Is Performing Ruqyah via Mobile Phones Islamically Valid?
Nowadays, people perform and have Ruqyah (spiritual healing) and blowing (blowing on someone for healing) done via mobile phones. This method is a recent innovation in religion. In fact, this is not actually Ruqyah, but it has become widespread among the public under the name of “Shariah Ruqyah.” Since a large number of Muslims are from the Deobandi and Barelvi sects, any practice that is deemed permissible in these sects becomes very popular. The practice of performing Ruqyah via mobile phone gained fame from these groups.
A question was asked to the Dar al-Ifta of the Islamic University of Pakistan (Karachi) about people who now perform spiritual healing via mobile phone calls, and what is its legal status. The answer from Dar al-Ifta was that these things are related to experiences. If the method of performing the Ruqyah is not contrary to Shari’ah, and if the patient is affected by it, then there is room for this in Shari’ah. (Quoted from the website of the university, Fatwa number: 143101200399)
This shows how non-Shariah fatwas are issued in the name of Shari’ah. In fact, such fatwas have led to misguidance in the Ummah and the emergence of fake “spiritual healers.”
It is regrettable when someone claims to follow the Qur’an and Hadith and yet performs Ruqyah in a way that deviates from the teachings of the Qur’an and Hadith. I am sure that even some Ahl al-Hadith people are also performing online Ruqyah via mobile phones. May Allah protect us.
What is the Shari’ah-approved method of performing Ruqyah?
Let’s learn from the Hadith of the Messenger ﷺ.
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها “ان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان ينفث على نفسه في المرض الذي مات فيه بالمعوذات، فلما ثقل كنت انفث عليه بهن، وامسح بيد نفسه لبركتها”، فسالت الزهري: كيف ينفث؟، قال: كان ينفث على يديه ثم يمسح بهما وجهه (صحيح البخاري:5735)
Translation: Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to blow on himself with the Mu’awwidhat (Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, and Surah An-Naas) during the illness in which he passed away. When his condition worsened, I used to blow on him with these Surahs and wipe his body with his blessed hand for its blessing. Then I asked Az-Zuhri: “How did he blow?” He replied, “He would blow into his hands and then wipe his face with them.” (Sahih Bukhari: 5735)
This Hadith shows that when someone blows on themselves, they recite the Mu’awwidhat (Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, and Surah An-Naas), blow into their hands, and wipe their face and body. When someone else is performing Ruqyah on another person, they recite these same Surahs and blow on the patient.
A second narration in Sahih Bukhari states:
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها، “ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: كان إذا اشتكى يقرا على نفسه بالمعوذات وينفث، فلما اشتد وجعه كنت اقرا عليه وامسح بيده رجاء بركتها” (صحيح البخاري:5016)
Translation: Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fell ill, he would recite the Mu’awwidhat (the three Surahs) and blow on himself. When his pain became more intense, I would recite them over him and wipe his body with his blessed hand, hoping for its blessing. (Sahih Bukhari: 5016)
This Hadith shows that when the Prophet ﷺ became very ill, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) would recite the same three Surahs (Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Naas) over him. This indicates that for Ruqyah and blowing, it is not necessary to read many verses and supplications. Reading these three Surahs is sufficient, regardless of the severity of the illness. There is no harm in reading more, but it is not mandatory. One can recite multiple Qur’anic verses and supplications for Ruqyah.
The Shari’ah method of performing Ruqyah is that when someone is performing Ruqyah on another person, they should recite Qur’anic verses and authentic supplications and blow directly on the patient. Even though listening to recordings of the Qur’an might benefit the patient, this is not considered Ruqyah. The original method of Ruqyah is to read the Qur’an and supplications and blow directly on the patient without any intermediary.
When Sheikh Saleh al-Fawzan (may Allah preserve him) was asked about performing Ruqyah via mobile phones, he replied that this is an exaggeration, and it is not Ruqyah. The correct way of performing Ruqyah is for the reciter to blow on the patient directly, without any intermediary.
Therefore, we now know that performing Ruqyah via mobile phones is an un-Islamic and innovative method. The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَن عَمِلَ عَمَلًا ليسَ عليه أمْرُنا فَهو رَدٌّ (صحيح مسلم:1718)
Translation: “Whoever does an action that is not part of our affair (i.e., does something not prescribed in the religion), it is rejected.”
Finally, a word of advice to those who perform Ruqyah: do not open a Ruqyah center and dedicate yourself solely to this task, as in this era of fitnah (tribulation), there are many harmful consequences. You too could fall into these tribulations and harmful practices. If you are performing Ruqyah via mobile, stop doing so, as this is not Ruqyah.
I advise the public to never seek Ruqyah from someone who performs it via mobile phones. Instead, perform Ruqyah on yourself or seek it from people you know are righteous and pious. You can even ask a righteous person to blow on water for you to use, but avoid those who turn Ruqyah into a commercial business.
Written by: Maqbool Ahmad Salafi
Dawah Center Hayy Al Salamah, Saudi Arabia