The chapter of healing

Another virtue of this sūrah is that it is a chapter of healing. In reality, the entire Quran is a source of healing, as evident from the following verse:

وَ نُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الۡقُرۡاٰنِ مَا ہُوَ شِفَآءٌ وَّ رَحۡمَۃٌ  لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ۙ

[Translation:] “And We reveal in the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the people of faith.”^[1]

However, Sūrah al-Fātiḥah has specifically been referred to as the healing chapter. The final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

ھِیَ اُمُّ الْکِتَابِ وَھِیَ شِفَاءٌ مِّنْ کُلِ دَاءٍ

“Sūrah al-Fātiḥah is umm al-Kitāb (the essence of the Quran), and it contains a cure for every illness.”^[2]

Cure from a scorpion’s sting

Here is a summary of a narration from al-Bukhārī and Muslim. Thirty companions رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمْ were travelling on a journey when a man approached them and said, “Our leader has been stung by a scorpion. Can you help him?”

One companion رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ replied, “Yes, I will perform ruqyah (dam) on him.” So, the Companion رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ went to the patient, recited Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and performed ruqyah. Through the blessings of this, he was cured.^[3]

Sayyiduna Khārijah bin Ṣalt رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ reports from his uncle that as he was returning after having visited the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, he