Ruqyah can be done by anyone
Some people assume that ruqyah can only be performed by certain individuals, such as religious teachers (ustadz) or religious teachers (kyai). Therefore, when someone feels the need for ruqyah, they always seek help from them. However, ruqyah is not limited to certain individuals. Rather, it can be performed by anyone who performs ruqyah independently.
The essence of ruqyah is praying to Allah Almighty. Therefore, whenever a Muslim is struck by a calamity or falls ill, he or she should perform ruqyah on himself and then seek other treatment, such as seeking medical treatment. Therefore, ruqyah is the first step a Muslim should take when sick, before seeking other means or means of healing.
In fact, asking for a ruqyah by someone else (ustadz, kyai, or others) can reduce a person’s monotheism and attitude of trust. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam explained that among his people, there were people who entered heaven without reckoning and without punishment in hell. Who are they? Ibn ‘Abbas radhiyallahu ‘anhuma said,
God willing God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing وَالنَّبِىَّ وَمَعَهُ الرَّجُلُ وَالرَّجُلاَنِ وَالنَّبِىَّ لَيْسَ مَعَهُ God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing أُمَّتِى فَقِيلَ لِى هَذَا مُوسَى وَقَوْمُهُ فَنَظَرْتُ فَإِذَا God willing God willing ». God bless you God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing. وَلاَ عَذَابٍ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ فَلَعَلَّهُمُ or may Allah bless him and give him peace and blessings الَّذِينَ وُلِدُوا فِى الإِسْلاَمِ وَلَمْ يُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ. أَشْيَاءَ فَخَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ « مَا الَّذِى تَخُوضُونَ فِيهِ ». فَأَخْبَرُوهُ فَقَالَ « هُمُ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَرْقُونَ وَم يَسْتَرْقُونَ وَلاَ يَتَطَيَّرُونَ وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ »
“The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, ‘A people appeared to me. I saw a Prophet with several people with him and a Prophet with one or two people, and a Prophet with no one with him. Suddenly a large number appeared to me. I thought that they were my people. But it was said to me, ‘This is Moses and his people’. Then, suddenly I saw again a large number. So it was said to me, ‘This is your people, and with them there are 70,000 people who will enter heaven without reckoning and without punishment ‘”
Then he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam got up and rushed into his house. So people started talking about who they were. Among them there were those who said, “Perhaps they are people who were friends of the Messenger of Allah.” There was another who said, “Perhaps they are people who were born into an Islamic environment, so they have never committed the slightest act of shirk towards Allah.”
They also mentioned several other (possible) things. When Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam came out, they told him this. So he said, “Those are the people who do not ask for ruqyah, do not ask that their wounds be plastered with a heated iron (read: treatment with “kay”), and do not do tathayyur, and they also put their trust in their Rabb. ” (HR. Bukhari no. 5705, 5752 and Muslim no. 220)
Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah rahimahullahu Ta’ala explained,
The message God willing
“This is because they enter Paradise without any reckoning due to the perfection of their monotheism. Therefore, they never perform istirqa’, that is, asking for ruqyah from others.” [1]
Asking for a ruqyah to be done by someone else can reduce the perfection of a person’s monotheism, because in the person who asks for a ruqyah, there is a tendency and reliance on someone other than Allah Ta’ala. When asking for a ruqyah, his heart tends to lean more towards the person he is asking for help from (kyai or ustadz) or towards the ruqyah itself, and not relying on Allah Ta’ala. Among the indications is that a person’s heart feels “steadier” when ruqyah is performed by a kyai and so and so. Especially if it is accompanied by excessive beliefs in the ruqyah figure, for example the ruqyah performed by kyai and fulan is “definitely” efficacious or “definitely” successful.
Shaikh Salih bin ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Alu Shaykh hafidzahullahu Ta’ala said when explaining the meaning of the hadith above,
Words السبب . وهذا النفي الوارد في قوله : « لا يسترقون » ؛ Facebook بالطب ونحوه
“Because someone who asks for ruqyah will become dependent on the ruqyah practitioner. To the point that he elevates his status beyond that of a mere means (meaning, he thinks that the ruqyah practitioner is the cause of the healing itself, ed.). This is the meaning of the denial in the hadith “not asking for ruqyah.” Regarding ruqyah, humans can become more dependent on ruqyah than medical treatment or similar.” [2]
However, if there is a need (al-haajah) to seek ruqyah, this is fine. The emphasis is that the person should always be mindful of the condition of his heart, avoid relying on ruqyah or the practitioner, and neglect his reliance and trust in Allah Ta’ala. The effectiveness of ruqyah lies within the power of Allah Ta’ala, not the ruqyah itself or the practitioner.
Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baaz Rahihullahu Ta’ala explained,
The message Allah’s blessings God willing God willing عنها أن God willing الاسترقاء
“This hadith shows that not begging is better, as is abandoning wealth. However, when both are needed, there is no harm in asking for ruqyah and performing wealth. Because the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam ordered ‘Aisha to ask for ruqyah when she fell ill. And the Prophet also ordered the mother of Ja’far bin Abi Thalib’s children, Asma’ bint ‘Umais radhiyallahu ‘anha, to ask for ruqyah for them. All of this shows that there is no harm in asking for ruqyah when it is truly needed.” [3]