39/21. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2199c — Doing Good Through Ruqyah
It Is Recommended To Recite Ruqyah For The Evil Eye, Pustules, And Stings
Helping Others with Ruqyah for Scorpion Sting
Sahih Muslim : 2199c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2199c
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو سَعِيدٍ الأَشَجُّ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ كَانَ لِي خَالٌ يَرْقِي مِنَ الْعَقْرَبِ فَنَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الرُّقَى - قَالَ - فَأَتَاهُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ نَهَيْتَ عَنِ الرُّقَى وَأَنَا أَرْقِي مِنَ الْعَقْرَبِ . فَقَالَ " مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَنْفَعَ أَخَاهُ فَلْيَفْعَلْ " .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
I had a maternal uncle who treated the sting of the scorpion with the help of invocation. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade invocation. He came to him and said: Allah's Messenger, you forbade to practise invocation, whereas I employ it for curing the sting of the scorpion, whereupon he said: He who amongst you is capable of employing it as a means to do good should do that.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2199cIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 83USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5454
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2199c
This hadith focuses on doing good through a useful ruqyah. Jabir said that his maternal uncle treated scorpion stings with invocation. Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had forbidden ruqyah, so the uncle came and asked about his case. He explained that he used it for the sting of the scorpion. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) then said that whoever among them was able to use it as a means to do good should do that. The hadith is careful and balanced. It does not say every spoken formula is accepted. It shows a real question, a specific use, and a reply about benefiting others. For people searching for hadith about helping others, ruqyah for scorpion sting, or doing good in Islam, the key message is to use a beneficial ability in a permitted way.
What we learn from this hadith
- A useful skill should be used to help others when it is allowed.
- The ruqyah in this report was for the sting of a scorpion.
- The Companion asked because he wanted clarity after a general prohibition.
- The Prophet's (صلى الله عليه وسلم) reply connects healing help with doing good.
