Can Prayer Heal? Do Prayers Protect from Illnesses?
Dua (Supplication) is a source of hope and peace. It’s a treasure trove of healing for the material and spiritual troubles and pains of humanity. Dua is an important act of worship that increases a person’s value in the sight of Allah and opens the doors to His mercy. The verse “Call upon your Lord with humility and without being seen [by others], indeed He hates those who trespass.” (Al-A‘raf, 7:55) commands us to supplicate directly to Him. The Prophet (peace be upon him – PBUH) also encouraged supplication: “O People of Allah! I advise you to supplicate.” (Hakim, Daavat, I, 493).
Dua is a dialogue between Allah and the servant. The servant sincerely presents their condition to their Creator, expressing their helplessness and weakness. In return, they ask for help, forgiveness, mercy, strength, and support. Through this, they demonstrate their devotion, submission, and sincerity. Allah does not approve of those who abandon supplication; He dislikes those who neglect it. (Ibn Maja, Tibb, 1).
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Ask of Allah’s bounty, for Allah loves that you ask of Him. The most superior of acts is to supplicate with hope for the removal of distress.” (Tirmidhi, Daawat, 116), indicating that Allah is pleased when His servant asks something of Him.
Manevi Güç (Spiritual Power) as a Source of Healing and Peace
Dua is a source of spiritual strength, power, resilience, and determination for the believer. By supplicating, the believer realizes that they are not alone, that there is a magnificent Lord who hears and watches over them. Dua is the most beautiful expression of the servant’s devotion to their Lord, a means of deliverance from distress, calamity, and negativity. It is also the servant’s approach to the doors of mercy, a light for the soul, and a source of eternal peace. Humans attain peace and contentment by remembering Allah and supplicating to Him: “Indeed, hearts find rest in remembering Allah.” (Ra’d, 13:28).
In a hadith, it is said: “Supplication is the weapon of the believer, the pillar of religion, and the light of the heavens and the earth.” (Hakim, Daawat, No:1812). This hadith indicates that supplication is a spiritual shield protecting the believer from distress, calamities, and adversities. Just as people protect themselves from enemy attacks with weapons, supplication is likened to a spiritual weapon. Through dua, one seeks protection from Allah against accidents, misfortunes, disasters, all negativity, and evil. Those who supplicate sincerely, with sincerity, and devotion are protected by Allah; thus, prayer becomes a spiritual shield for the believer, protecting them from crises.
Supplication brings psychological comfort, peace, and happiness to individuals. Supplication fosters moral purification and elevation, a sensitive conscience, and sound judgment in the person who supplicates. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “O Allah! Just as You cleanse white clothes of impurity, purify my heart of sin, and wash away my errors with snow and ice.” (Bukhari, Azan, 89), highlighting these results of supplication.
Supplication and worship also provide physiological benefits to the individual in addition to psychological ones. According to Nevzat Tarhan, “The feeling of supplication is a necessary and beneficial feeling in the flow of life. However, the most valuable supplication is the one made by a person who is not sick or needy. Supplication made by a sick and needy person is like candlelight, while supplication made by a young and strong person is like sunlight.” The prayer of such a person evokes admiration and respect because they are aware of their servitude and are already investing spiritually for future difficulties. A sick person’s belief that the Creator will help them, their trust in Him, their feeling of seeking help only from Him, and their submission to Him—that is, faith and trust—increase expectations of recovery. This expectation increases the release of mood-regulating hormones such as serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain, strengthening the defense system.
Treatment, Dua, and The Prophet (PBUH)
Allah has provided the remedy for every affliction, illness, and discomfort He gives: “When I am afflicted with sickness, it is He who cures me.” (Shu’ara, 26:80). It is necessary for servants to take precautions against illnesses, seek help from medicine and physicians, and receive treatment. There is a special importance of seeking refuge in Allah and supplicating when going through the process of healing from illness. Through supplication, one finds strength, power, and resilience. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Ask of Allah’s bounty, for Allah loves that you ask of Him. Every disease that Allah has created also has a cure.” (Abu Dawud, Tibb, 1).
The story of Prophet Job (peace be upon him – PBUH) and his supplication to be relieved from his illness, and the solution shown to him by Allah, informs us that one should not neglect supplication in order to achieve results. (Karagöz, Ismail & others, Duas, 63, 4th ed. Ankara, DIB Publications, 2013).
According to a narration from the Companion Abu Sa’id Al-Hudri, the Prophet (PBUH), after the Surahs of Al-Falaq and An-Nas were revealed, abandoned all other supplications and began reciting only these two surahs. (Tirmidhi, Tibb, 16).
Sweet words and good behavior are of special importance in treatment for the healing of patients. Belief and morale cannot be ignored in the treatment of psychological, spiritual, and physical ailments. The Prophet (PBUH) attached great importance to supplication and the Quran. He stated: “The best medicine is the Qur’an.” (Ibn Maja, Tibb, 41), indicated the Quran as a cure, and recited it during his own illness (Bukhari, Tibb, 32). He advised a companion suffering from abdominal pain to perform prayer. (Ibn Maja, Tibb, 10).
A person who is ill should seek treatment by consulting specialist physicians and seeking ways to heal, while also seeking refuge in Allah and supplicating for Him to grant healing. Some scholars have recommended reciting verses related to healing from the Quran (Tawha 14, Yunas 57, Nahl 69, Shu’ara 80, Fussilat 44).
The Prophet (PBUH) stated that supplication is both a means of protection from illnesses and a cure for them. (Tirmidhi, Tibb, 26). One of the prayers recited by the Messenger of Allah during a visit to a sick person is as follows: “O Lord of mankind! Remove the ailment! You are the one who cures! There is no cure except Your cure, and grant me such a cure that leaves behind no trace of disease.” (Muslim, Salam, 47).
The Messenger of Allah also said: “O my Lord! Cure me with your cure and heal me with your healing and make me independent of all but You by Your grace and protect me from trials.” (Heysemi, X, 180). It is said that if one asks for a cure from the Great Allah, the Lord of the Magnificent Throne, peace will be found (Abu Dawud, Janaza).
Just as supplication is recommended by the Prophet (PBUH) for protection from illnesses, it is also a means of healing them. The Prophet (PBUH) is primarily “the physician of hearts.” Just as he cared about the physical health of his companions and ummah, as well as their eternal happiness, he encouraged them to seek medical knowledge and referred them to physicians in the treatment of their illnesses. (Ibn Hanbal, I, 43). He warned against people who are not experts in the field from making critical decisions. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “A person who practices medicine without knowledge is liable for compensation if he harms.” (Abu Dawud, Diyaat, 23).
The Prophet (PBUH) gave various recommendations regarding health protection. In this context, Tibb-i Nabawi is a particularly important field. The companions of the Prophet (PBUH), both in his time and later, sometimes applied his methods and sometimes sought treatment from physicians. (Ibn Hanbel, I, 43). Supplications, dhikr, salutations, istiaza, prayers made by others, and other spiritual supports for a person are among the dynamics that strengthen them spiritually and positively affect their health. The turning towards Allah and supplicating to Him, as servants, always revitalize believers with a reviving nature. And supplication is a fundamental and supportive element in finding healing as a treatment.
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