Re-reading Ruqyah: Comprehensive Analysis of Ruqyah within Hadith, Medicine, and Psychological Perspective

Abstract

Prophetic Medicine is the total authentic Hadith and the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad about medicine. It includes diet manners, natural remedies, and management of illness. In addition to this tradition, the Prophet also taught spiritual treatment containing Qur'anic verses and some prayers which must be read when the sick person comes. There are contradictions between hadith which contains ruqyah theme. One is prohibited, and another was permitted. This article determined ruqyah based on hadith understanding in three perspectives: takhrij, narration analysis, and fiqh al-hadith. This article also describes how far it is applied in modern medical practice. From takhrij with the thematical approach, the popularity of ruqyah practice in the Prophet’s life was accepted. It was be prohibited by Prophet in recent age because it may contain shirk, but in a later era, ruqyah was permitted. From narrations analysis, concluded the main aspect of ruqyah is to revive spirituality through asking protection from God, and ruqyah may be applied in various methods. From fiqh al-hadith analyze that ruqyah is allowed by using the Arabic language, or other words in other languages that are understood by the client and may not contains shirk. In modern medical practice, ruqyah may apply as a supporting matter for diagnostic and therapy process comfortably, in the medical science and psychological perspective. It concludes that ruqyah practice is recommended based on hadith, but its manner, words, or pray, may be practiced in various ways and can be applied as part of modern medical practice and psychotherapy.