Amaal for Healing (Shifa)

Step 1 · Instruction

Begin with Charity on Behalf of the Sick Person

The Holy Prophet (s) said: 'Treat your sick by means of charity.' Before commencing the recitation, set aside a sadaqah on behalf of the sick person — even a small amount given to the poor with the intention of their healing.

It is recommended to renew the sadaqah daily until the sickness lifts. Imam al-Sadiq (a) said: 'A man may be afflicted by a calamity and give in charity, and Allah averts it from him.'

Step 2 · Quran · Repeat 7 times

Recite Surah al-Fatiha Seven Times Over Water

Pour clean water into a vessel and recite Surah al-Fatiha (the Opener) over it seven times. The Holy Prophet (s) named al-Fatiha 'al-Shafiyah' — the Healer — and said: 'In Fatihat al-Kitab is a cure for every illness.'

Then give the water to the sick person to drink, or wash the affected area with it. If the person is unable to drink, place a hand on the place of pain and recite over it directly.

It is also recommended in the same vessel to recite Ayat al-Kursi (Qur'an 2:255), the closing verses of Surah al-Baqara (2:285-286), and Surah al-Ikhlas three times.

Step 3 · Quran · Repeat 7 times

Recite the Six Verses of Shifa from the Holy Qur'an

The Ahl al-Bayt (a) emphasised six verses of the Holy Qur'an in which the word shifa' (healing) appears. Recite them with the intention of healing for the sick:

1. وَيَشْفِ صُدُورَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِينَ — 'And He will heal the breasts of a believing people.' (9:14)
2. يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ — 'O mankind, there has come to you an admonition from your Lord, and a healing for what is in the breasts.' (10:57)
3. يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ لِلنَّاسِ — 'There comes out from their bellies a drink of varying colours, in which is healing for mankind.' (16:69)
4. وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ — 'And We send down of the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy for the believers.' (17:82)
5. وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ — 'And when I am ill, it is He who heals me.' (26:80)
6. قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هُدًى وَشِفَاءٌ — 'Say: It is, for those who believe, a guidance and a healing.' (41:44)

Recite each verse seven times, blow on the hands, and pass them over the body of the sick.

Step 4 · Dua · Repeat 7 times

Recite the Dua of Shifa from Imam al-Sadiq (a)

Place your right hand on the place of pain (or, if for another, on their forehead) and recite seven times:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، أَعُوذُ بِعِزَّةِ اللَّهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ مِنْ وَجَعِي هَذَا.

Transliteration: 'Bismi-Llah, a'udhu bi-'izzati-Llahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu min waja'i hadha.'

English: 'In the name of Allah; I seek refuge in the might of Allah and His power from the evil of this pain that I find.'

Then recite:

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

Transliteration: 'Allahumma Rabba al-nas, adhhibi al-ba's, ishfi anta al-Shafi, la shifa'a illa shifa'uka, shifa'an la yughadiru saqama.'

English: 'O Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the affliction; cure — for You are the Healer; there is no cure except Your cure — a cure that leaves behind no sickness.'

Step 5 · Instruction

Use the Turbah of Imam al-Husayn (a) — If Available

Imam al-Sadiq (a) said: 'In the turbah of al-Husayn (a) is healing for every illness.'

If the turbah (clay from the holy soil of Karbala) is available, dissolve a small amount in clean water (or eat a small piece, the size of a chickpea), with the intention of seeking shifa through the wasilah of Imam al-Husayn (a).

While taking it, recite:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَبِاللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ رِزْقًا وَاسِعًا وَعِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ.

Transliteration: 'Bismi-Llahi wa bi-Llah; Allahumma-j'alhu rizqan wasi'an wa 'ilman nafi'an wa shifa'an min kulli da'.'

English: 'In the name of Allah and by Allah; O Allah, make it a vast sustenance, beneficial knowledge, and a cure from every disease.'

Step 6 · Dhikr · Repeat 100 times

Recite Salawat 100 Times for the Sick

Recite the salawat upon Muhammad and his Household 100 times, dedicating its reward to the healing of the sick:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَاشْفِ [فُلَانًا/مَرِيضَنَا] بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ.

Transliteration: 'Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa aali Muhammad, wa-shfi [fulanan / maridana] bi-haqqi Muhammadin wa aali Muhammad.'

English: 'O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and heal [name / our sick one] by the right of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.'

Step 7 · Instruction

Patience, Trust, and Recourse to Lawful Treatment

Imam al-Sadiq (a) was asked whether the sick should seek treatment, and he answered: 'Yes — Allah did not send down a disease without sending down its cure.'

The spiritual amaal does not replace medical treatment but accompanies it. Continue with lawful treatment from competent physicians, while sustaining the recitations, salawat, and charity above. Maintain patience (sabr), gratitude (shukr) for what remains intact, and trust (tawakkul) that all healing is in Allah's hand alone.

Imam al-Sadiq (a) said: 'No servant is afflicted by a sickness except that Allah, in it, has cancelled a sin and raised a degree.'