Chapter Four (The Quranic Incantation )

Quranic Incantation (Ruqya) is Psychiatry

All legitimate texts in Allah’s Book and prophetic tradition denote the fact that the Quran is a guide and cure to all human beings. Allah says in the Quran: ”We send down (stage by stage) in the Quran that which is a healing and mercy to those who believe” .Allah also says:” If a suggestion from Satan assails thy (mind), seek refuge with God; for He heareth and knoweth (All things), and ”And when I am ill, it is He who cures me”.
In his book, Muslim narrated that Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) said:” When the prophet (PGBUH) complained of something Gabriel used Ruqya where he would say” In the name of Allah to cure you, from every ailment, and from the evil of an envious when he envies and from every evil eye”. Abu Dawood Al- Khudri, May Allah be pleased with him, also narrated that Gabriel used to say theses incantations. Muslim also narrated in his Sahih that Aisha said” when one of us complained of something, the prophet used to invoke Allah saying ‘O Allah of mankind, Take away the disease, O Lord of the people! Cure him as you are the One Who cures. There is no cure but Yours, a cure that leaves no disease”’. Muslim narrated in his Sahih that Aisha said ”During the Prophet’s fatal illness, he used to recite the Mu’auwidhat ( Surah AL-Nas (The People) and Surah Al-Falaq (The Dawn))” and then blow his breath over his body. When his illness was aggravated, I used to recite those two Suras and blow my breath over him and make him rub his body with his own hands for its blessings”.
Aisha also said: ” The prophet (PGBUH) ordered me or somebody else to do Ruqya (if there is danger from an evil eye”. He also used to say to Al – Hasan and Al -Hussein, ” I seek refuge to you in Allah’s perfect words from every devil, vermin, and evil eye”.
Indeed this provides great protection to the individual against the dangers that may affect his self and heart. One can protect his heart and purify it from the afflicted ailments such as greed, envy, hatred, wickedness and malice. Allah’s Book was revealed upon Mohamed’s heart as a guidance and cure for what is inside the bosom. Reciting the Quran according to the rules of recitation helps in regaining one’s psychological balance as it regulates breath which greatly reduces tension. Also the movement of the tongue muscles lessens tiredness and provides the mind with constant vitality. The results of researches conducted on a group of volunteers in the United States when listening to the Quran were astonishing. The Quran’s recital had a tranquilizing effect on 97% of the cases though a large number of them do not know Arabic. Involuntary physiological changes were monitored in the neurological systems of their bodies which noticeably reduced tension to a great extent.
A sensitive experiment was also conducted in which a brain graph was made to people while listening to the Quran. It was found out that the brain waves changes from the quick pattern of wakefulness, 12-13 waves per second, to the slow pattern, 8-18 waves per second which is the state of deep calmness. Non-speakers of Arabic also felt the same peacefulness and comfort while listening to the Quranic verses. The prophet explained this phenomenon where he said: ” Whenever people gather in one of Allah’s houses to recite and study His book, then serenity is revealed upon them, mercy embraces them, the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them to those with Him”.
The question is: How can the Quran cure the body? It is clinically well-known that tension and anxiety reduce the immunity of the body against diseases. If an individual’s psychological and mental status is unstable, then he is more susceptible to be attacked by diseases. Thus the apparent truth is that the Quran is a treatment for both, the body and the mind for it restores the balance of the psychological and mental systems. Constant recitation and listening to the Quran while meditating on its meanings increase bodily immunity and its inner defenses. Thus, Allah Willing, it becomes secure against diseases, and fights the germs and microbes that constantly attack his body with the power of this over-flowing divine light.