Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatoh
I have a question pertaining to this growing belief amongst the Muslims of the sub continent where more and more people are recommending and following with very strong faith, that by listening to the recitation of Surah Rahman, 3 times and that too only in the recitation of Qari Basit, is a source of spiritual and physical healing. Terminally ill patients are recommended to listen to it 3 times daily in the said Qari’s recitation and blow on water and drink it.
While I have found many hadith about the entire Quran being a source of Shifa, only Surah Fateha is called As Shifa and forms an integral part of Rukiya and Duas of Shifa as recited by Rasool Allah Saw.
I am unable to find anything in the books of Hadeeth regarding the recitation or listening of Surah Rahman only, 3 times for healing terminal illnesses like cancer and tumour.
Please shed some light on this matter.
JazakAllah khairan katheera
Answer
Wa’alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,
The practice which has been stated in the question cannot be traced back to the Qur’ān, Sunnah, practices of the Ṣaḥābah, or those after them from the pious predecessors.
Hence, it should not be attributed to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) or regarded as something divinely established.
Allāh Ta’ālā says in this regard:
“Today I have perfected your faith for you, completed My favor upon you, and chosen Islam as your way” [Al-Qur’ān 5:3]
The above verse indicates that Islām is complete and nothing can further be added to it.
If any such practice is based on the experience of the pious predecessors, in that they have found some benefit in it, then one may adopt it whilst maintaining the belief that it is not from the Qur’ān or Sunnah.
Furthermore, it is always best to adopt that which has been prescribed to us by the Qur’ān or the Sunnah. This is so because their benefits have been guaranteed, provided that one places full conviction in Allāh Ta’ālā, knowing that he is The Curer.
The Prophet ﷺ recommended specific manners and supplications for specific illnesses. Though they may be numerous, one can recite all, alternate, or recite some and leave some.
And Allaah Ta’aala knows best
Wassalaam,
Ismail Moosa (Mufti)