Remedies from the Holy Quran for Illnesses and Hardships

Understanding Hadith

The best remedy for illnesses and hardships

Nasir Jamaal Attari Madani

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]

4.   Sayyidatuna Aisha Siddiqah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھَا states: ‘During the illness in which the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed away, he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would recite Surah al-Falaq and Surah al-Naas and blow on himself. And when the illness aggravated, I would recite those Surahs and blow on him and pass hands over him as they were [more] blessed [than my hands].’^[12]

Quranic remedies for overcoming hardship and illness

Sayyiduna Saalih Murri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه stated: ‘My wife had a stroke, and so I recited something from the Quran and blew upon her. Therefore, she was cured. Perhaps it was Sayyiduna Qattaan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه to whom I mentioned this, and he said: ‘I am not surprised by this. I take an oath by Allah, if you told me that you recited something from the Quran on a dead person and blew upon him and he came to life, I would still not be surprised.’^[13] It is a reality that Allah Almighty has placed a lot of power in the Quran.

Below are some Quranic remedies mentioned by pious predecessors.

1. Blessings of Surah al-Nisa

To save your home from being seized, write down Surah al-Nisa and hang it.  By reciting this Surah, blowing upon rainwater or Zamzam water and giving it to someone to drink who is frightened, his fear will vanish. Reciting this Surah at the time of sleeping is a means for one’s affairs being rectified, hopes being fulfilled, prayers being accepted, and receiving sustenance and blessings.^[14]

2. Blessings of Surah al-Ma’idah

Whichever house this Surah is written and placed in will remain protected from theft. By reciting this Surah, blowing upon water and then drinking it, one will remain protected from thirst. The one who recites this Surah at the time of sleeping, his supplication will be accepted, and he will receive blessings.^[15]

3. Blessings of Surah al-An’aam

Reciting the first seven verses of this Surah and blowing on yourself removes bodily pain. Writing this Surah with saffron or a saffron-coloured ink and drinking it for six days will end spleen diseases and other physical ailments. The one who recites this Surah in two units (Rakah) of optional (Nafl) salah and then asks for wellbeing will remain protected from calamities. The one who recites Surah al-An’aam at the time of sleeping will find blessings in his cattle, camels, etc.^[16]

4. Blessings of Surah al-A’raf

The one who writes this Surah with saffron and wears it as an amulet will be protected from the evil eye, heart pain and tooth pain. He will also remain protected from being stung by a scorpion or bitten by a snake.^[17] Reciting verse no. 201 of Surah al-A’raf, blowing on a goat’s liver and eating it remedies weak eyesight.^[18]

5. Blessings of the verses of cure

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم appeared in the dream of Imam Qushayri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه 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]

8.   A pious individual experienced difficulty when urinating. So, he wrote down verses five and six of Surah al-Waaqi’ah, verse no. 14 of Surah al-Haaqqah and verse no. 21 of Surah al-Fajr on a piece of paper, placed it in some water and then drank it. He was cured through its blessings.^[23]

9.   Writing down Surah al-Rahman and (after placing it in water) drinking it is beneficial for spleen disease.^[24]

10.   Reciting Surah al-Mujadalah near a sick person will alleviate pain.^[25]

11.   It is beneficial to recite Surah al-Layl and blow in the ear of someone who is epileptic.^[26]

Guidelines for seeking cure from the Quran:

There are seven guidelines which are very important to observe when seeking cure through litanies. Not following them can result in the benefits attained from Quranic litanies decreasing. The guidelines are as follows:

1.   Eating halal and avoiding haram foods.

2.   Speaking the truth and always refraining from lying.

3.   Keeping one’s intentions correct and pure, such that every deed is performed for the sake of Allah Almighty.

4.   Fully adhering to the shari’ah.

5.   Respecting the essential aspects of the religion of Allah—such as 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]