Prophet’s Guidance on treating pain in general with Islamic Prayer formulas
Prophet’s Guidance on treating Scorpion stings
روى ابن أبى شَيْبَةَ فى "مسنده"، من حديث عبد الله بن مسعود، قال: بينا رسولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصلِّى، إذ سجد فَلَدَغَتْه عقربٌ فى أُصبعه، فانصرفَ رسولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وقال: "لَعَنَ اللهُ العَقْرَبَ ما تَدَعُ نبيّاً ولا غَيْرَه"، قال: ثُمَّ دعا بإناءٍ فيه ماء ومِلح، فَجَعَلَ يَضَعُ موضِعَ اللَّدغة فى الماء والمِلحِ، ويقرأُ: {قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ، والمُعَوِّذَتَيْن} حتى سكنتْ
Narrated by Tirmizi, that Abdullah Bin Masood Radi Allaho Anh reported that once, Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam was praying and when he was in Sajdah, a scorpion suddenly stung him on the finger, when the beloved Prophet finished his prayer, he said "May Allah Put His Curse on the scorpion, as it never leaves even the Prophets or others. Then he asked for a pot filled with water; in which some salt was also added, Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam was dipping his finger (stung by the scorpion) in that salted water, & he was reciting Surah Ikhlaas & Muawwazatain & blowing on his finger till the pain was all gone".
The above Hadith covers the aspect of a compound medicine (mixture), including both the spiritual cure (by Ikhlaas & Muawwazatain) and the natural cure by salted water.
The chapter Al-Ikhlaas contains the essentials of the Faith and the Creed, various aspects of Tawheed, and attesting to and affirming Allah’s Oneness that entails denying all types and forms of shirk with Him. It entails affirming that Allah is the Sustainer, along with asserting every type of perfection for Him. Consequently, the creation seeks Allah for each and every need. This chapter denies that Allah has a parent, an offspring, or an equal, and this is why it equals one third of the Quran. Furthermore, Allah's Name "As-Samad (The Sustainer)” that the chapter contains includes each and every type of perfection. Furthermore, the chapter denies that Allah Has anyone equal to HIM, while Allah’s Name Al-Ahad (The One) denies the existence of a partner with Allah. These are the three essential corner-stones of Tawheed [Allah’s Oneness in Lordship and worship and in His Names and Attributes].
The Mu’awwazatain (chapters 113 and 114 of the Quran) include seeking refuge with Allah from every type of evil and harm. Seeking refuge from the evil that Allah Has Created includes every type of evil that such creations, whether physical or spiritual, can ever produce and cause. Seeking refuge from the night when its sign, (the moon) sets entails seeking refuge from the evil souls that thrive during the night, as opposed to the light of the day. This is because when the darkness falls and the moon sets, the evil forces come out. Seeking refuge from those who tie knots and blow on them includes seeking refuge from the evil of SAHIR ~ sorcerers and their sorcery. In addition, seeking refuge from envious people means seeking refuge from the evil forces that cause harm through the envious people's bodies and sight. The second chapter (114) of the Muawwazatain entails seeking refuge from the evil of humans and Jinn. Consequently, the two Muawwazatain entail seeking refuge from every type of evil. Therefore, they have a great benefit as a shield against evil before it occurs. This is why the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) advised Uqbah bin Amir Radi Allaho Anh to recite them after every prayer, as Tirmizi has narrated. This advice from our beloved Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) contains a great secret and benefit that helps repulse all types of evil during the time between prayers. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) described the Muawwazatain when he said:
ما تَعَوَّذ المتعوِّذون بمثلهما
"No one who seeks refuge can ever find a refuge like them".
وقد ذُكر أنه صلى الله عليه وسلم سُحِرَ فى إحدى عشرةَ عُقدة، وأنَّ جبريلَ
نزل عليه بهما، فجعَلَ كُلَّما قرأ آية منهما انحلَّتْ عُقدة، حتى انحلَّتْ العُقَد كُلُّها، وكأنما أُنْشِطَ من عِقَال
It was reported that when Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam was the victim of SEHR ~ sorcery, the spell contained eleven knots tied each with a special incantation blown on it, and that whenever angel Jibreel recited a Verse from the Muawwazatain, a knot was untied, until all eleven knots were untied. Then, Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam was cured, as if being released from a restraining chain.
As for using regular medicines to cure scorpion sting, salt has a great value in this regard. The author of Al-Qanoon (Ibn-e-Seena said, Salt should be used in a bandage with linen seeds to cure the scorpion's sting. Salt helps dissolve the poison, which has a burning pain that needs to be cooled. The cool moisture contained in the linen seed cools the pain, while the salt helps extract and remove the poison. This is one of the best and easiest types of remedies for scorpion stings, which requires cooling the pain and extracting the venom. Allah Knows best.
وقد روى مسلم فى "صحيحه" عن أبى هُريرة قال: جاء رجلٌ إلى النبىِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال: يا رسول الله ؛ ما لقيتُ مِنْ عقربٍ لَدَغْتنى البارحةَ فقال: "أما لو قُلْتَ حِينَ أمْسَيْتَ: أعُوذُ بكلماتِ اللهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ ما خَلَقَ، لمتَضُرَّك".
