] Al-Burhan lil-Zarkashi, vol. 1, p. 517
[21] Al-Burhan lil-Zarkashi, vol. 1, p. 515
[22] Al-Burhan lil-Zarkashi, vol. 1, p. 516
[23] Al-Burhan lil-Zarkashi, vol. 1, p. 516
[24] Al-Durr al-Nazeem, p. 102
[25] Al-Durr al-Nazeem, p. 102
[26] Al-Durr al-Nazeem, p. 106
[27] Jannati Zaywar, p. 574