The healing power of Surat al-Fatihah as a ruqyah

A group of the Prophet’s companions ﷺ set out on a journey. They came to a clan from among the Arab tribes and asked them for hospitality, but the people refused to host them. Then the chief of that clan was stung, and they tried everything for him, but nothing benefited him. Some of them said, “If only you went to that group of men who have camped nearby; perhaps one of them has something.”

So they went to them and said, “O group, our chief has been stung, and we have tried everything for him but nothing helps him. Does anyone among you have something (to treat him)?” One of them said, “Yes, by Allah, I can recite a healing incantation, but by Allah, we asked you for hospitality and you did not host us. I will not recite for you unless you agree to give us a payment.” So they made an agreement with them for a flock of sheep.

So he went and began to spit lightly on him and recite, “All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds,” and it was as though he had been released from a rope: he got up and began walking, with nothing wrong with him. He said: So they gave them in full the payment they had agreed upon. Some of them said, “Divide it.” But the one who had recited said, “Do not do so until we go to the Prophet ﷺ and mention to him what happened, and see what he commands us.”

So they came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and told him. He said, “And how did you know that it was a ruqyah (a healing recitation)?” Then he said, “You did right. Divide it, and set aside a share for me with you.” And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ laughed.

انْطَلَقَ نَفَرٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي سَفْرَةٍ سَافَرُوهَا، حَتَّى نَزَلُوا عَلَى حَيٍّ مِنْ أَحْيَاءِ الْعَرَبِ، فَاسْتَضَافُوهُمْ، فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُضَيِّفُوهُمْ. فَلُدِغَ سَيِّدُ ذَلِكَ الْحَيِّ، فَسَعَوْا لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ، لَا يَنْفَعُهُ شَيْءٌ. فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: لَوْ أَتَيْتُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ الرَّهْطَ الَّذِينَ نَزَلُوا، لَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عِنْدَ بَعْضِهِمْ شَيْءٌ.

فَأَتَوْهُمْ فَقَالُوا: يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّهْطُ، إِنَّ سَيِّدَنَا لُدِغَ، وَسَعَيْنَا لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ لَا يَنْفَعُهُ، فَهَلْ عِنْدَ أَحَدٍ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ؟ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: نَعَمْ، وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَرْقِي، وَلَكِنْ، وَاللَّهِ، لَقَدِ اسْتَضَفْنَاكُمْ فَلَمْ تُضَيِّفُونَا، فَمَا أَنَا بِرَاقٍ لَكُمْ حَتَّى تَجْعَلُوا لَنَا جُعْلًا. فَصَالَحُوهُمْ عَلَى قَطِيعٍ مِنَ الْغَنَمِ.

فَانْطَلَقَ يَتْفِلُ عَلَيْهِ، وَيَقْرَأُ {الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ}، فَكَأَنَّمَا نُشِطَ مِنْ عِقَالٍ، فَانْطَلَقَ يَمْشِي، وَمَا بِهِ قَلَبَةٌ. قَالَ: فَأَوْفَوْهُمْ جُعْلَهُمُ الَّذِي صَالَحُوهُمْ عَلَيْهِ. فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمُ: اقْسِمُوا. فَقَالَ الَّذِي رَقَى: لَا تَفْعَلُوا، حَتَّى نَأْتِيَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ، فَنَذْكُرَ لَهُ الَّذِي كَانَ، فَنَنْظُرَ مَا يَأْمُرُنَا.

فَقَدِمُوا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ، فَذَكَرُوا لَهُ، فَقَالَ: «وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ أَنَّهَا رُقْيَةٌ؟» ثُمَّ قَالَ: «قَدْ أَصَبْتُمْ، اقْسِمُوا، وَاضْرِبُوا لِي مَعَكُمْ سَهْمًا». فَضَحِكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ.