The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah did not send down any disease but that he also sent down the cure.” In many ahadith, the Prophet ﷺ uses verses of the Qur’an to ask Allah to heal and cure himself and his companions. These ailments vary from illnesses of the body to less outwardly apparent issues such as sadness and anxiety.

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13 Duas for Anxiety, Worry and Stress From the Quran and Sunnah

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While the Prophet ﷺ recommended the use of medication and nutrition to heal, through his actions and words, he also stressed upon the importance of invoking Allah and using His words as sources of healing. In many instances, Allah refers to the Qur’an as Shifaa or a source of healing as well as huda, or guidance.

Using a combination of modern science, nutrition, exercise and the healing power of dua and the Qur’an, Allah and His Messenger ﷺ truly gave us a breakdown of holistic healing.

The Quran On and For Healing

قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هُدًى وَشِفَاءٌ –
And declare (O Muhammad) that [the Quran] is a guidance and healing for the believers.

(al-Fussilat, 41:44)

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌۭ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

We send down the Quran as a healing and mercy for the believers

(Surah Al Isra 17:82)

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَآءٌ لِّمَا فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى
وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

O mankind! there hath come to you a direction from your Lord and a healing for the (diseases) in your hearts,- and for those who believe, a guidance and a Mercy.

(Surah Yunus 10:57)

Verses of Healing in the Qur’an:

1. The Three Quls

There are many narrations on the healing power of the three quls which are recited as part of daily adhkar in the morning and evening, as a cure for and protection from the evil eye and any illness of the body. The Prophet ﷺ is also said to have recited the Quls during his fatal illness.

Aisha (r) said: “Whenever Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) went to bed, he used to recite Surat al-Ikhlas, Surat al-Falaq and Surat an-Nas and then blow on his palms and pass them over his face and those parts of his body that his hands could reach. And when he fell ill, he used to order me to do like that for him.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari)

2. Surah Al-Fatihah

Surah Al-Fatihah is also known as Umm Al Qur’an or the Mother of the Qur’an for its immense benefit. It is repeated throughout the day in our daily prayers and is also recommended as ruqyah (healing through Qur’an). In one narration, a companion of the Prophet ﷺ recited it over a scorpion bite which Allah then cured. The Prophet ﷺ smiled and asked him: “How did you know that Surah Al-Fatihah is ruqyah?”

(Sahih al-Bukhari)

3. Evidence on the benefit of fruit and honey as healing:

ثُمَّ كُلِى مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ فَٱسْلُكِى سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًا ۚ يَخْرُجُ مِن بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ فِيهِ شِفَآءٌ لِّلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ

لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

“Then, eat from all the fruits, and go along the pathways of your Lord made easy for you.” From their (the bees) bellies comes out a drink of various colors in which there is cure for people. Surely, in that there is a sign for a people who ponder.”

(Al Nahl, 16:69)

Duas for Visiting the Sick:

4. When visiting the sick: The Prophet ﷺ would remind them that through any pain or discomfort caused to them in this dunya, Allah will remove their sins. He would say:

لاَ بَأْسَ طَهُورٌ إِنْ شَاءَ الله

La Ba’s(a), Tahoor(un), In Sha Allah
[This is] not harmful. Rather, it is a means of purification, if Allāh Wills.

[al-Bukhari]

5. On visiting the sick: The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“He who visits a sick person who is not on the point of death and supplicates seven times:

أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ رَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ أَنْ يَشْفِيْكَ

As’alullahal-‘Azima Rabbal-‘Arshil-‘Azimi, an yashfiyaka
I beseech Allah the Great, the Rubb of the Great Throne, to heal you,’
Allah will certainly heal him from that sickness.”

[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi]

6. In another hadith, The Prophet ﷺ said:“Whoever among you suffers some sickness, or his brother suffers some sickness, let him say:

رَبَّنَا اللَّهُ الَّذِي فِي السَّمَاءِ تَقَدَّسَ اسْمُكَ أَمْرُكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ كَمَا رَحْمَتُكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ فَاجْعَلْ رَحْمَتَكَ فِي الأَرْضِ اغْفِرْ لَنَا حُوبَنَا وَخَطَايَانَا أَنْتَ رَبُّ الطَّيِّبِينَ أَنْزِلْ رَحْمَةً مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ وَشِفَاءً مِنْ شِفَائِكَ عَلَى هَذَا الْوَجَعِ فَيَبْرَأُ

Rabbana-Allahullazi fis-samaai taqoddasas-muka amruka fis-samaai wal-ardhi kamaa rohmatuka fis-samaai faj-al rohmataka fil-ardhi. Ighfir lanaa huubanaa wa khotoyaanaa anta rabbut-toyyibeen. Anzil rohmatan min rohmatika wa shifaan min shifaaika ‘alaa haazal-waja’i fa-yabra’

Oh our Lord Allah Who is in Heaven, Holy be Your name, Your will is done in heaven and on earth; as Your mercy is in heaven, bestow it upon the earth. Forgive us of our sins and our wrong ways. You are the Lord of the good. Send down mercy from You and remedy from You to heal upon this pain, so that it is healed up”

(Sunan Abi Dawud)

Duas for Shifaa in the Sunnah:

7. Dua for pain: Ayesha (r) said that when any one of his companions had an illness, the Prophet ﷺ would rub the area of pain and recite:

أَذْهِبِ الْبَأْسَ رَبَّ النَّاسِ وَاشْفِ أَنْتَ الشَّافِي لَا شِفَاءَ إِلَّا شِفَاؤُكَ شِفَاءٌ لَا يُغَادِرُ سَقَمَاً

Adhibil ba’sa Rabb an-naas Ishfi antash-shaafii la shifa’aa illa shifa-uka shifa-un la yughadiru saqaman
Take away the hardship, O Lord of mankind, give shifaa, You are the One who cures, there is no shifaa except Your shifaa, a cure that will not leave any sickness.

[al-Bukhari and Muslim]

8. Dua for sickness: The Prophet ﷺ also recommended that the one who is sick should place their hand where they feel pain, say bismillah three times and then recite seven times:

أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ

a`udhu billāhi wa qudratihi min sharri maa ajidu wa uhadhiru
I seek refuge with Allah and with His Power from the evil that afflicts me and that which I apprehend.

9. The dua of Ayub (as) when he was sick:

رَبِّي أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

Rabbi annee massaniyad-durru wa-anta arhamur-raahimeen
My Lord. Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.
Duas for Goodness:

10.  Dua for goodness: The Prophet (s) also encouraged his companions to ask for goodness (healing) and good health by saying:

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ

Rabbana aatina fiddunya hasanatan wafil akhirati hasanatan waqina adhabannaar
Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire

[al-Bukhari and Muslim]

11. The dua of Musa (as) also asks Allah for goodness which can mean anything you intend for it:

رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ

Rabbi ‘inni limaa ‘anzalta ‘ilayya min khairin-faqeer

O my Lord! I am indeed needy of whatever good You may send to me

May Allah grant you and your loved ones goodness and healing in every aspect of life where you are in need of it.

[Surah Al Qasas, 28:24]