What are the verses of shifa (cure/healing) in the Quran? What are the decrees about them? On what diseases are they more effective?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Can we read the Quran for healing?

Every verse of the Quran is a cure. Every verse can be read for any disease.

a. You can read each chapter and verse of the Quran with the intention of cure and supplication by making niyyah. 

b. You can read the chapters of al-Fatiha, al-Ikhlas, an-Nas, al-Falaq, Yasin, al-Mulk, and the verses of Kursiyy, Amanarrasulu and the last three verses of the chapter of al-Hashr in particular.

The Quran mentions two healings: One of them is honey and the other is the Quran itself. Honey is a material source of healing while the Quran is both a material and a spiritual source of healing:

"O mankind! There hath come to you a direction from your Lord and a healing for the (diseases) in your hearts,- and for those who believe, a guidance and a Mercy." (Yunus, 10/57)

"Then to eat of all the produce (of the earth), and find with skill the spacious paths of its Lord: there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colors, wherein is healing for men: verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought." (an-Nahl, 16/69)

"We send down (stage by stage) in the Qur´an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe: to the unjust it causes nothing but loss after loss." (al-Isra, 17/82)

"Had We sent this as a Qur´an (in the language) other than Arabic, they would have said: "Why are not its verses explained in detail? What! (a Book) not in Arabic and (a Messenger an Arab?" Say: "It is a Guide and a Healing to those who believe; and for those who believe not, there is a deafness in their ears, and it is blindness in their (eyes): They are (as it were) being called from a place far distant!" (Fussilat, 41/44)

What kind of a healing (shifa) is the healing that the Quran presents?

The Quran is a healing for unbelief, polytheism, faithlessness, oppression and cruelty. This is obvious. Those who accept the call of the Quran experience, understand and practice that healing. For, the Quran heals the biggest wounds of humanity with this characteristic.

Man, who knows his Lord by believing, finds his owner and deity; he is saved from all savagery, horror and fears.

How is and has the Quran been used in the treatment of the psychological and bodily disorders?

The Prophet, who is a model and example of benefiting from the Quran, leads us and teaches us with his own practices regarding the issue. The Prophet (pbuh) recited some verses when he became ill for his own illness and when one of the members of his family became ill. 

Hz. Aisha, one of the wives of the Prophet said,

"When any of the members of the household fell ill the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) would blow over him by reciting Muawwidhatan (the chapters of al-Falaq and an-Nas). And when he suffered from the illness of which he died, I would blow over him and rubbed his body with his hand because his hand had greater healing power than my hand." (Muslim, Salam: 50)

According to what Hz. Aisha also narrated, when the Prophet (pbuh) went to bed every night, he would read the chapters of al-Ikhlas and Muawwidhatayn, blow on his palms and wipe over the parts of his body that he could reach. Then, she said, "When the Messenger of Allah became ill, he ordered me to do so." (Bukhari, Tibb 39)

Another chapter of cure the Prophet (pbuh) mentions is the chapter of al-Fatiha, which is known by everybody.

"Al-Fatiha is cure for all diseases." (Darimi, Fadlul-Quran 12)

Thus, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) advises us to read the chapter of al-Fatiha in the face of all material and spiritual diseases.  

There are many verses of dua (supplication) starting with "Rabbana" and "Rabbi" in the Quran. We can read those verses for the treatment of material diseases; it is also possible to read them for psychological diseases.

When, Hz. Ibrahim says,  

"And when I am ill, it is He Who cures me"(ash-Shuara, 26/80),

he asks cure directly from Allah.

Hz. Ayyub read his famous supplication in the face of his severe disease that lasted for years and asked help from his Lord. Allah Almighty accepted his prayer and ordered him to hit the ground with his foot. When Hz. Ayyub hit the ground with his foot, water gushed forth; he drank from that water and washed his body; then, he recovered fully.   

Reading the supplications of cure in the Quran should not mean abandoning medical treatment and other practices that medicine deeds necessary. 

Going to see the doctor, using medication, having an operation and going on a diet are all actual duas and asking cure from Allah. Neither drugs nor doctors give the cure. The real healer is Allah.

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