Islamic RuqyahHow to Perform Ruqyah on Yourself Step by Step
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.
A Muslim performing ruqyah on himself is one of the beneficial Sunnahs. It is a great door of reliance upon Allah and showing need before Him. A Muslim does not need complication or strange rituals in order to perform ruqyah on himself. It is enough to recite what is established from the Qur’an and authentic supplications, while being certain that healing is from Allah alone.
Evidence for Performing Ruqyah on Yourself
Evidence 1Blowing Lightly with the Mu'awwidhat and Wiping the Body
'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, went to bed every night, he would bring his palms together, blow lightly into them, then recite into them: Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad, Qul A'udhu bi Rabb al-Falaq, and Qul A'udhu bi Rabb an-Nas. Then he would wipe with them whatever he could of his body, beginning with his head, face, and the front of his body. He would do that three times.” Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
Evidence 2The Prophet Recited Over Himself
'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, became ill, he would recite the Mu'awwidhat over himself and blow lightly. When his pain became severe, I would recite over him and wipe him with his own hand, hoping for its blessing.” Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
How to Perform Ruqyah on Yourself: Practical Steps
Step OneCorrect Your Intention and Tawakkul
Begin while believing that healing is from Allah alone, and that ruqyah is a lawful means, not an independent power.
Say in your heart: My Lord, You are the Healer, and this Qur’an is healing and mercy, so heal me and have mercy on me.
Step TwoMake Wudu If It Is Easy
Wudu is not a condition for ruqyah to be valid, but it is more complete and better, because the Muslim is reciting Qur’an and making du'a while in a state of purity.
Step ThreeBegin with Praise, Salawat, and Du'a
Praise Allah, send peace and blessings upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and ask Allah for healing and well-being.
Step FourRecite Al-Fatihah
Recite Surat Al-Fatihah with reflection, for it is among the greatest things used in ruqyah. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, approved the Companion who recited it as ruqyah over the leader of a people, and Allah healed him.
Repeat: recited during ruqyah, and it may be repeated
Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Step FiveRecite Ayat al-Kursi
Allah, there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and preserving them does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Magnificent. [Al-Baqarah: 255]
{اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الحَيُّ القَيُّومُ، لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ، لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ، مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ، يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ، وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ، وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ، وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا، وَهُوَ العَلِيُّ العَظِيمُ} [البقرة: 255].
Repeat: once, and it may be repeated when needed
It is a tremendous ayah of tawhid and protection.
Step SixRecite the Last Two Ayahs of Surat Al-Baqarah
The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. All believe in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers. We make no distinction between any of His messengers. And they say: We hear and we obey. Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return. Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. It will have what it earned, and against it what it earned. Our Lord, do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord, do not place upon us a burden like that which You placed upon those before us. Our Lord, do not burden us with what we cannot bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our Protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people. [Al-Baqarah: 285-286]
{آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالمُؤْمِنُونَ، كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ، لَا نُفَرِّقْ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْ رُسُلِهِ، وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا، غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ المَصِيرُ . لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا، لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ، رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا، رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا، رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ، وَاعْفُ عَنَّا، وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا، وَارْحَمْنَا، أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى القَوْمِ الكَافِرِينَ} [البقرة: 285-286].
Repeat: once
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever recites the two ayahs from the end of Surat Al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.” Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Step SevenRecite Al-Ikhlas and the Mu'awwidhat
Recite Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq, and Surat An-Nas.
{قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ . اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ . لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ . وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ}
{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الفَلَقِ . مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ . وَمِنْ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ . وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي العُقَدِ . وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ}
{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ . مَلِكِ النَّاسِ . إِلَهِ النَّاسِ . مِنْ شَرِّ الوَسْوَاسِ الخَنَّاسِ . الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ . مِنَ الجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ}
Repeat: three times, with light blowing into the palms and wiping as much of the body as possible
Repeat them three times, blow lightly into your palms, and wipe with them as much of your body as you can, as was narrated from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
Step EightMake the Authentic Supplications for Healing
O Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the harm and heal. You are the Healer. There is no healing except Your healing, a healing that leaves behind no illness.
