(145) Chapter: Supplication for the Sick

`Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When a person complained to the Prophet (ﷺ) about an ailment or suffered from a sore or a wound, the Prophet (ﷺ) would touch the ground with his forefinger and then raise it (Sufyan bin `Uyainah, the narrator, demonstrated this with his forefinger) and would recite: `Bismil-lahi, turbatu ardina, biriqati ba`dina, yushfa bihi saqimuni, bi 'idhni Rabbina' (With the Name of Allah, the dust of our ground mixed with the saliva of some of us would cure our patient with the permission of our Rubb.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary: The Prophet (PBUH) would put his forefinger on earth and then mix his spittle with the dust sticking to it. Afterwards, he would put it on the patient's pain-spot or wound and utter the said supplication. This simple act would cure the patient. Some believe that it was peculiar only to the Prophet (PBUH) and was indeed his miracle because the particular dust was of Al-Madinah's soil with the Prophet's spittle being of a unique quality. But Ibn Hajar differs from this view. Spittle and dust, according to him, are simply external means and the curative effect in them comes from Allah Alone. Secondly, we may turn to the pious people to seek their blessings and prayers for the removal of our ailments and troubles, provided the spiritual treatment is bereft of amulets and other polytheistic ways.