Is reciting Surah Fatihah seven times as ruqyah [as a means of cure] established from any Hadith?
Answer
Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has recorded the following narration:
Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id Al Khudri (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says,
“Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) dispatched us on a military expedition. We camped with some people and asked them to entertain us but they did not entertain us. Their leader was stung so they came to us saying: ‘Is there anyone among you who can treat a scorpion sting with ruqyah [reciting something]?’ I said: ‘Yes I can. But I will not do any ruqyah until you give us some sheep.’ They said: ‘We shall give you thirty sheep.’ We accepted that,and I recited ‘Alhamdulillahi…’ seven times.
He was cured and we took the sheep.” He said: “We became concerned [whether this was permissible] and said: ‘Do not be hasty until we reach Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).’
Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id says: “When we arrived, I mentioned what I did to him. He (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘How did you know that [Surah Fatihah] was a ruqyah? Take the sheep, and allot me a share as well.”
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2063. Imam Tirmidhi has declared the Hadith as sound –hasan-. Some editions of Sunan Tirmidhi have the words ‘hasanun sahih‘)
Also see Fathul Bari, under Hadith: 2276.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar