Feeling worried is natural when you find out a family member is sick. Our hearts are also often restless when letting go of children or relatives to wander far from home. Physical distance and the uncertainty of the health of loved ones often make our thoughts wander.
As Muslims, we are taught not to be overwhelmed by anxiety. There is a “path from the heavens” that we can take to seek protection and healing for those afflicted. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has bequeathed great recitations that serve as a spiritual fortress and a remedy (syifa).
In the book Al-Adzkar, Imam An-Nawawi summarizes several authentic narrations regarding recitations to be made when facing difficulties, including when family members are sick or are far away from us. The two main weapons we will discuss are Ayat al-Kursi and a specific dhikr practiced by the Prophet’s companions for their children.
Let us learn these practices so that our hearts are more at peace and our families are always under the protection of Allah.
1. The Virtue of Ayat al-Kursi as a Fortress of Protection
Who doesn’t know Ayat al-Kursi? This is the most glorious verse in the Quran. Many of us seek a complete Ayat al-Kursi practice to read every day, either as a practice of reading Ayat al-Kursi after prayer or before sleep.
Why is Ayat al-Kursi So Special?
The virtues of reciting Ayat al-Kursi are immense, as this verse contains the most magnificent names of Allah, namely Al-Ḥayyu (The Ever-Living), Al-Qayyūm (The Self-Sustaining), Al-‘Aliy (The Most High), and Al-‘Aẓīm (The Great), as are the names of Allah mentioned in the hauqolah phrase, and it explains the attributes of Allah’s majesty, power, and absolute governance over the entire universe.
Many people with makrifat billah (knowledge of God) say that the power of Ayat al-Kursi lies in these two great names of Allah. Learn more about the greatness of these names in the article The Virtues of Remembering Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum.
A narration in Ibn Sunni’s book from Qatadah radhiyallahu ‘anhu (Hadith no. 351 in the reference Al-Adzkar) mentions a powerful combination to overcome difficulties:
٣٥١ – وروينا في كتاب ابن السني, عن قتادة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ” من قرأ آية الكرسي وخواتيم سورة البقرة عند الكرب, أغاثه الله عز وجل
“Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi and the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah when experiencing hardship (difficulty), then Allah Almighty will help them.”
This indicates that the benefits of reading Ayat al-Kursi are not merely reward, but also as a wasilah (means/intermediary) for the coming of Allah’s help when we or our family are in dire straits with problems, including illness.
Complete Reading of Ayat al-Kursi (Arabic, Latin, and Meaning)
For those of you who need the Ayat al-Kursi in Latin and Arabic for practice, here is the text:
Ayat al-Kursi in Arabic:
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
Ayat al-Kursi (Latin transliteration):
Allaahu laa ilaaha illaa huwal hayyul qayyuum, laa ta’khudzuhu sinatuw walaa naum. Lahuu maa fissamaawaati wa maa fil ardhi. Man dzalladzii yasyfa’u ‘indahuu illaa bi idznih. Ya’lamu maa baina aidiihim wamaa khalfahum. Walaa yuhiithuuna bi syai-im min ‘ilmihii illaa bimaa syaa-a. Wasi’a kursiyyuhus samaawaati wal ardhi walaa ya-uuduhuu hifzhuhumaa wahuwal ‘aliyyul ‘azhiim.
Ayat al-Kursi and Translation:
“Allah, there is no deity [worthy of worship] 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 the earth. Who is there that can intercede with Him except by His permission? Allah knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they do not encompass anything of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursi (throne) extends over the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of both does not tire Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.”
2. Self-Ruqyah Practices for Sick Family Members
When a family member is sick, in addition to medical treatment, we are highly encouraged to perform ruqyah for the sick according to the Sunnah. There is no need to panic looking for a cleric if the condition is urgent, you can perform self-ruqyah for the sick at home.
There is a beautiful dhikr (remembrance of God) taught by the Prophet ﷺ to his companion Ali bin Abi Talib may Allah be pleased with him. Uniquely, this dhikr was then specifically practiced by his son, Abdullah bin Ja’far, to perform ruqyah (Islamic healing) on the sick.
Remembrance to Relieve Sorrow from the Messenger of Allah
In the narration of Imam An-Nawawi (Hadith no. 348), this supplication is mentioned:
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ الْكَرِيْمُ الْعَظِيْمُ, سُبْحَانَهُ, تَبَارَكَ اللهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمُ, الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ
Latin: Laa ilaaha illallaahul kariimul ‘adhiim, subhaanahu, tabaarakallaahu rabbul ‘arsyil ‘adhiim, alhamdulillaahi rabbil ‘aalamiin.
Meaning: “There is no god but Allah, the Most Noble and Most Grand. Glory to Him, glory to Allah, Lord of the Mighty Throne. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
How to Perform Ruqyah on the Sick with This Dhikr
How to perform ruqyah for the sick using the reading above?
