Can Surat al-Baqara Be Used to Ruqya a Person?
Answered by Shaykh Abdurragmaan Khan
Question
Many people use Surat al-Baqara to ruqya a person who is possessed, especially because of sihr. Is this a hadith of the Prophet (Allah bless him and send him peace) where he says the use of Surat al-Baqara is to ruqya a hauss, not a person?
What is the appropriate ruling on this matter?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Surat al-Baqara holds many great virtues. From those virtues, as you mentioned, is its effectiveness in repelling jin from one’s home. Its virtue, nonetheless, is not restricted to protecting one’s home only.
The chapter also protects, through the Will of Allah, the individual who recites or listens to it. It consists of the verse of the footstool (Ayat al-Kursi), which in itself is a verse of protection, regarding which the Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) said that “whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi before sleeping, Allah appoints an angel to take care of him until he awakes.” [Bukhari]
Another narration that establishes how the chapter is a general ruqya is the hadith of Muslim where the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Recite Surat al-Baqara, for taking recourse to it is a blessing, leaving it is a cause of grief, and the magicians or sorcerers cannot surpass it.” [Muslim]
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Abdurragmaan Khan
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Abdurragmaan Khan received ’ijaza ‘amma from various luminaries, including but not restricted to: Habib’ Umar ibn Hafiz—a personality who affected him greatly and who has changed his relationship with Allah, Maulana Yusuf Karaan—the former Mufti of Cape Town; Habib’ Ali al-Mashhur—the current Mufti of Tarim; Habib’ Umar al-Jaylani—the Shafi’i Mufti of Makkah; Sayyid Ahmad bin Abi Bakr al-Hibshi; Habib Kadhim as-Saqqaf; Shaykh Mahmud Sa’id Mamduh; Maulana Abdul Hafiz al-Makki; Shaykh Ala ad-Din al-Afghani; Maulana Fazlur Rahman al-Azami and Shaykh Yahya al-Gawthani amongst others.
