Quranic Perspective on Healing

اَلحَمدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

وَالصَّلوةُ والسَّلامُ عَلَى سَيِّدُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ أَجْمَيْنَ

أَمَّا بَعْدِ فَأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says in the Holy Qur’an, Furqan Hameed, paragraph number 24, Surah Ham al-Sajda, verse number 44:  

قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هُدًى وَشِفَاءُ

O dear Habib ﷺ, say: The Qur’an is guidance and a great healing for those who believe.  

And in paragraph number 11 of Surah Yunus, verse number 57, Allah (SWT) said:  

وَ شِفَآءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ

Translation:  

And the Holy Qur’an is healing for those diseases that are in the breasts.  

This proves that the Holy Qur’an is a cure for both spiritual and physical diseases. It is also known from the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ that the Holy Qur’an is a cure. Therefore, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa, the beloved of Allah, the Exalted, said about the wise Qur’an: Al-Shifa’ al-Nafi’ means that the Holy Qur’an has been made a beneficial healer.  

It is clearly stated in the Holy Qur’an and the Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ that the Holy Qur’an is a cure for chest diseases and internal diseases. In Surah Bani Israel, the Holy Qur’an has been used as a cure. That is why the scholars say that the Holy Quran is a cure for all mental and physical diseases, and they say that:  

The phrase “شِفَاءُ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُوْرِ” (a cure for what is in the hearts) refers specifically to spiritual ailments such as disbelief, polytheism, envy, malice, resentment, and backbiting. However, by removing these spiritual ailments, physical illnesses are also prevented and treated. This is because when a person follows the guidance of the Quran and keeps themselves free from these spiritual diseases, they are also protected from physical illnesses. For this, Sahib Tafsir Ruh al-Ma’ani, Hazrat Allama Syed Mahmood Alosi, says:  

There is no doubt that many mental and psychological diseases become the cause of certain physical diseases. As we have seen, envy and malice can become the cause of physical diseases. According to Tafsir Rooh al-Ma’ani, Volume No. 7, Page No. 204, in addition, when a Muslim follows the injunctions of the Qur’an, Al-Furqan Hameed, he gains spiritual power.  

For example, a praying man has to perform ablution and ghusl in order to pray, and the effects of this purification are established on his body. With the blessings of praying five times, the body of the worshiper remains fit, and he does not need any exercise at all. In this way, the benefits of physical health obtained during fasting are not hidden from any intellectual and conscious person.  

There is no substitute for the real happiness that the hearts receive in the form of paying Zakat and charity, and it is obvious that the signs of the happiness of the heart are also reflected in the body in every situation. Just as there are two types of physicians for physical ailments in our society today—real and fake—there are also two types of physicians for treating spiritual ailments.  

Imitation Amil

Those who give more importance to external pomp decorate their artificial shrines and display huge boards with their names. Their names are followed by big titles, etc. But their inner being is very dark. They have no concept of prayer, fasting, charity, zakat, and good deeds. Their main target is to defraud people’s honor and reputation and to clean their hands of their property. Their tails, amulets, etc., are based on ignorance, i.e., giants, ghosts, phantoms, idols, dice, goddesses; they are completely ineffective. They have no knowledge of the issues and rulings of the Holy Qur’an, prayer, and fasting, and far from it, they do not even understand the Sharif. All their tails, etc., are ineffective. Even if a simple person is benefited, it is a result of the personal belief of that person. Because there is great power. A doctor wrote some medical prescriptions on a piece of paper for a person and told him to boil it and drink it for three days. Instead of medicine, the patient dissolved a piece of paper and drank it and was cured because of his perfect faith.  

When a patient is cured by drinking a piece of paper written by the hand of a doctor or a hakim, through personal belief, even though the papers of doctors and hakims are not consumed, then with such belief, tell a paper on which the Holy Quran is written. If the verses are written, then if they are consumed as amulets, how much benefit will be gained? Real healers are those whose full attention is focused on grooming the inner rather than the outer.  

They are engaged not only in beautifying the outside but also in illuminating the inside. If they give amulets, it is not as a business; rather, their intention is to convey نفع to God’s creation. These chaste people avoid socializing with strange women in solitude, while professional practitioners and astrologers avoid, fear, and shy away from men only.  

Paragraph No. 15: In Surah Bani Israel, verse No. 82, Allah Almighty says:  

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَا يَزِيْدُ الظَّلِمِيْنَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا

Blessed Translation: “And We send down the Qur’an which is a healing and a mercy for the believers, and it only adds harm to the disbelievers.”  

Under this blessed verse, the scholars have shed light on the physical healing of the Holy Quran and have also discussed whether the entire Holy Quran is healing or only certain parts of it. In this regard, Allah says:  

“وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ.”

And in the Qur’an, We reveal that which is healing and mercy for those who believe.  

Hazrat Imam Shafi’i (may Allah have mercy on him) and Hazrat Imam Ibn Juzi (may Allah have mercy on him) write: There are three possible reasons in this blessed verse, two of which are:  

• One is that the Holy Qur’an is a cure from misguidance because it contains guidance.  

