Supernatural Healing

[ummtaalib]

Q. How Islam belongs to the healing, some people claim that they have supernatural abilities to cure people without medical intervention – imposing of hands, reading any prayers.

I know the woman who claims that she be able to heal people imposing of hands. What our religion says about it?

 

 

(Query published as received)

 

 

A. Allah has made this world such that whilst He alone is the controller of everything and everything revolves around His will, we are required to adopt the means to achieve these goals. The important thing is that the means adopted should be permissible and one’s belief should be focused, that despite adopting all the means, it is all dependent on the will and might of Allah.

 

With regards to remedying ailments as well, the Shari’ah has encouraged that a person seeks treatment. In the Hadith, you will find many examples where the Prophet of Allah advised treatment of wounds and ailments.

 

Sayyiduna Usamah bin Shurayk (Radiyallahu Anhu) reports that once, some Bedouins came to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and asked him if they should adopt medical treatment for their ailments. The Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied:

 

“Adopt medical treatment. For indeed, Allah has provided a cure for every ailment besides old age” (Abu Dawood, Hadith #: 3855)

 

So as you can see, the treatment of ailments and sickness is encouraged in Islam. However, the important point to remember is that only permissible methods can be adopted. The use of impermissible methods is prohibited and is of no benefit. This is why Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’oud (Radiyallahu Anhu) said:

 

“Definitely, Allah has not placed cure in treatment that he has declared unlawful for you” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

 

With regards to the method of healing you have described in your question where people claim to be able to heal by supernatural powers, this is a dubious method of healing and should be abstained from.

 

Yes, there are some methods which are permissible for example, Ruqyah (where verses of the Qur’an are recited as a means of treatment with the belief that cure can only be achieved by the will of Allah). But besides this, most other methods are dubious and hold impermissible elements. For an ordinary person to differentiate between which is permissible and which is not permissible in such methods of treatments is nearly impossible and therefore, I advise that all such treatments be abstained from. Furthermore, many of these so called “healers” are fraudsters and have no proper knowledge on this subject.

 

Considering the facts above, a person should rather adopt alternate physical methods of treatment which are free from doubt. In the acute case of such treatment not being beneficial, a person should consult with a reliable and trustworthy Alim or Imam to direct him/her to a reliable healer who practices on the Qur’an and Sunnah.

 

And Allah Knows Best

 

 

Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed

 

 

Fatwa Department
Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)
Council of Muslim Theologians