There was a debate about those who read
Qur’aan to treat people with ruqyah*. Some people said that it is not permissible for
ordinary people to use the Qur’aan to treat people with ruqyah; this should only be
done by those who are well-versed in knowledge of sharee’ah. Others say that it is
sufficient for the one who wants to use ruqyah to have memorized the Book of Allaah, to
have a sound belief, to be righteous and to have taqwa. I hope that you can dispel our
confusion on this matter and give us the shar’i ruling.
[*Ruqyah = reciting the Qur’aan over a sick person for purposes of
healing;
raaqi = the person who does this.]
Praise be to Allaah.
The correct view is that it is permissible for every
reader who can recite the Qur’aan well and who understands its meanings, has a sound
belief, does righteous deeds and is of upright conduct to use ruqyah. It is not essential
for him to have knowledge of minor matters or to have studied all branches of knowledge in
depth. This is because of the story of Abu Sa’eed and the man who had been stung by a
scorpion, “… and we did not know that he ever did ruqyah before that
incident”, as is stated in the hadeeth. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2276;
Muslim, 2201). The raaqi must have a good intention and want to benefit the
Muslim; he should not be concerned with money or payment, so that his reading will be more
beneficial.
And Allaah knows best.