• “الثانى شفاء من السقم لما فيه من البركة” The second is that there is healing in it from physical ailments because it is blessed. (1)  

Hazrat Ibn Atiya writes: “It is probable that this healing is meant by the breath of the Holy Qur’an and amulets, etc., to bring benefit in diseases.” (2)  

The author of Tafsir Beydawi, Hazrat Allama Qazi Beydawi, and Hazrat Allama Abu Al Saud, may Allah have mercy on him, write:  

وقيل انه للتبعيض والمعنى أن منه ما يشفى من المرض كالفاتحة وآيات الشفاء

**Blessed Translation:** It has been said that “من” is for discrimination, and the meaning is that in the Holy Qur’an, there is that which is healing for illness, such as Surah Fatiha and Ayat al-Safa. (3)  

Hazrat Allama Neshapuri, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:  

ومن الأمراض الجسمانية أيضًا لما فى قراءته من التيمن والبركة وحصول الشفاء للمرض، كما قال صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلَه وبارك وَسَلَّم : من لم يستشف بالقرآن فلا شفاه الله

**Blessed Translation:** “The Holy Qur’an is also a cure for physical diseases because in this recitation there is blessing and benefit, and it is a cure for sickness. As the Holy Prophet ﷺ said: Whoever does not seek healing from the Holy Qur’an, Allah does not heal him.” (4)  

Hazrat Allama Arif Sawi (may Allah have mercy on him) writes:  

فالقرآن قليله وكثيره شفاء من الأمراض الحسية الظاهرية

Blessed Translation: A small portion of the Holy Qur’an is healing for many physical diseases. (5)  

The famous non-Muslim scholar Shukani and Nawab Siddique Hasan Bhopalvi write

 that the Holy Qur’an was a cure and a blessing. And in this sense, it has been known from numerous traditions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ that the Holy Qur’an is a cure for spiritual and physical diseases. And these things have also been expressed in the medical sciences. And the conclusion is that for anyone who truly believes, Allah will give him relief from all hardships and diseases through the Holy Qur’an.  

The Holy Qur’an has also been known as a cure for mental and psychological diseases. For example, in today’s world, there are many people who suffer from problems like depression, anxiety, and stress. It is essential for such individuals to engage in regular recitation of the Holy Qur’an, which can help alleviate their mental anguish. The soothing and comforting words of Allah have a profound impact on the hearts and minds of believers, bringing peace and tranquillity to their lives.  

To conclude, we must understand that the Holy Qur’an is not just a book of guidance but also a source of healing for all aspects of our lives—spiritual, mental, and physical. Therefore, we should immerse ourselves in its recitation, understanding, and application to seek healing and solace in our daily struggles.  

أما كونه شفاء من الأمراض الجسمانية فلأن التبرك بقراءته يدفع كثيرًا من الأمراض، ولما اعترف الجمهور من الفلاسفة وأصحاب الطلسمات بأن القراءات الرقى المجهولة والعزائم التي لا يفهم منها شيء آثارًا عظيمة في تحصيل المنافع ودفع المفاسد، فلأن تكون قراءة هذا القرآن العظيم المشتمل على ذكر جلال الله وكبريائه وتعظيم الملائكة المقربين وتحقير المردة والشياطين سببًا لحصول النفع في الدين والدنيا كان أولى. ويتأكد ما ذكرنا بما روى أن النبي صلى الله تعالى عليه وآله وسلم قال: من لم يستشف بالقرآن فلا شفاه الله تعالى.

**The Blessed Translation:** The Holy Quran is a cure for physical ailments, as its recitation brings blessings that remove many illnesses. Even many philosophers and practitioners of occult arts have acknowledged that obscure incantations and incomprehensible chants can have a profound effect in obtaining benefits and alleviating hardships. Therefore, the recitation of the glorious Quran, which contains the exalted remembrance of Allah Almighty, His greatness, and the veneration of the close angels, along with disdain for the rebellious and the devils, is an even greater means for attaining both religious and worldly benefits. This reality is further emphasized by the hadith narrated by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who said: “Whoever does not seek healing from the Quran, then Allah, the Lord of Honor, does not grant him healing.”

Hazrat Allama Ibn Qayyim writes:

و من ههنا لبيان الجنس لا للتبعيض فأن القرآن كله شفاء

Here the word *min* bayan is for gender and not for discrimination because the Holy Qur’an is the cure for all (8). In another place, Allama Ibn al-Qayyim writes, “The Holy Quran is a complete cure for all ailments of the heart, body, worldly life, and the Hereafter. However, not everyone is capable or deserving of obtaining healing from the Quran. Whenever a sick person has treated their illness with the Quran in the best possible way, embracing it with sincerity, true faith, and complete conviction, fulfilling all conditions, the illness could not withstand it. How could any illness possibly stand against the words of the Lord of the heavens and the earth? Such is its power that if the Holy Quran were revealed upon mountains, they would shatter, and if it were sent down upon the earth, it would cleave it apart. Thus, there is no illness of the heart or body whose cause and cure are not clearly illuminated within the Quran.”

