About
Purpose of Ruqyah or Pagar houses
The purpose of ruqyah done to the house is so that we do not make our houses like graveyards. It is also a form of da’wah and to teach others on how to protect one’s self from the disturbance and whispers of shaitan.
Terminology Associating with Ruqyah Rumah
There are several terms associated with this service such as ‘pagar’ rumah or ‘ruqyah rumah’ which are acceptable and correct. There is a WRONG terminology which is associated with this. The term is ‘semah rumah’. ‘Semah’ means to feed the jinn while ‘pagar rumah’ or ‘ruqyah rumah’ means to ward off the devil's whispers and disturbance.
Another term which is also confused by the muslim community is ‘Sertu rumah’. ‘Sertu’ is a ritual which is done to cleanse the house or vicinity from dog-related/pig-related impurities. This act involves washing the affected area 7 times with clean water and amongst the 7 times, 1 of the washes needs to be mixed with soil
Definition of Ruqyah
The translation of ‘Ruqyah’ varies. It brings out the meaning such as ‘inchantation’, ‘charm’, ‘healing’. Whatever the definition is, our faith is with Allah The All-Seeing, The All-knowing, The Most Merciful, The one who cures and the one who protects.
‘Ruqyah’ can only be done and is only accepted by Allah if it follows the Quran and sunnah without any association with other than Allah. When performing ‘Ruqyah’ We need to note that we do not have healing abilities, powers, ect. We keep our faith in Allah and the act of ‘Ruqyah’ is merely a means of effort to ask Allah for help, protection and cure.
Our Standard Operating Procedure
The way we do ruqyah is strictly based on Quran and Hadith references and also ‘تجربة’ (experience/experiments) from the scholars of the past. Any form of ruqyah that is not done in accordance with the Quran, Sunnah and also from past scholars MAY be deviated. If the form of ruqyah contains shirk then it is prohibited in islam and a form of deviation.
It is important to note that it is not supposed to only be done once but rather it is supposed to be a constant effort. Best done daily but if not able, as frequently as possible. Our procedures can be used on a daily basis or whenever possible. The sequence of the procedure is not fixed nor stated in the Quran. It is a personal preference based on experience and also guidance from others who are more experienced in this field.
If respective individuals do not wish to follow the sequence or are constrained by time, energy or means, we advise each individual to practice whichever amongst the sunnah within our standard operating procedures below to their best of capabilities.
Step 1 - Self Protection by Doa To Allah
We will recite entirely surah:
Al-Fatihah (Surah Number 1)
Al-Ikhlas (Surah Number 112)
Al-Falaq (Surah Number 113)
An-Nas (Surah Number 114)
This is for self ruqyah and doa asking Allah to protect us from the whispers and inflictions of shaitan. This is done by the prophet itself which is recorded in Sahih Al-Bukhari which is stated below. The hadith below does not include reciting surah Al-Fatihah but we have included in in our procedure as it is a good practice to recite the Fatihah before making a doa
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُفَضَّلُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ جَمَعَ كَفَّيْهِ ثُمَّ نَفَثَ فِيهِمَا فَقَرَأَ فِيهِمَا {قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ} وَ{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ} وَ{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ} ثُمَّ يَمْسَحُ بِهِمَا مَا اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ يَبْدَأُ بِهِمَا عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَوَجْهِهِ وَمَا أَقْبَلَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ.
Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to do that three times
Sahih al-Bukhari 5017
Book 66, Hadith 39
Step 2 - Disperse the Devils by Means of Azan
We will call out the Azan in a loud voice but not shouting. We will azan the house once and not 4 times around the house as there is no narration to support this idea of Azan the 4 corners of the house.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ إِذَا سَمِعَ النِّدَاءَ بِالصَّلاَةِ ذَهَبَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ مَكَانَ الرَّوْحَاءِ " . قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّوْحَاءِ . فَقَالَ هِيَ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ سِتَّةٌ وَثَلاَثُونَ مِيلاً .
When Satan hears the call to prayer, he runs away to a distance like that of Rauha. Sulaimin said: I asked him about Rauha. He replied: It is at a distance of thirty-six miles from Medina.
Sahih Muslim 388a
Book 4, Hadith 17
Step 3 - Disperse the Devils by Means of Quranic Recitation
We will recite the entire surah Al-Baqarah from verse 1 to 286. This is to ward off any disturbance or whispers of the shaitan. This practice is well known and is supported by several hadith which I will include below. The narration below does not state to recite the entire of surah Al-Baqarah but for our procedure we will recite the entire of surah Al-Baqarah.
The reason why we recite surah Al-Baqarah and not other surahs is NOT because surah Al-Baqarah is better than other surahs in the Quran. It is also NOT because surah Al-Baqarah possesses healing powers but rather we believe in Allah and the prophet and whatever Allah and the prophet teaches us. As narrated in sahih Muslim below :
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْقَارِيُّ - عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ مَقَابِرَ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنْفِرُ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي تُقْرَأُ فِيهِ سُورَةُ الْبَقَرَةِ " .
Do not make your houses as graveyards. Satan runs away from the house in which Surah Baqara is recited.
Sahih Muslim 780
Book 6, Hadith 252
Us reciting surah Al-Baqarah is a means of effort with reference to hadith and Quran. Allah is the one that cures and to Allah we alone we rely upon. We do not claim to have healing abilities nor capable of healing, however we are merely spreading knowledge on how to perform ruqyah based on what the syariah allows us and our practices are sheerly out of faith based on the contextual evidences of the Quran, Hadith, Tafsir and also ‘ تجربة ’ (experience/experiments) from the scholars of the past whom are rightly guided.
Only In Allah We Truly Rely On and To Him We Trust Fully
- Allah Knows Best -
May Allah protect us from any form of shirik and the devils, cursed by Allah. May Allah bless us and our loved ones and grant us baraqah in all our affairs. May Allah forgive our sins and accept from us our repentance and grant us Jannah without hisab