The healing power of Surat al-Fatihah as a ruqyah

A group of the companions of Messenger of Allah ﷺ proceeded on a journey till they dismounted near one of the Arab tribes and requested them to entertain them as their guests, but they (the tribe people) refused to entertain them. Then the chief of that tribe was bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and he was given all sorts of treatment, but all in vain. Some of them said, "Will you go to the group (those travelers) who have dismounted near you and see if one of them has something useful?" They came to them and said, "O the group! Our leader has been bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and we have treated him with everything but nothing benefited him Has anyone of you anything useful?" One of them replied, "Yes, by Allah, I know how to treat with a Ruqya. But. by Allah, we wanted you to receive us as your guests but you refused. I will not treat your patient with a Ruqya till you fix for us something as wages." Consequently they agreed to give those travellers a flock of sheep. The man went with them (the people of the tribe) and started spitting (on the bite) and reciting Surat-al-Fatiha till the patient was healed and started walking as if he had not been sick. When the tribe people paid them their wages they had agreed upon, some of them (the Prophet's companions) said, "Distribute (the sheep)." But the one who treated with the Ruqya said, "Do not do that till we go to Allah's Apostle and mention to him what has happened, and see what he will order us." So they came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and mentioned the story to him and he said, "How do you know that Surat-al-Fatiha is a Ruqya? You have done the right thing. Divide (what you have got) and assign for me a share with you."

أَنَّ رَهْطًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ انْطَلَقُوا فِي سَفْرَةٍ سَافَرُوهَا حَتَّى نَزَلُوا بِحَىٍّ مِنْ أَحْيَاءِ الْعَرَبِ فَاسْتَضَافُوهُمْ فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُضَيِّفُوهُمْ فَلُدِغَ سَيِّدُ ذَلِكَ الْحَىِّ فَسَعَوْا لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُهُ شَىْءٌ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لَوْ أَتَيْتُمْ هَؤُلاَءِ الرَّهْطَ الَّذِينَ قَدْ نَزَلُوا بِكُمْ لَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عِنْدَ بَعْضِهِمْ شَىْءٌ فَأَتَوْهُمْ فَقَالُوا يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّهْطُ إِنَّ سَيِّدَنَا لُدِغَ فَسَعَيْنَا لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُهُ شَىْءٌ فَهَلْ عِنْدَ أَحَدٍ مِنْكُمْ شَىْءٌ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ نَعَمْ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَرَاقٍ وَلَكِنْ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدِ اسْتَضَفْنَاكُمْ فَلَمْ تُضَيِّفُونَا فَمَا أَنَا بِرَاقٍ لَكُمْ حَتَّى تَجْعَلُوا لَنَا جُعْلاً فَصَالَحُوهُمْ عَلَى قَطِيعٍ مِنَ الْغَنَمِ فَانْطَلَقَ فَجَعَلَ يَتْفُلُ وَيَقْرَأُ {الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ} حَتَّى لَكَأَنَّمَا نُشِطَ مِنْ عِقَالٍ فَانْطَلَقَ يَمْشِي مَا بِهِ قَلَبَةٌ قَالَ فَأَوْفَوْهُمْ جُعْلَهُمُ الَّذِي صَالَحُوهُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمُ اقْسِمُوا فَقَالَ الَّذِي رَقَى لاَ تَفْعَلُوا حَتَّى نَأْتِيَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَنَذْكُرَ لَهُ الَّذِي كَانَ فَنَنْظُرَ مَا يَأْمُرُنَا فَقَدِمُوا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرُوا لَهُ فَقَالَ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ أَنَّهَا رُقْيَةٌ أَصَبْتُمُ اقْسِمُوا وَاضْرِبُوا لِي مَعَكُمْ بِسَهْمٍ

Some of the Companions of Prophet ﷺ went on a journey. They encamped with a clan of the Arabs and sought hospitality from them, but they refused to provide them with any hospitality. The chief of the clan was stung by a scorpion or bitten by a snake. They gave him all sorts of treatment, but nothing gave him relied. One of them said: Would that you had gone to those people who encamped with you ; some of them might have something which could give you relief to your companion. (So they went and) one of them said: Our chief has been stung by a scorpion or bitten by a snake. We administered all sorts of medicine but nothing gave him relief. Has any of you anything, i.e. charm, which gives healing to our companion. One of those people said: I shall apply charm; we sought hospitality from you, but you refused to entertain us. I am not going to apply charm until you give me some wages. So they offered them a number of sheep. He then came to and recited Faithat-al-Kitab and spat until he was cured as if he were set free from a bond. Thereafter they made payment of the wages as agreed by them. They said: Apportion (the wages). The man who applied the charm said: Do not do until we come to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and consult him. So they came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ next morning and mentioned it to him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: From where did you learn that it was a charm ? You have done right. Give me a share along with you.

