How to Do Ruqyah on Yourself: Verses, Duas and Step-by-Step Guide

Self-Ruqyah means reciting the Quran and authentic supplications over yourself, seeking healing and protection from Allah alone. To do it: make wudu, sit facing the qiblah, recite Surah Al-Fatiha, Ayat al-Kursi, the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah and Surahs Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas with full attention, blow lightly into your hands and wipe over your body, and recite over water to drink. Do this daily and consistently. Reciting over yourself is dhikr and protection, and you are rewarded for it; when the evil eye, black magic or jinn harm is strong or long-lasting, treatment is Ruqyah recited over you by a qualified raqi.

This guide is written by Sheikh Abrar Ul Haq, a graduate of the Islamic University of Madinah who has provided Ruqyah since 2010.

Can You Do Ruqyah on Yourself?

Yes. Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that when the Prophet ﷺ was ill, he would recite Al-Mu’awwidhat over himself and blow lightly (Sahih al-Bukhari 5016; Sahih Muslim 2192). Every night before sleeping he recited Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas into his hands and wiped over his body three times (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017).

But there is an important distinction. When you recite the Quran over yourself, it is dhikr, worship and protection, like the morning and evening adhkar. When a knowledgeable raqi recites over you with the intention of treatment, it is targeted treatment. The Quran is the same; the application is different. A doctor who falls seriously ill does not treat himself; he goes to another doctor. Read the full explanation in Why Self Ruqyah Alone Is Often Not Enough.

Before You Start

• Make wudu and choose a clean, quiet place. Turn off the TV and music.
• Sit, do not lie down. Lying down usually leads to sleep and weakens focus.
• Put your phone away. Ruqyah is not background audio.
• Renew your intention: you are seeking healing from Allah alone, and the Quran is the means.
• Keep a fixed time every day. Consistency matters more than one long session.

The Ruqyah Verses (Quran)

Recite these with presence of heart. If you cannot recite them all, start with the first group and add more over time.

The core verses (recite every day):

1. Surah Al-Fatiha. The Prophet ﷺ approved its use as Ruqyah (Sahih al-Bukhari 2276)
2. Ayat al-Kursi (2:255)
3. The last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:285–286)
4. Surahs Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, three times each

Additional verses commonly recited in Ruqyah:

• Surah Al-Baqarah 2:1–5, 2:102 (on magic) and 2:163–164
• Surah Al Imran 3:18–19
• Surah Al-A’raf 7:54–56 and 7:117–122
• Surah Yunus 10:81–82
• Surah Taha 20:69
• Surah Al-Mu’minun 23:115–118
• Surah As-Saffat 37:1–10
• Surah Al-Ahqaf 46:29–32
• Surah Ar-Rahman 55:33–36
• Surah Al-Hashr 59:21–24
• Surah Al-Jinn 72:1–9

Verses that mention healing (shifa): 9:14, 10:57, 16:69, 17:82, 26:80 and 41:44.

Authentic Ruqyah Duas

1. For pain or illness in your body: place your hand where it hurts, say Bismillah three times, then seven times: A’udhu billahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhadhir (I seek refuge in Allah and His power from the evil of what I feel and fear) (Sahih Muslim 2202).
2. The Prophet’s ﷺ dua for healing: Allahumma Rabban-nas, adhhibil-ba’s, washfi antash-shafi, la shifa’a illa shifa’uka, shifa’an la yughadiru saqama (O Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the harm and heal, You are the Healer. There is no healing except Your healing, a healing that leaves no illness) (Sahih al-Bukhari 5743; Sahih Muslim 2191).
3. For protection: A’udhu bi kalimatillahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq (I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created) (Sahih Muslim 2708).
4. Morning and evening, three times: Bismillahil-ladhi la yadurru ma’asmihi shay’un fil-ardi wa la fis-sama’i wa huwas-sami’ul-‘alim (In the name of Allah, with whose name nothing on earth or in heaven can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing) (Sunan Abi Dawud 5088; Jami at-Tirmidhi 3388).
5. For a family member: the Ruqyah of Jibreel, Bismillahi arqika, min kulli shay’in yu’dhika, min sharri kulli nafsin aw ‘aynin hasidin, Allahu yashfika, bismillahi arqika (Sahih Muslim 2186).

For the evil eye specifically, see the dua for evil eye (nazar).