Imam An-Nawawi explains in the notes of the narration that Abdullah bin Ja’far used to recite (teach) this supplication and blow (yanfutsu) it upon the person who was maw’uk (suffering from fever).
So, the practical steps for reading ruqyah for the sick person are:
- Sitting near a sick family member (e.g., with a fever).
- Read the dhikr above with devotion.
- Blow gently (with a little saliva/ breath) onto the afflicted area or over the entire body.
- Be certain that healing comes from Allah through the means of His glorious names in that remembrance (dhikr).
This is a simple ruqyah method for healing the sick, but it is based on the practice of the salaf generation.
3. Prayers for Family Members Who Are Away From Home
Releasing a daughter or family to move to a distant place (mughtaribah) often causes worry. Are they safe there? What if they face problems alone?
Interestingly, the same dhikr (in point 2 above) was also used by Abdullah bin Ja’far as spiritual provision for his daughters who were about to marry and move far away from their family.
He taught her these great words of Tawhid so that his daughter would have something to hold onto when facing difficulties in a foreign land. By regularly reciting this dhikr:
- Laa ilaaha illallaahul kariimul ‘adhiim (Acknowledging the greatness of Allah).
- Robbul ‘arsyil ‘azhim (Lord of the glorious Throne).
The heart of a traveler will be at peace knowing that wherever they are, they are under the supervision of the Almighty God, whose power is far greater than any problem they face while abroad.
In addition to this protective dhikr, also equip the child who is traveling with the Sapu Jagat Prayer so that they always pray for the goodness of this world and the hereafter wherever they are.
Anxiety when family members are sick or traveling abroad is one form of karb (hardship). Islam has many solutions for various types of life’s difficulties. To see a complete guide to other prayers, please read our parent article: A Collection of Prayers to Remove Sadness and Life’s Difficulties.
Summary Table of Protective Family Practices
Here is a summary of when and how to use the practices above based on references from the book Al-Adhkar:
| Practice / Recitation | Time / Conditions of Use | How to Practice | Reference |
| Verse of the Throne (Ayat Kursi) + Last verses of Al-Baqarah | When facing great difficulties or family crises. | Read as a daily dhikr or in urgent situations. | Hadith of Qatadah (No. 351) |
| Dhikr Laa ilaaha illallaahul kariimul ‘adhiim… | 1. To perform ruqyah for sick family members (especially with fever). 2. As provisions for children/family who will be traveling far. | 1. Read and then blow on the sick person. 2. Taught to be read regularly by those traveling. | Hadith of Abdullah bin Ja’far (No. 348) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is reading only the Indonesian translation of Ayat al-Kursi sufficient?
Reading the translation is good for understanding its meaning. However, for the purpose of worship and ruqyah, it is recommended to read the original Ayat al-Kursi in Arabic because it is kalamullah (the word of Allah) which has its own spiritual power. If you are not yet fluent, you may use Latin script assistance while continuing to learn.
Is it permissible to Performing Ruqyah on Family if the illness is severe?
Ruqyah for critically ill patients is still recommended as a companion to medical treatment. The Prophet ﷺ and his companions also combined medical effort (treatment) and heavenly effort (prayer/ruqyah). Recite dhikr and Ayat al-Kursi nearby with full conviction. To understand more deeply how a critically ill person should act, read our article: Recommendations and etiquette for the sick.
Where is the position of Ayat al-Kursi in the Quran?
Many ask what verse is Ayat al-Kursi in Surah al-Baqarah or in which juz’ is Ayat al-Kursi. The answer is Surah Al-Baqarah verse 255, which is located at the beginning of Juz 3.
Is it permissible to recite Ayat al-Kursi while lying down?
Permissible, in fact, there is an encouragement to always remember Allah whether standing, sitting, or lying down. However, if you are in a state of major ritual impurity, do not recite Ayat al-Kursi or other verses of the Quran.
In what chapter and verse is Ayat al-Kursi found?
The Verse of the Throne is located in Surah Al-Baqarah verse 255 and is included in juz 3 of the Qur’an.
Closing
Family is the most precious treasure. When human efforts feel limited in protecting them, that is where the role of faith takes over. The benefits of reading Ayat al-Kursi and specific dhikr (remembrance of God) taught by the Prophet ﷺ and his companions are a form of Allah’s compassion so that we do not despair.
Practice these recitations with a sincere intention. May Allah always bestow health upon our sick family members and grant protection to those who are away from home. Amen.
Reference
Al-Nawawī, Yaḥyā ibn Sharaf. Al-Adhkār. Edited by ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Arnaʾūṭ. New revised edition. Beirut: Dār al-Fikr, 1994.
