Ash-Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd, may Allaah have mercy on him, said:
“From the bida’ (innovations) is to specify (an action of worship) without any proof, (like) reciting an Ayah, or a Surah at a (specific) time, place or for a need. Likewise, is (the ruling) with making an intent to specify without evidence. For instance:
- Reciting al-Fatihah with the intention of eliminating needs and relieving distresses
- Reciting Surah al-Kahf to the worshippers on (Jum’ah) Friday, loudly before the sermon
- Reciting Surah Yaseen forty times with the intent to eliminate needs
End quote.
[Summarized from Bida’ al-Qira’ah, Pg. 14-15]
The following question was asked to the Standing Committee for Academic Researches and Islamic Verdicts in Saudi Arabia, Fatwa No. 18255:
Question:
We also ask, may Allaah preserve you all, about the legislated ruqya, and whether it is permitted to specify (the reading of) some verses of the Quran a certain number of times for each circumstance or not? Such as their saying, for example, “verse number such and such is to be recited two thousand and one times” and so on.
Response:
The legislated ruqya, is that which is (performed) through the Quran and established supplications. And determining the number of times a verse or supplication is recited requires proof and we do not know of any evidence in this (matter) except that the Prophet – salallaahu ‘alahi wa salam – when he would supplicate, he would repeat it thrice at times.
‘Aisha, may Allaah be pleased with her, said:
“Whenever the Prophet – salallaahu ‘alahi wa salam – took his place of rest at night, he used to put his hands together and blow in them after reciting Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq, and Surah an-Nas, and then wipe his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to reach, starting with his head, face and frontside of his body. He used to do that three times.” ”
End quote.
Translated by:
Mahmood Al-Kanadi
Abu Attiyah
