Short answer
Recite al-Fatihah over the sick person, or over yourself, with full conviction that the cure is from Allah, then blow lightly with a little breath and wipe over the place of pain. The hadith fix no number, so repeat it as you wish; three or seven times is common. This is sunnah in all four schools.
Reciting al-Fatihah as ruqyah is sunnah. According to the Hanafi texts, a woman in her period or a person in janabah may recite it with the intention of dua rather than Quran recitation, since al-Fatihah is praise and supplication.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
A group of Companions on a journey were refused hospitality by a tribe whose chief was then stung by a scorpion. One of them recited al-Fatihah over him, gathering his saliva and blowing lightly, and the chief got up as if freed from a rope. The Prophet ﷺ later asked, 'How did you know it is a ruqyah?' and approved what they had done. For this reason al-Fatihah is also called al-Shafiyah (the one that heals).
The method:
- Sit by the person, put your right hand on them or on the place of pain if appropriate, and recite al-Fatihah slowly with its meaning in mind.
- After reciting, blow lightly (nafth), a soft breath with a trace of moisture, over the person, or into your palms and wipe over them.
- Repeat as many times as you like. Three or seven are common, but the hadith fixes no number.
- Add the dua for healing: Allahumma rabban-nas, adhhibil-ba's, ishfi antash-shafi.
- Wudu is good but not required when reciting from memory.
You can recite it over yourself in the same way, and over water for the patient to drink. Certainty and humility matter more than technique: the Companion's recitation worked by Allah's permission, not by a formula.
A woman in her period may recite al-Fatihah over a sick child or herself with the intention of dua, as the Hanafi texts allow reading it as a supplication. Ruqyah does not replace medicine. See which surah is for healing and Surah al-Fatihah.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Faatiha 1:2-5
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾
[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds - The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
Al-Fatihah is praise of Allah and a request for His help.
Quran, Surah Al-Israa 17:82
وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌۭ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًۭا ﴿٨٢﴾
And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.
The Quran is a healing.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5736
Sahih... فجعل يقرأ بأم القرآن ويجمع بزاقه ويتفل فبرأ ...
"He began reciting the Mother of the Quran, gathering his saliva and spitting lightly, and the man recovered."
The method of reciting al-Fatihah as ruqyah.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5743
Sahih... اللهم رب الناس أذهب الباس اشفه وأنت الشافي ...
"O Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the harm and heal him, You are the Healer."
The dua for healing that can be added after al-Fatihah.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on menstruation. Permits reading al-Fatihah with the intention of dua rather than recitation.
- Umdat al-Qari (al-Ayni), Kitab al-Ijarah, chapter on what is given for ruqyah with al-Fatihah. Explains the hadith of the scorpion sting and the method of ruqyah.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.