Muslim narrated that Abu Hurayrah Radi Allaho Anh said, "A man came to Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam and said to him, "O Messenger of Allah, I have suffered greatly from a scorpion that stung me last night” Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallaam) said: "Had you said these words when you went to sleep, "I seek refuge with Allah’s Perfect Words from the evil of what He Has Created, it would not have harmed you". [Ahmad]
Divine cures help after one catches a disease and help prevent if from happening. If any type of harm befalls one afterwards, it will not be severe. Natural medicines, on the other hand, only help after the disease attacks. Islamic prayer formulas and the various supplications either prevent the disease from happening or make it milder after it happens, depending on the strength of soul and heart of the sick person. Therefore, the Islamic prayer formulas and supplications are used as preventive measures and addition as a cure.
As for prevention, in the Sahihain it is narrated that Aishah Radi Allaho Anha said
فى "الصحيحين" من حديث عائشة كان رسولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا أوى إلى فراشِهِ نَفَثَ فى كَفَّيْهِ: {قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ} والمُعَوِّذَتَيْن. ثم يمسحُ بهما وجهه، وما بلغت يدُه من جسده".
"Whenever the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) would go to bed, he used to breathe into his hands with Qul Huwa-Allahu Ahad (Al- Ikhlaas) and the Muawwazatain. He then would wipe his face and whatever he could reach of his body with his hands".
فى "الصحيحين": "مَن قَرَأَ الآيَتَيْن مِن آخرِ سُورةِ البقرةِ فى لَيْلَةٍ كَفَتَاهُ
In the Sahihain, it is also narrated that Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) said: "Whoever reads the last two Verses from Chapter Al-Baqarah (second chapter in the Quran) at night, they will be enough for him".
وكما فى "صحيح مسلم" عن النبىِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: "مَن نَزَلَ مَنْزِلاً فقال: أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ، لم يَضُرَّهُ شَىءٌ حَتَّى يَرْتَحِلَ مِن مَنْزِلهِ ذلِكَ".
In addition, Muslim narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam said: Whoever resided in a place and said, "I seek refuge with Allah's Perfect Words from the evil of what He Has Created", then nothing will harm him until he departs that place".
فى "سنن أبى داود" أنَّ رسولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كان فى السفر يقول باللَّيل:"يا أرضُ ؛ رَبِّى ورَبُّكِ اللهُ، أَعُوذُ باللهِ مِن شَرِّكِ وشَرِّ ما فِيكِ، وشَرِّ ما يَدُبُّ عليكِ، أعوذُ باللهِ مِن أسَدٍ وأسْوَدٍ، ومِن الحَيَّةِ والعقربِ، ومِن ساكنِ البَلَدِ، ومن والدٍ وما وَلَدَ".
Abu Dawood narrated that the Messenger of Allah Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam used to say at night when he was traveling:
"O land! My Lord and your Lord is Allah. I seek refuge with Allah from your evil, from the evil of whatever is in you and from the evil of whatever walks on your surface. I seek refuge with Allah from a lion, a despot (or jinn), a snake and a scorpion and from those who reside in this land, and from the begetter (son of Adam) and that which he begot.”
As for the second benefit of Ruqyah, providing a cure, we mentioned healing the ill person by reciting the Al-Fatihah and reciting the Ruqyah to cure scorpion stings.
روى مسلم في "صحيحه" عن عثمان بن أبي العاص، "أنه شكى إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وجعاً يجده في جسده منذ أسلم، فقال النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: "ضع يَدَكَ عَلَى الَّذي تَأَلَّمَ مِنْ جَسَدِكَ وقُل: بِسْمِ الله ثلاثاً، وقُلْ سبع مرات: أعوذُ بِعِزَّةِ الله وقُدرَتهِ منْ شَرِّ مِا أجدُ وأُحاَذِر"
Muslim [lbn Majah, Ahmad and Al-Tabarani} narrated in his Sahih that Uthman bin Abu Al-Aa's Radi Allaho Anh complained to Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam from a pain in his body that he suffered from ever since he became a Muslim. Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam said:
Place your hand on the painful area of your body & say Bismillah (In the Name of Allah), thrice. Then say seven times,
أعوذُ بِعِزَّةِ الله وقُدرَتهِ منْ شَرِّ مِا أجدُ وأُحاَذِر
"I seek refuge with Allah’s Might and Power from the evil of what I am suffering from, and because of which I have become worry."
The remedy mentioned here entails reciting Allah’s Name, relating all matters to Him and seeking refuge with His Might and Power from the pain, and will surely eradicate the pain. In addition, repeating the supplication contained in the remedy frequently will make it even more effective and successful just as the case when the medication is frequently administered until the disease is fully eradicated.
وفي "الصحيحين": أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، "كان يعوِّذُ بعض أهله، يمسح بيده اليمنى، ويقول: "اللهمَّ رَبَّ الناس، أَذهِب الباَسَ، واشفِ أنت الشّافي، لا شِفَاء إلا شفاؤُك، شفاءً لا يغادرُ سَقَماً"
In the Sahihain, it is narrated that Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam used to visit some of his family members (who were ill) and would touch them with his right hand, saying :
“O Allah, the Lord of mankind, Do away with the complaint and Bring about the cure. You Alone Bring the cure, and there is no cure except Your cure, a cure that does not leave illnesses.”
The last Islamic prayer formula includes begging Allah by His Perfect Lordship and Mercy to bring about the cure. The Islamic prayer formula affirms that Allah is the only One Who Brings the cure and that there is no cure except the cure that He brings about. The Islamic prayer formula includes begging Allah by His Oneness, Kindness and Lordship.