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ النَّاسِ، أَذْهِبِ البَأْسَ، اشْفِ أَنْتَ الشَّافِي، لَا شِفَاءَ إِلَّا شِفَاؤُكَ، شِفَاءً لَا يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًا.
Repeat: said when needed
Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
In the name of Allah, I perform ruqyah for you, from everything that harms you, from the evil of every soul or envious eye. May Allah heal you. In the name of Allah, I perform ruqyah for you.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ يُؤْذِيكَ، مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ أَوْ عَيْنِ حَاسِدٍ، اللَّهُ يَشْفِيكَ، بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ.
Repeat: said in ruqyah when needed
Narrated by Muslim.
Step NineWhen There Is Pain in the Body
Place your hand on the area of pain and say:
In the name of Allah.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Repeat: three times
Then say:
I seek refuge in Allah and His power from the evil of what I feel and fear.
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ.
Repeat: seven times
Narrated by Muslim.
Step TenRepeat Ruqyah Without Obsession
It is permissible to repeat ruqyah daily, morning and evening, or whenever needed. But do not turn it into a doorway to obsessive fear. Make it an act of worship, tranquility, and reliance upon Allah.
Quick SummaryA Brief Table of Self-Ruqyah Steps
| Step | What You Do | Brief Note |
|---|
| Intention and tawakkul | Believe that healing is from Allah alone | Ruqyah is a means, not an independent power |
| Qur’an recitation | Al-Fatihah, Ayat al-Kursi, the end of Al-Baqarah, Al-Ikhlas, and the Mu'awwidhat | Recite with reflection and calmness |
| Light blowing and wiping | Blow lightly into your palms and wipe as much of your body as you can | Established in the Sunnah with the Mu'awwidhat |
| Supplications for healing | Make the authentic healing supplications | Combine du'a with taking the proper means |
Important IssueShould I Blow Lightly During Ruqyah?
Nafth means a light blowing with a small amount of moisture. It is established that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would blow lightly into his palms when reciting the Mu'awwidhat and wipe his body with them. If a Muslim blows lightly during ruqyah, that is good; if he recites without blowing, there is no harm.
Important IssueShould I Recite Over Water or Oil?
The established foundation is reciting directly over oneself or the sick person, with light blowing and wiping. Reciting Qur’an and du'a over water or oil was mentioned by some scholars, and many allowed it as a permissible experience. However, it should not be made greater than what is established in the Sunnah, and one must not believe that the water or oil benefits by itself.
Common MistakesCommon Mistakes in Self-Ruqyah
- Believing ruqyah only works through a specific person.
- Neglecting the morning and evening adhkar.
- Repeating ruqyah with fear and obsession instead of tawakkul.
- Constantly searching for symptoms and diagnoses.
- Leaving medical treatment when it is needed.
- Reciting unknown supplications or unauthentic formulas.
- Attaching the heart to the means and forgetting the One who created the means.
FAQIs It Permissible to Perform Ruqyah on Myself?
Yes. In fact, a Muslim performing ruqyah on himself is prescribed, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, performed ruqyah on himself.
FAQHow Often Should I Perform Ruqyah on Myself?
There is no required fixed number. You may perform ruqyah morning and evening or whenever needed, while also preserving the regular adhkar.
FAQDo I Need a Raqi to Be Present?
No. The foundation is that a Muslim performs ruqyah on himself. If he needs a trustworthy and upright raqi, there is no harm.
FAQDoes Ruqyah Treat Everything?
Ruqyah is one of the means of healing, and healing is in Allah’s hand. A person may also need medical treatment, advice, or to improve his condition with Allah.
ClosingClosing Note
Self-ruqyah is an easy and blessed door. It does not require complication or fear. Recite the Qur’an, make the authentic supplications, blow lightly and wipe if easy, take the proper means, and keep your heart attached to Allah alone. He is the Healer and the One who is sufficient.