In another place, Allama Ibn al-Qayyim writes regarding the healing power of Surah Al-Fatihah: Imam Ibn Majah narrates in his *Sunan* from Hazrat Ali al-Murtaza (may Allah honor his face), who reported that the beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, *“The best remedy is the Quran.”* When it is an established truth that certain forms of speech have unique properties and proven benefits, then what can be said about the speech of Allah, the Lord of all worlds? The Quran surpasses all other words just as Allah’s supremacy transcends all creation. This Holy Quran is a complete cure, a refuge, a guiding light, and a universal mercy. If it were revealed upon a mountain, that mountain would shatter from the awe and majesty of its greatness. Allah Almighty states, *“We reveal the Quran as a healing and mercy for the believers.”* Here, the term “min” (translated as “of” or “from”) signifies that healing is inherent in the Quran, not partial or limited. This interpretation is considered the most accurate and authentic. Now, consider the virtue of Surah Al-Fatihah itself, for no similar chapter was revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, or the Quran. (10)

Like Allama Ibn al-Qayyim, many scholars have interpreted the word *“min”* in this blessed verse as a statement of totality, meaning that not only specific parts but the entire Quran is a source of healing. Allama Muwaffaq al-Din al-Baghdadi (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: “Know that certain words have a unique influence and, by Allah’s will, bring benefits, as scholars have affirmed this to be true.” Then, what can one assume about the Speech of Allah, the Noble Quran? It is narrated from Hazrat Ali al-Murtaza (may Allah honor his face) that the Quran is the best remedy. خیرالدواء القرآن

Hadiths and signs on physical healing from the Holy Qur’an Furqan Hameed  

After the Qur’anic Furqan Hameed verses and their commentary, we now mention the blessed hadiths so that what has been quoted so far from the commentators is supported by the blessed hadiths. Our aim is to provide Muslims with evidence of the Quran’s potential for physical healing so that those seeking healing through the Quran are not accused of weak faith by certain individuals who may be uninformed, narrow-minded, or prejudiced. Such individuals often dismiss those who believe in the healing power of recitations, supplications, and spiritual remedies, claiming they lack faith. Yet, these same people place full trust in medicines, injections, and treatments developed by others, believing in their curative power, while they hold an unfit view regarding the words of Allah in the Holy Quran.

To educate them, share the truth, and demonstrate that the Quran indeed brings healing, we provide references to various verses and hadith. This helps identify which specific verses and prophetic supplications (Du’a) relate to different illnesses and can be used as spiritual remedies for well-being. Let’s serve the first invitation in this series. Quran and honey is healing. Hazrat Imam Ibn Majah, dear Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ, dear companions who need no introduction, narrated from Hazrat Sayyid Na Abdullah bin Masoud, may Allah be pleased with him, that the beloved Habib of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa, received that we instructed him:  

عليكم بالشفاء ين: العسل والقرآن

The Blessed Translation: You must take two remedies: honey and the Holy Qur’an. (11)

وَ آخِرُ دَعْوَانَا أَنِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Sources: 

(Shuba al-Iman, Volume 2, Page 519; Al-Jami’ li Shuba al-Iman, Volume 4, Page 171, Hadith No. 3244; Al-Itqan, Volume 2, Page 391; Al-Durr al-Munthur, Volume 7, Page 66)

(Al-Nukat wal ‘Uyoon, Volume 3, Page 862; Zاد المسير, Volume 5, Page 85)

(Al-Muharrar al-Wajiz, Volume 3, Page 480)

(Tafseer al-Baydawee, Volume 1, Page 580; Irshad al-Aql al-Saleem, Volume 5, Page 191)

(Ghara’ib al-Qur’an, Volume 4, Page 379)

(Hashiyat al-Sawi, Volume 3, Page 513)

(Fath al-Qadeer, Volume 3, Page 300; Fath al-Bayan, Volume 7, Page 444)

(Al-Tafseer al-Kabeer, Volume 21, Page 29; Tafseer al-Khazin, Volume 4, Page 180; Al-Futuhat al-Ilahiya, Volume 2, Page 744; Tafseer al-Qasimi, Volume 4, Page 117)

(Al-Tafseer al-Qayyim, Page 348)

(Zاد المعاد, Volume 4, Page 322)

(Zاد المعاد, Volume 4, Pages 163-162)

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 3452; Al-Musannaf li Ibn Abi Shaiba, Volume 8, Page 24, Hadith No. 24142; Volume 10, Page 26, Hadith No. 30224; Shuba al-Iman, Volume 2, Page 519; Al-Jami’ li Shuba al-Iman, Volume 4, Page 172, Hadith No. 2345; Al-Sunan al-Kubra li Al-Bayhaqi, Volume 9, Page 579; Al-Firdaws bi Ma’thoor al-Khitab, Volume 3, Page 56; Al-Tibb al-Nabawi li Abi Na’im, Page 138, 239, Hadith Nos. 289, 290, 291; Al-Tibb al-Nabawi li Al-Dhabi, Page 270; Zاد المعاد, Volume 3, Page 32; Al-Manhaj al-Sawi li Al-Suyuti, Page 303; Mishkat, Hadith No. 4571)

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