What is the Sunna Method of Seeking a Cure to an Illness?

Answered by Shaykh Ilyas Patel

Question: I’m aware as a Muslim we should seek medical care first then leave the cure in Allah swt hands. I gathered that from the Musa alayhis salaam tooth ache hadith.

My question is what is the sunnah way of taking medications? For example first do i make intention? Give sadaqah? Any other Islamic practices to along side? I want to take medication the way Allah swt wants us to take it and the way Prophet Muhammed saw advised us.

Also regarding a du’a, “Allahumma rab an naas adh hib ba’sa washifi anta shifa la shifa illa shifa uk shifa la yughadiru saqaman.”

Can i change the “washfi” to ishfini so i’m supplicating cure me instead of cure us?

And can i say in my du’a “Allahumma, ishfini shifa’an kamilan ajilan”

Answer: Wassalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

I hope you are in good health.

1) The Prophet ( Allah bless him and give him peace) recommended specific manners and duas for specific illnesses, but in general it would be a good practice to give a little sadaqah before taking medicine, recite bismillah, prayer on the prophet and then the specific dua for illness. Although there are numerous, one can recite all, alternate, or recite some and leave some.

I recommend you read Medicine of the Prophet by Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyya.

2) It would be better to keep the blessed words of the dua as they are as Allah knows it is recited for you. The blessed words of the Prophet ( Allah bless him and give him peace) will have a profound effect in sha’ Allah.

3) Yes you can say, “Allahumma, ishfini shifa’an kamilan ajilan”

And Allah alone gives success

Wassalam,

Ilyas Patel