66/9. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5007 — Surah Al-Fatiha as Ruqyah
The superiority of Fatiha-til-Kitab
Hadith About Surah Al-Fatiha Ruqyah and Lawful Reward
Sahih Bukhari : 5007
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5007
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ مَعْبَدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ كُنَّا فِي مَسِيرٍ لَنَا فَنَزَلْنَا فَجَاءَتْ جَارِيَةٌ فَقَالَتْ إِنَّ سَيِّدَ الْحَىِّ سَلِيمٌ، وَإِنَّ نَفَرَنَا غُيَّبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمْ رَاقٍ فَقَامَ مَعَهَا رَجُلٌ مَا كُنَّا نَأْبُنُهُ بِرُقْيَةٍ فَرَقَاهُ فَبَرَأَ فَأَمَرَ لَهُ بِثَلاَثِينَ شَاةً وَسَقَانَا لَبَنًا فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ قُلْنَا لَهُ أَكُنْتَ تُحْسِنُ رُقْيَةً أَوْ كُنْتَ تَرْقِي قَالَ لاَ مَا رَقَيْتُ إِلاَّ بِأُمِّ الْكِتَابِ. قُلْنَا لاَ تُحْدِثُوا شَيْئًا حَتَّى نَأْتِيَ ـ أَوْ نَسْأَلَ ـ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ ذَكَرْنَاهُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " وَمَا كَانَ يُدْرِيهِ أَنَّهَا رُقْيَةٌ اقْسِمُوا وَاضْرِبُوا لِي بِسَهْمٍ ". وَقَالَ أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِيرِينَ حَدَّثَنِي مَعْبَدُ بْنُ سِيرِينَ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ بِهَذَا
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri Narrated from:
While we were on one of our journeys, we dismounted at a place where a slave girl came and said, "The chief of this tribe has been stung by a scorpion and our men are not present; is there anybody among you who can treat him (by reciting something)?" Then one of our men went along with her though we did not think that he knew any such treatment. But he treated the chief by reciting something, and the sick man recovered whereupon he gave him thirty sheep and gave us milk to drink (as a reward).When he returned, we asked our friend, "Did you know how to treat with the recitation of something?" He said, "No, but I treated him only with the recitation of the Mother of the Book (i.e., Al-Fatiha)." We said, "Do not say anything (about it) till we reach or ask the Prophet (ﷺ) so when we reached Medina, we mentioned that to the Prophet (in order to know whether the sheep which we had taken were lawful to take or not).The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "How did he come to know that it (Al-Fatiha) could be used for treatment? Distribute your reward and assign for me one share thereof as well."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5007In-book reference : Book 66, Hadith 29USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 61, Hadith 529
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5007
This Hadith is about Surah Al-Fatiha ruqyah. During a journey, the Companions stopped near a tribe whose chief had been stung by a scorpion. A girl asked whether anyone could treat him by reciting something. One man went, although his friends did not think he was known for ruqyah. He recited the Mother of the Book, meaning Al-Fatiha, and the chief recovered. The people gave thirty sheep and milk as a reward. The Companions did not rush to decide the matter on their own. They waited until they asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in Madinah. He approved it, told them to distribute the reward, and even asked for a share. The Hadith shows care, asking before acting, and the virtue of Al-Fatiha in this case.
What we learn from this hadith
- Al-Fatiha was used as ruqyah in the event described.
- The Companions waited to ask the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم before treating the reward as settled.
- The Prophet approved distributing the reward in this narration.
- Helping someone through recitation is shown in a clear case from the text.