How to Do Self-Ruqyah: Step by Step

1. Begin with A’udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim and Bismillah.
2. Recite the core verses slowly and with understanding.
3. Blow lightly into your hands (nafth: a light breath with a little moisture) and wipe over your body, starting with your head and face, then the rest of your body as far as you can reach, as the Prophet ﷺ did (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017).
4. For pain, place your hand on the place of pain and say the dua of Sahih Muslim 2202.
5. Recite over water: hold a bottle or glass of water close to your mouth, recite the verses and blow lightly into it. Drink from it during the day, and you may also bathe with it (not in the toilet area). Scholars such as Shaykh Ibn Baz permitted reciting over water for healing.
6. End with dua in your own words, asking Allah for complete healing, and send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ.
7. Repeat daily at the same time. Do not stop after one good day. Continue until your life clearly stabilises, then move to steady protection with the daily adhkar.

What Happens During Self-Ruqyah?

Some people yawn, cry, feel heaviness or sleepiness while reciting; others feel nothing at all. A reaction does not prove that you have magic, the evil eye or a jinn, and feeling nothing does not mean you are not affected. Reactions can come from stress or deep emotion, and harm can show itself later, in sleep, at home or in your mood. Do not diagnose yourself from one session. Judge by the overall pattern of your life. Read more in How Do I Know If I Need Ruqyah?

Mistakes to Avoid

• Listening while lying down, on your phone, or as background noise. Ruqyah needs full attention.
• Stopping early. Many people stop as soon as they feel a little better, and the problem returns.
• Giving in to laziness and doubt. Sudden tiredness or the feeling “I don’t need this” often comes exactly when the treatment starts to work.
• Mixing Ruqyah with forbidden practices: taweez, amulets, or anyone who asks for your mother’s name.
• Neglecting the basics: the five daily prayers (especially Fajr and Isha), avoiding sins and music, and reciting or playing Surah Al-Baqarah in your home (Sahih Muslim 780).
• Abandoning medical treatment. Ruqyah and medicine go together.

When Self-Ruqyah Is Not Enough

Self-Ruqyah is beneficial, but beneficial does not mean sufficient. When the harm is strong, the person is inside the problem: the illness weakens focus, creates laziness and doubt, and makes it hard to recite or to judge one’s own condition. Seek a qualified raqi when:

• symptoms continue for weeks despite daily self-Ruqyah;
• you cannot bring yourself to recite or listen, or you fall asleep every time;
• the same blockages keep repeating in marriage, work, health or the home;
• there is strong suspicion of black magic, jinn possession or an ashiq jinn.

At Ruqyah and Ajwah Center, treatment starts with a private assessment session (45 to 60 minutes, $15 USD). Patients who need regular treatment join our monthly program of live Ruqyah every day, Sunday to Thursday, for $95 USD per month, with patients in the UK, USA, Canada, Europe, the Gulf and Australia. See how our treatment process works.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do Ruqyah on myself?

Yes. The Prophet ﷺ recited Al-Mu’awwidhat over himself (Sahih al-Bukhari 5016). Self-Ruqyah is dhikr and protection; for strong or long-lasting cases, Ruqyah from a qualified raqi is the treatment.

Which verses are used for Ruqyah?

Surah Al-Fatiha, Ayat al-Kursi, the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah and Surahs Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas are the core. Many raqis add verses such as 2:102, 7:117–122, 10:81–82, 20:69 and 37:1–10.

What is the dua for Ruqyah?

For pain: “A’udhu billahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhadhir” seven times after Bismillah three times (Sahih Muslim 2202). For healing: “Allahumma Rabban-nas, adhhibil-ba’s, washfi antash-shafi…” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5743).

Can I listen to Ruqyah audio instead of reciting?

Listening with full attention is beneficial and is a form of dhikr, but reciting yourself is better, and recorded audio does not replace Ruqyah recited over you by a raqi in strong cases. Do not use it as background noise or while sleeping.

How long should I do Ruqyah on myself?

Every day at a fixed time. There is no fixed number of days. Continue until your sleep, mood, worship and daily life clearly improve, then keep the daily adhkar for protection.

Can a woman do Ruqyah during her period?

Yes, with the intention of protection, she may recite over herself the Ruqyah verses only: Surah Al-Fatiha, Ayat al-Kursi, the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah, and Surahs Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas. She can also say the authentic duas and listen to the Quran.

Is it normal to feel nothing during Ruqyah?

Yes. Feeling nothing does not mean you are not affected, and reacting does not prove that you are. Judge by the overall change in your life, not by one session.

Ruqyah is a religious and spiritual practice. It does not replace medical diagnosis, prescribed medication, psychological therapy or emergency care.