أَنَّ رَهْطًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ انْطَلَقُوا فِي سَفْرَةٍ سَافَرُوهَا فَنَزَلُوا بِحَىٍّ مِنْ أَحْيَاءِ الْعَرَبِ فَاسْتَضَافُوهُمْ فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُضَيِّفُوهُمْ قَالَ فَلُدِغَ سَيِّدُ ذَلِكَ الْحَىِّ فَشَفَوْا لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُهُ شَىْءٌ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لَوْ أَتَيْتُمْ هَؤُلاَءِ الرَّهْطَ الَّذِينَ نَزَلُوا بِكُمْ لَعَلَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ عِنْدَ بَعْضِهِمْ شَىْءٌ يَنْفَعُ صَاحِبَكُمْ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِنَّ سَيِّدَنَا لُدِغَ فَشَفَيْنَا لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَلاَ يَنْفَعُهُ شَىْءٌ فَهَلْ عِنْدَ أَحَدٍ مِنْكُمْ شَىْءٌ يَشْفِي صَاحِبَنَا يَعْنِي رُقْيَةً فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ إِنِّي لأَرْقِي وَلَكِنِ اسْتَضَفْنَاكُمْ فَأَبَيْتُمْ أَنْ تُضَيِّفُونَا مَا أَنَا بِرَاقٍ حَتَّى تَجْعَلُوا لِي جُعْلاً فَجَعَلُوا لَهُ قَطِيعًا مِنَ الشَّاءِ فَأَتَاهُ فَقَرَأَ عَلَيْهِ بِأُمِّ الْكِتَابِ وَيَتْفُلُ حَتَّى بَرِئَ كَأَنَّمَا أُنْشِطَ مِنْ عِقَالٍ فَأَوْفَاهُمْ جُعْلَهُمُ الَّذِي صَالَحُوهُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا اقْتَسِمُوا فَقَالَ الَّذِي رَقَى لاَ تَفْعَلُوا حَتَّى نَأْتِيَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَنَسْتَأْمِرَهُ فَغَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرُوا لَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ أَيْنَ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّهَا رُقْيَةٌ أَحْسَنْتُمْ وَاضْرِبُوا لِي مَعَكُمْ بِسَهْمٍ

Some of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ went on a journey. They alighted with a certain clan of the Arabs. Someone of them said : Our chief has been stung by a scorpion or bitten by a snake. Has any of you something which gives relief to our chief? A man of the people said : Yes, I swear by Allah. I shall apply charm ; but we asked you for hospitality and you denied it to us. I shall not apply charm until you give me some payment. So they promised to give some sheep to him. He came to him and recited Surat al-Fatihah over him and spat till he was cured, and ha seemed as if he were set free from a bond. So they gave him the payment that was agreed between them. They said : Apportion them. The man who applied charm said : Do not do it until we approach the Apostle of allah ﷺ said: From where did you learn that it was a charm ? you have done right. Apportion them, and give me a share along with you.

