The Quran and Sunnah have a number of powerful Dua for sickness to seek Allah’s help against these ailments. As humans, it is our natural inclination to dread pain and sicknesses. Illnesses are a part of this temporary life, and whether or not we fall ill can be beyond our conscious control. During such instances, it is essential to remind and reassure ourselves with the words of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),
“No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari]
This hadith teaches Muslims not to perceive sicknesses as a punishment, but as a test from Allah and a blessing in disguise that serves as an expiation of one’s sins (contemplate the story of Ayyub AS). Allah is Ash-Shaafee – the one who cures. Therefore, while we seek medical attention when diagnosed with an illness, we must also remember to call out to Allah and beseech His help. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to have said,
“Allah has sent down both the disease and the cure, and He has appointed a cure for every disease, so treat yourselves medically, but use nothing unlawful.” [Sunan Abi Dawud]
Allah is the source of cure who is responsible for healing us of our ailments. He created a cure for every disease he sent down. This is also evident in the following hadith,
“Some Bedouins asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah (PBUH) shall we treat (our ill)?’ He said: ‘Yes, O worshipers of Allah! Use remedies. For indeed Allah did not make a disease but He made a cure for it. Except for one disease.’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (PBUH)! What is it?’ He replied: ‘Old age.’” [At-Tirmidhi]
Duas for sicknesses mentioned in Quran and Sunnah
Dua for sickness 1
Place your right hand on the sick person or area of pain supplicate:
اللَّهُمَّ ربَّ النَّاسِ ، أَذْهِب الْبَأسَ ، واشْفِ ، أَنْتَ الشَّافي لا شِفَاءَ إِلاَّ شِفَاؤُكَ ، شِفاءً لا يُغَادِرُ سقَماً
Allahumma Rabban-naas, azhibil-ba’s, washfi antash-Shaafi laa shifaa’a illaa shifaa’uka, shifaa’an laa yughaadiru saqamaa
“O Allah! the Rab of mankind! Remove this disease and cure (him/her)! You are the Great Curer. There is no cure but through You, which leaves behind no disease.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari & Sahih Al-Muslim]
Dua for sickness 2
Place your hand on the area of pain and recite ‘Bismillah’ thrice followed by the following dua (7 times),
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ
A’udhu billahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhadhiru
“I seek refuge with Allah and with His power from the evil that I find and that I fear,” [Sahih-Al-Muslim]
Dua for sickness 3
Recite the Mu’awwidhat (Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas), blow into your hands and rub them over your body.
Aisha narrated that whenever Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) became sick, he would recite Mu’awwidhat (Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An- Nas) and then blow his breath over his body. When he became seriously ill, she used to recite the two Surahs, blow into his hands and rub his hands over his body. [Sahih Al-Bukhari]
Dua for sickness 4
For any ailment, sores, or wounds, touch the ground with your forefinger and recite the dua below.
Aisha narrated that when a person complained to Rasulullah (PBUH) about an ailment, sore or wound, the Prophet (PBUH) would touch the ground with his forefinger, raise it and would recite the following dua [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]:
بِسْمِ اللهِ تربَةُ أَرْضِنَا، بِرِيقةِ بَعْضِنَا، يُشْفَى سَقِيمُنَا، بإِذْنِ رَبِّنَا
Bismil-lahi, turbatu ardina, biriqati ba`dina, yushfa bihi saqimuni, bi ‘idhni Rabbina
“In the Name of Allah, the dust of our ground mixed with the saliva of some of us would cure our patient with the permission of our Rab.”
Dua for sickness 5
Recite Surah Al-Fathiha over yourself as a cure against any sickness.
Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri reported:
Some of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) came across a tribe amongst the tribes of the Arabs, and that tribe did not entertain them. While they were in that state, the chief of that tribe was bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion). They said, (to the companions of the Prophet (PBUH), “Have you got any medicine with you or anybody who can treat with Ruqya?” The Prophet’s companions said, “You refuse to entertain us, so we will not treat (your chief) unless you pay us for it.”
So, they agreed to pay them a flock of sheep. One of them (the Prophet’s companions) started reciting Surat-al-Fathiha and gathering his saliva and spitting it (at the snake-bite). The patient was cured and his people presented the sheep to them, but they said, “We will not take it unless we ask the Prophet (whether it is lawful).” When they asked him, he smiled and said, “How do you know that Surat-al-Fathiha is a Ruqya? Take it (flock of sheep) and assign a share for me.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
Dua for sickness 6
Recite the dua below (seven times) for an ill person and it will heal him as long as he is not at the point of death.
أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ رَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ أَنْ يَشْفِيَكَ
As’alUllahal-‘adheema Rabbal-‘arshil-‘adhimi, an yashfiyaka
“I beseech Allah the Great, the Rab of the Great Throne, to heal you.” [Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi]
Dua for sickness 7
The following dua was supplicated by Prophet Ayyub (PBUH) when he was severely afflicted by an illness that spared no limb in his body, except for his tongue and heart. With this dua, Allah cured him of his grave disease.
أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
Annee massaniyad-durru wa anta arhamur-raahimeen
“Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the most merciful of the merciful.” [Surah Al-Anbya 21:83]
Dua for sickness 8
If one suspects an illness to be caused by evil eyes, it is advisable to recite the dua below:
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ
A`udhu bikalimathillahit-thammathi min kulli shaythaaniw-wa hammathiw-wa min kulli `aynin lammah
“O Allah! I seek Refuge with Your perfect words from every devil and from poisonous pests and from every evil, harmful, envious eye.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari]
Dua for sickness 9
This dua is an all-encompassing dua, which covers every aspect of life including, health and general well-being:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار
Rabbanaa ‘aatinaa fid-dunyaa hasanathan wa fil-‘aakhirathi hasanathan wa qinaa ‘athaaban-naar
“Our Lord! Grant us the good of this world and the hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the fire.” [Surah Al-Baqara 2:201]
Illnesses & Trials are a good sign for the believer
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said,
“If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari].
As mentioned before, the most perfect example of this is of the Messengers of Allah Ayyub (AS). He had everything the world could offer and he was grateful to Allah. Then he (AS) had everything taken away from him including his health, wealth and children – and he continued being grateful to Allah, and it only increased him in patience. When he succeeded in his trials, Allah compensated him with all he had lost and only increased it – while he was still in this world. In his story is an example for us and hope.
This life is one of trials and tribulations, and sicknesses are a definite part of them. May Allah help us endure them with patience and reward us for our efforts.
Also Read:
Dua for Protection From Evil Eye
