10 Duas for Health and Healing in Islam

Illness can be a difficult time for individuals and their families. Islam encourages Muslims to turn to Allah through dua, remember Him, and seek His help during hardship. The Quran contains verses about healing, and authentic Hadith record supplications that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught or used when dealing with illness and pain.

This guide shares ten Quranic verses, supplications, and forms of dhikr related to health, healing, and protection. Each item includes Arabic text, an English translation, and a reliable reference where available. These prayers are acts of worship, not guarantees of immediate recovery. Muslims can make dua while also seeking appropriate medical care.

1. Dua for Shifa (Healing)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught a supplication asking Allah to remove illness and grant healing.

Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ النَّاسِ، أَذْهِبِ الْبَأْسَ، اشْفِ أَنْتَ الشَّافِي، لَا شِفَاءَ إِلَّا شِفَاؤُكَ، شِفَاءً لَا يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًا

English translation:

“O Allah, Lord of humanity, remove the affliction and grant healing. You are the Healer. There is no healing except Your healing, a healing that leaves no illness behind.”

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5743.

This is a direct dua for someone who is ill. You can recite it while asking Allah to grant recovery to yourself or another person. Its wording acknowledges that healing comes from Allah, without promising a particular outcome or timeframe.

2. Dua of Prophet Ayyub (AS) During Hardship

The Quran records the supplication of Prophet Ayyub (Job, peace be upon him) when he experienced suffering.

Arabic:

رَبِّ إِنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

English translation:

“My Lord, indeed adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.”

Reference: Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:83.

This Quranic dua expresses hardship and turns to Allah’s mercy. Muslims may recite it during illness or other difficulties while asking Allah for relief. The verse does not prescribe a particular number of repetitions for healing.

3. Dua to Make for a Sick Person

A supplication reported in Hadith asks Allah, the Lord of the Mighty Throne, to grant healing to the sick person.

Arabic:

أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ رَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ أَنْ يَشْفِيَكَ

English translation:

“I ask Allah, the Mighty, Lord of the Mighty Throne, to heal you.”

Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 3106.

This wording addresses the sick person directly, so it can be used when visiting someone unwell. The narration mentions repeating this supplication seven times. This count belongs to the reported practice; it should not be treated as a guarantee that a person will recover.

4. Dua for Pain and Discomfort

Sahih Muslim records instructions for a person experiencing pain in the body.

First, place your hand on the painful area and say the following three times:

Arabic:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

English translation:

“In the name of Allah.”

Then say the following seven times:

Arabic:

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ

English translation:

“I seek refuge in Allah and His power from the evil of what I feel and what I fear.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim 2202.

This supplication is specifically reported for pain. Follow the reported wording and count without assuming that recitation replaces medical assessment or treatment when needed.

5. Dua for Health and Well-Being (Al-Afiyah)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught supplications asking Allah for pardon and well-being in this life and the Hereafter.

Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِيَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ

English translation:

“O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in this world and the Hereafter.”

Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 5074.

This wording is part of a longer supplication reported for morning and evening. It asks Allah for al-afiyah, a broad term associated with well-being and protection from hardship. It can be included in a Muslim’s regular supplications without attaching an unsupported fixed count or guaranteed result to it.

6. Quranic Verse About Healing

The Quran quotes Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him) as saying:

Arabic:

وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ

English translation:

“And when I am ill, it is He who cures me.”

Reference: Surah Ash-Shu’ara, 26:80.

This verse expresses belief that Allah is the ultimate source of healing. Muslims may recite it and reflect on its meaning when facing illness. The verse is a statement in the Quran, rather than a separate supplication with a prescribed number of repetitions.

7. Dua for Protection

The following supplication asks for protection through Allah’s name.

Arabic:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

English translation:

“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.”

Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 5088; Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3388.

Hadith reports this supplication as being recited three times in the morning and evening. It is a dua for protection, not a promise that a person will never experience illness or harm.

8. Surah Al-Fatihah for Ruqyah

Surah Al-Fatihah is the opening chapter of the Quran. An authentic Hadith records its use as ruqyah, meaning Quranic recitation used while seeking healing from Allah.

Arabic:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

English translation:

“In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds,

the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful,

Master of the Day of Judgment.

You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.

Guide us along the Straight Path,

the Path of those You have blessed—not those You are displeased with, or those who are astray.”

Reference: Surah Al-Fatihah, 1:1–7; Sahih al-Bukhari 5736.

The Hadith establishes that Al-Fatihah was used as ruqyah. Muslims may recite the surah while asking Allah for healing. Still, they should not claim that a particular number of recitations guarantees recovery unless there is reliable evidence for that specific practice.

9. Quranic Verse Describing the Quran as Healing

The Quran also describes its message as a healing and mercy for believers.

Arabic:

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

English translation:

“And We send down of the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers.”

Reference: Surah Al-Isra, 17:82.

This verse highlights the Quran’s significance as healing and mercy. It can be read alongside reflection on the Quran’s guidance and meaning. The verse itself does not identify a particular surah, repetition count, or guaranteed medical outcome for every illness.

10. Dhikr: La Hawla Wa La Quwwata Illa Billah

This well-known remembrance expresses a believer’s dependence on Allah.

Arabic:

لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

English translation:

“There is no power and no strength except through Allah.”

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6409; Sahih Muslim 2704.

This phrase is dhikr rather than a specific dua for curing an illness. It reminds Muslims that their strength and ability depend on Allah. A person facing illness may remember Allah with this phrase while also making direct supplications for healing and well-being.

How to Make Dua for Health and Healing

• Ask Allah sincerely: Use the authentic supplications above and ask for healing, mercy, and well-being.

• Understand what you recite: Read the Arabic carefully and learn its meaning so your dua is made with awareness.

• Pray for others: You may use the reported supplication for a sick person when visiting a family member or friend.

• Avoid unsupported promises: Do not claim that a particular count guarantees a cure or that illness will end by a specified time.

• Seek appropriate medical care: Dua and medical treatment are not mutually exclusive. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Conclusion

The Quran and authentic Hadith provide supplications for healing, protection, pain, and well-being. These include the dua beginning Allahumma Rabb an-nas, the supplication of Prophet Ayyub (AS), the dua for a sick person, and Surah Al-Fatihah as ruqyah.

Muslims can recite these texts, reflect on their meanings, and ask Allah for recovery with sincerity and hope. Keep the wording and reported repetition counts accurate, avoid claims of guaranteed results, and seek appropriate medical care when ill.