Within the tradition, properly performed Qur'anic recitation and supplication (ruqyah) invokes God's power so that the Qur'an acts as a cure and repels or expels malevolent spiritual influences (jinn, devils, sihr, nazar) from persons, objects, or locations.
Ruqyah is understood within Muslim devotional and folk-religious contexts as a Qur'an-centred remedy for spiritual afflictions. Practitioners (commonly called raqi) recite Qur'anic verses, make duʿā’ (supplications), and employ approved devotional formulas taught in instructional resources framed as sharīʿah-compliant. People seek ruqyah for suspected possession by jinn or devils, the effects of sihr (black magic), the evil eye (nazar), family curses, or persistent negative life patterns attributed to spiritual causes. Ethnographic and journalistic sources document its use in everyday community settings and note instances where ruqyah practitioners have engaged with biomedical services (e.g., mental-health professionals) to negotiate care; other sources document contested or harmful applications (for example, attempts to use exorcism as a 'cure' for homosexuality). The supplied sources do not contain a single standardized procedural manual; instead they emphasize Qur'anic recitation as the core of practice and point to instructional media and local variation.
- 01Intake/consultation — the practitioner (raqi) speaks with the seeker or their family to determine the presenting spiritual concern (e.g., suspected jinn influence, sihr, nazar) and to decide on performing ruqyah; sources indicate such consultations are commonly reported in community contexts though no standard clinical protocol is given.
- 02Prepare for recitation — the raqi obtains the Qur'an and positions themselves and the seeker so recitation can be heard clearly; sources emphasize the Qur'an itself as the central material and do not specify standardized physical postures or objects across contexts.
- 03Recite Qur'anic verses aloud — the practitioner reads/recites Qur'anic passages believed to have healing or protective efficacy; sources consistently report that Qur'anic recitation is the primary action of ruqyah, though the excerpts do not list specific verses or a fixed sequence.
- 04Pronounce supplications/duʿā’ and adhkar — alongside Qur'anic recitation, the practitioner offers prayers, supplications, and prescribed remembrances (adhkar) drawn from instructional or sharīʿah-oriented materials; archive playlists and teaching resources indicate these elements are commonly included though no universal list is provided.
- 05Monitor response and repeat as needed — the practitioner assesses the seeker's condition during and after recitation and may repeat recitation and supplication across sessions; sources document repeated sessions and negotiated care with other services but do not provide a standardized session count.
- 06Coordinate with other care where appropriate — in contexts where biomedical or mental-health services are involved (documented in East London), ruqyah practitioners and health professionals may negotiate complementary approaches; sources recommend such coordination but do not supply a fixed protocol.
- ⚠Do not substitute ruqyah for necessary biomedical or psychiatric treatment — sources document risks when mental-health needs are addressed only by ruqyah without clinical care and note the importance of coordination with health services in some contexts.
- ⚠Caution regarding non-sharīʿah or exploitative practitioners — sources document cases of malpractice, extortion, and coercive uses (including attempts to ‘cure’ homosexuality); seekers are advised to avoid practitioners whose methods are unethical or exploitative.
Community Record
- [1]Exorcism in Islam (Wikipedia). Wikipedia: 'In Islam, the belief that spiritual entities—such as jinn, ghosts, and devils—can possess a person, a thing, or location... This practice is called ... ruqya, and exorcists are called raqi.'wiki
- [2]Connecting NHS mental health with Islamic ruqyah healing in East London. History of Emotions blog: documents meetings between ruqyah practitioners and NHS staff and notes community consultations; implies negotiation between ruqyah and mental-health services.other
- [3]Quranic Verses Used for Healing – The Muslim Times. The Muslim Times: 'Muslims across traditions believe the Qur'an contains cures for spiritual and even physical ills... He sent it down "as a cure and a mercy for the believers".'other
- [4]Kala Jadu Removal UK (Sihr) – Meaning, Symptoms & Ruqyah Treatment (Furzan). Furzan (kalajadoo page): reports clients believe they are affected by 'kala jadu... black magic... jinn influence, evil eye (nazar), or persistent negative patterns in life' and frame ruqyah as treatment.folk
- [5]Islamic Exorcisms Used as a ‘cure’ for Homosexuality in Indonesia. IWMF reporting documenting contested and ethically problematic applications of Islamic exorcisms in Indonesia, including attempts to 'cure' homosexuality.other
- [6]Archive: Uloomul-Qur’an / Introduction of Qur’an in Urdu/Hindi Videos by Bint A.Shakoor. Archive listing indicating instructional media (including ruqyah/sharīʿah-framed materials) teaching recitation, supplications, and correct methods.other
- [7]Psychotherapy in Morocco: an arduous journey fraught with exploitation and extortion - Mohammed Nejjari. Article discussing turning to alternative and spiritual healers (including ruqyah contexts) where biomedical psychotherapy is inaccessible; documents risks of exploitation in alternative therapy markets.other