Short answer
The Manzil is a short booklet of Quranic ayat, popular in South Asia, read for protection from magic, jinn and harm. It is made up entirely of ayat such as al-Fatiha, Ayat al-Kursi, the end of al-Baqarah and the last surahs. Reading it is allowed and good, but the collection itself was put together by later scholars, not by the Prophet ﷺ.
Reading the Manzil is permitted, since it is Quran and reciting Quran for protection is valid ruqyah. It should not be believed to be a sunnah set by the Prophet ﷺ, and the authentic sunnah adhkar should not be left for it.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
"Manzil" here is not the seventh part of the Quran with the same name. It is a compilation of ayat chosen by scholars of the subcontinent from those known for protection. Editions vary slightly, but they include passages such as al-Fatiha, the opening of al-Baqarah, Ayat al-Kursi, the last ayat of al-Baqarah, the end of al-Hashr, the opening of as-Saffat and of al-Jinn, and the four Quls.
Is it allowed? Yes. Every word is Quran, and the Prophet ﷺ approved ruqyah that contains no shirk. Several of its passages have authentic virtues: the last two ayat of al-Baqarah suffice the one who reads them at night, Ayat al-Kursi brings protection until morning, and the three Quls morning and evening suffice against everything. See is ruqyah allowed.
What to keep in mind:
- The selection and the name come from later scholars' experience, not from a hadith. Do not say "the Prophet ﷺ taught the Manzil".
- Its benefit comes from Allah through His words, not from the booklet as an object.
- Read it with correct pronunciation; learn it from someone who reads well.
- Women on their period may not recite it as Quran. See reading Quran on your period.
If you suspect magic or jinn, the Manzil is a good part of your routine together with salah, the morning and evening adhkar and Surah al-Baqarah. See also removing black magic.
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.
Quranic recitation for protection and healing is valid.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:255
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ﴿٢٥٥﴾
Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Ayat al-Kursi, one of the passages in the Manzil.
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."
Reciting Quran for protection is permitted.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5009
Sahih... من قرأ بالآيتين من آخر سورة البقرة في ليلة كفتاه ...
"Whoever recites the last two ayat of Surah al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him."
An authentic virtue of one passage in the Manzil.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Fatawa Mahmudiyya, Section on amulets, spiritual cures and wazifas. Permits Quranic recitation for protection as 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.