Short answer
Islam has ruqyah: reciting the Quran and the Prophet's ﷺ duas over a person affected by jinn, magic or the evil eye, asking Allah alone for the cure. It involves no rituals, no beating and no deals with jinn. The four schools agree it is allowed when it uses sound words and avoids shirk.
Ruqyah with the Quran, the names of Allah and authentic duas is permitted, and taking a fee for it is allowed. Ruqyah with unknown words, calling on jinn, harming the patient, or relying on fortune tellers is haram.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Muslims believe jinn exist and that, in some cases, they can harm people (see can jinn possess humans). The Islamic response is not a priestly rite. It is ruqyah: recitation and dua, which any Muslim can do for himself or for another. The Quran is healing and mercy for the believers (17:82).
What ruqyah usually includes:
- Surah al-Fatiha, Ayat al-Kursi, the last ayat of al-Baqarah, and the Quls (al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, an-Nas).
- The Prophet's ﷺ healing dua: "Remove the harm, Lord of mankind, and cure, for You are the One who cures. There is no cure except Your cure, a cure that leaves no illness."
- Blowing lightly on the person or on water after reading. See reciting Quran over water.
What is not allowed:
- Unknown words, symbols or calling on jinn by name.
- Hitting, choking or harming the patient. People have been seriously hurt by so-called exorcisms.
- Going to fortune tellers. The Prophet ﷺ said the salah of whoever asks a fortune teller is not accepted for forty nights.
- Charging large sums and creating dependence.
Do not skip the doctor. Many symptoms blamed on jinn, such as seizures, panic or hearing voices, have medical causes. Seek treatment and ruqyah together. See is mental illness caused by jinn, is ruqyah allowed and jinn in Islam.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
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 the means of healing in ruqyah.
Quran, Surah Al-Falaq 113:1
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ ﴿١﴾
Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
The Mu'awwidhat are the core of ruqyah.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5675
Sahih... أذهب البأس رب الناس اشف وأنت الشافي ...
"Remove the harm, Lord of mankind, and cure, for You are the One who cures."
The Prophet's ﷺ own words of ruqyah.
Sahih Muslim 2200
Sahih... لا بأس بالرقى ما لم يكن فيه شرك ...
"There is no harm in ruqyah as long as it contains no shirk."
The condition for permitted ruqyah.
Sahih Muslim 2230
Sahih... من أتى عرافا فسأله عن شيء لم تقبل له صلاة أربعين ليلة ...
"Whoever goes to a fortune teller and asks him about something, his salah is not accepted for forty nights."
Seeking help from fortune tellers is forbidden.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibaha, discussion of ruqyah and amulets. Permits ruqyah with the Quran and known duas, and forbids unknown words.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Ijarah, on taking a fee for ruqyah. Allows a fee for ruqyah, based on the hadith of the Companions who read al-Fatiha.
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.