أَنَّ رَهْطًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ انْطَلَقُوا فِي سَفْرَةٍ سَافَرُوهَا فَنَزَلُوا بِحَىٍّ مِنْ أَحْيَاءِ الْعَرَبِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِنَّ سَيِّدَنَا لُدِغَ فَهَلْ عِنْدَ أَحَدٍ مِنْكُمْ شَىْءٌ يَنْفَعُ صَاحِبَنَا فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ نَعَمْ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَرْقِي وَلَكِنِ اسْتَضَفْنَاكُمْ فَأَبَيْتُمْ أَنْ تُضَيِّفُونَا مَا أَنَا بِرَاقٍ حَتَّى تَجْعَلُوا لِي جُعْلاً فَجَعَلُوا لَهُ قَطِيعًا مِنَ الشَّاءِ فَأَتَاهُ فَقَرَأَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّ الْكِتَابِ وَيَتْفُلُ حَتَّى بَرَأَ كَأَنَّمَا أُنْشِطَ مِنْ عِقَالٍ قَالَ فَأَوْفَاهُمْ جُعْلَهُمُ الَّذِي صَالَحُوهُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا اقْتَسِمُوا فَقَالَ الَّذِي رَقَى لاَ تَفْعَلُوا حَتَّى نَأْتِيَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَنَسْتَأْمِرَهُ فَغَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرُوا لَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ أَيْنَ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّهَا رُقْيَةٌ أَحْسَنْتُمُ اقْتَسِمُوا وَاضْرِبُوا لِي مَعَكُمْ بِسَهْمٍ

Some of the companions of the Prophet ﷺ went on a journey till they reached some of the 'Arab tribes (at night). They asked the latter to treat them as their guests but they refused. The chief of that tribe was then bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and they tried their best to cure him but in vain. Some of them said (to the others), "Nothing has benefited him, will you go to the people who resided here at night, it may be that some of them might possess something (as treatment)," They went to the group of the companions (of the Prophet ﷺ ) and said, "Our chief has been bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and we have tried everything but he has not benefited. Have you got anything (useful)?" One of them replied, "Yes, by Allah! I can recite a Ruqya, but as you have refused to accept us as your guests, I will not recite the Ruqya for you unless you fix for us some wages for it." They agrees to pay them a flock of sheep. One of them then went and recited (Surat-ul-Fatiha): 'All the praises are for the Lord of the Worlds' and puffed over the chief who became all right as if he was released from a chain, and got up and started walking, showing no signs of sickness. They paid them what they agreed to pay. Some of them (i.e. the companions) then suggested to divide their earnings among themselves, but the one who performed the recitation said, "Do not divide them till we go to the Prophet ﷺ and narrate the whole story to him, and wait for his order." So, they went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and narrated the story. Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, "How did you come to know that Suratul- Fatiha was recited as Ruqya?" Then he added, "You have done the right thing. Divide (what you have earned) and assign a share for me as well." The Prophet ﷺ smiled thereupon. (Using translation from Bukhārī 2276)

أَنَّ رَهْطًا مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ انْطَلَقُوا فِي سَفْرَةٍ سَافَرُوهَا حَتَّى نَزَلُوا بِحَيٍّ مِنْ أَحْيَاءِ الْعَرَبِ فَاسْتَضَافُوهُمْ فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُضَيِّفُوهُمْ فَلُدِغَ سَيِّدُ الْحِيِّ فَسَعَوْا لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ لَا يَنْفَعُهُ شَيْءٌ حَتَّى قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لَوْ أَتَيْتُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ الرَّهْطَ الَّذِينَ نَزَلُوا بِكُمْ لَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عِنْدَ بَعْضِهِمْ شَيْءٌ يَنْفَعُ صَاحِبَكُمْ فَأَتَوْهُمْ فَقَالُوا أَيُّهَا الرَّهْطُ إِنَّ سَيِّدَنَا لُدِغَ فَسَعَيْنَا لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ لَا يَنْفَعُهُ شَيْءٌ فَهَلْ عِنْدَ أَحَدٍ مِنْكُمْ شَيْءٌ يَنْفَعُ صَاحِبَنَا؟ قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ نَعَمْ وَاللهِ إِنِّي لَأَرْقِي وَلَكِنْ وَاللهِ لَقَدِ اسْتَضَفْنَاكُمْ فَأَبَيْتُمْ أَنْ تُضَيِّفُونَا فَمَا أَنَا بِرَاقٍ حَتَّى تَجْعَلُوا لَنَا جُعْلًا فَصَالَحُوهُمْ عَلَى قَطِيعٍ مِنَ الْغَنَمِ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقَ فَجَعَلَ يَتْفُلُ عَلَيْهِ وَيَقُولُ {الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ} [الفاتحة 2] حَتَّى بَرَأَ فَكَأَنَّمَا نَشَطَ مِنْ عِقَالٍ حَتَّى انْطَلَقَ يَمْشِي مَا بِهِ قَلَبَةٌ فَأَوْفَوْهُمْ جُعْلَهُمُ الَّذِي صَالَحُوهُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ اقْسِمُوا فَقَالَ الَّذِي رَقَى لَا تَفْعَلُوا حَتَّى نَأْتِيَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَنَذْكُرَ لَهُ الَّذِي كَانَ فَنَنْظُرَ مَا يَأْمُرُنَا بِهِ قَالَ فَغَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرُوا ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَضَحِكَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَقَالَ مَا يُدْرِيكَ أَنَّهَا رُقْيَةٌ؟ قَالَ وَقَالَ أَصَبْتُمُ اقْتَسِمُوا وَاضْرِبُوا لِي مَعَكُمْ بِسَهْمٍ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ حُدِّثْنَا بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ عَنْ كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ عَلَى الِانْفِرَادِ وَزَادَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِي الْحَدِيثِ وَالْمَعْنَى وَاحِدٌ

Some of the Companions of Prophet ﷺ went on a journey. They encamped with a clan of the Arabs and sought hospitality from them, but they refused to provide them with any hospitality. The chief of the clan was stung by a scorpion or bitten by a snake. They gave him all sorts of treatment, but nothing gave him relied. One of them said: Would that you had gone to those people who encamped with you ; some of them might have something which could give you relief to your companion. (So they went and) one of them said: Our chief has been stung by a scorpion or bitten by a snake. We administered all sorts of medicine but nothing gave him relief. Has any of you anything, i.e. charm, which gives healing to our companion. One of those people said: I shall apply charm; we sought hospitality from you, but you refused to entertain us. I am not going to apply charm until you give me some wages. So they offered them a number of sheep. He then came to and recited Faithat-al-Kitab and spat until he was cured as if he were set free from a bond. Thereafter they made payment of the wages as agreed by them. They said: Apportion (the wages). The man who applied the charm said: Do not do until we come to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and consult him. So they came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ next morning and mentioned it to him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: From where did you learn that it was a charm ? You have done right. Give me a share along with you. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 3418)

أَنَّ رَهْطًا مِنَ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ انْطَلَقُوا فِي سَفْرَةٍ سَافَرُوهَا فَنَزَلُوا بِحَيٍّ مِنَ أَحْيَاءِ الْعَرَبِ فَاسْتَضَافُوهُمْ فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُضَيِّفُوهُمْ قَالَ فَلُدِغَ سَيِّدُ ذَلِكَ الْحِيِّ فَسَعَوْا لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ لَا يَنْفَعُهُ شَيْءٌ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لَوْ أَتَيْتُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ نَزَلُوا بِكُمْ؛ لَعَلَّ يَكُونُ عِنْدَ بَعْضِهِمْ مَا يَنْفَعُ صَاحِبَكُمْ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَيُّهَا الرَّهْطُ إِنَّ سَيِّدَنَا لَدِيغٌ فَسَعَيْنَا لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَهَلْ عِنْدَ أَحَدٍ مِنْكُمْ مَا يَنْفَعُ صَاحِبَنَا؟ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ نَعَمْ إِنِّي لَأَرْقِي وَلَكِنِ اسْتَضَفْنَاكُمْ فَأَبَيْتُمْ أَنْ تُضَيِّفُونَا وَمَا أَنَا بِرَاقٍ حَتَّى تَجْعَلُوا لِي جُعْلًا فَجَعَلُوا لَهُ قَطِيعًا مِنَ الشَّاةِ قَالَ فَأَتَاهُ فَقَرَأَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّ الْكِتَابِ وَيَتْفِلُ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى بَرَأَ كَأَنَّهُ نَشِطَ مِنْ عِقَالٍ قَالَ فَأَوْفَاهُمُ الَّذِي صَالَحُوهُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ اقْسِمُوا فَقَالَ الَّذِي رَقَى لَا تَفْعَلُوا؛ نَأْتِي النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَنَسْتَأْمِرُهُ فَغَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرُوا لَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْ أَيْنَ عَلِمْتَ أَنَّهَا رُقْيَةٌ؟ وَقَالَ أَحْسَنْتُمْ فَاقْتَسِمُوا وَاضْرِبُوا لِي مَعَكُمْ بِسَهْمٍ