Dua for Shifa: The Islamic Supplication for Healing

Illness is a universal experience, and Islam acknowledges this directly. When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ or his companions fell ill, they did not rely on remedies alone — they turned to Allah through specific, authentic supplications. The dua for shifa (شفاء — healing) is one of the most widely recited of these. It is traced to authentic hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, and the Prophet ﷺ himself recited it when visiting companions who were sick.

Today, millions of Muslims recite this dua for themselves, their families, and those they love — during illness, before surgery, or in moments of chronic pain. Understanding it properly — the Arabic text, meaning, when to recite it, and how to make it a genuine practice — helps you use it with confidence and sincerity.

What Is the Dua for Shifa?

The primary Islamic dua for shifa (healing) is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 5742 and Sahih Muslim 2191: "Allahumma Rabban-Naas adhhibil ba's washfi — Anta ash-Shaafi, laa shifaa'a illaa shifaa'uka, shifaa'an laa yughaadiru saqamaa" — O Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the difficulty and grant cure; You are the Healer, and there is no cure except Yours — a cure that leaves behind no illness. The Prophet ﷺ recited this supplication when visiting the sick.

The Full Dua for Shifa — Arabic, Transliteration, and Translation

The most well-known dua for shifa comes from Aisha (RA), who narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to visit those who were ill and recite over them:

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ النَّاسِ أَذْهِبِ الْبَأْسَ اشْفِهِ وَأَنْتَ الشَّافِي لاَ شِفَاءَ إِلاَّ شِفَاؤُكَ شِفَاءً لاَ يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًا

Allāhumma Rabban-Nāsi adhhibil ba'sa washfi, Anta ash-Shāfi, lā shifā'a illā shifā'uka, shifā'an lā yughādiru saqamā

"O Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the difficulty and grant cure. You are the Healer. There is no cure except Your cure — a cure that leaves behind no illness." — (Sahih al-Bukhari 5742, Sahih Muslim 2191)

When to recite it: When visiting a sick person, when you yourself are ill, or when making dua for someone in their absence. Many Muslims also recite it before medical procedures or when feeling unwell.

How to recite it: The Sunnah practice is to place the right hand gently on the sick person and recite the dua. If visiting is not possible, reciting it as part of your personal dua — asking Allah to grant shifa to a specific person — is equally valid and rewarded.

The word shifa (شفاء) itself is one of the most meaningful in Islamic vocabulary. It is not just physical cure — it encompasses emotional recovery, clarity of mind, and restoration of well-being. And the divine name invoked here, ash-Shaafi (الشَّافِي, the All-Healer), is one of the 99 names of Allah — a reminder that healing is not incidental but an attribute of Allah Himself.

The Hadith Behind This Dua

Aisha (RA) narrated: "When the Prophet ﷺ visited a sick person, he would say: 'Allahumma Rabban-Naas adhhibil ba's washfi, Anta ash-Shaafi, laa shifaa'a illaa shifaa'uka, shifaa'an laa yughaadiru saqamaa.'" — (Sahih al-Bukhari 5742)

In a related narration, the Prophet ﷺ would place his right hand on the sick person's body and make this dua while gently wiping the hand over the painful area. This ruqyah (spiritual healing recitation) is part of the Prophetic medicine that scholars have preserved and practitioners continue today.

There is also a second dua used for personal pain or discomfort, from a different hadith: Uthman ibn Abi al-'As (RA) complained of pain to the Prophet ﷺ, who instructed him to place his hand on the painful area and say:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قُلْ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ: أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ

Bismillāh (× 3), then seven times: A'ūdhu billāhi wa qudratihī min sharri mā ajidu wa uhādhiru

"In the name of Allah (three times), then: I seek refuge in Allah and His power from the evil of what I feel and what I fear." — (Sahih Muslim 2202)

These two duas together cover the full range of situations where shifa is needed — both interceding for others and addressing personal pain.

Making the Dua for Shifa Part of Your Daily Life

Knowing the dua is the first step. Actually reciting it consistently — especially in moments when someone you care about is unwell — takes practice and intention. A few ways to build this habit:

When visiting the sick. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Visit the sick, for visiting the sick is one of the rights of a Muslim over another" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1240). When you visit, recite the dua for shifa over the person. You do not need to announce it — simply place your right hand lightly near them and recite quietly. This is Sunnah.

As part of your morning or evening adhkar. Many Muslims include a general dua for shifa in their daily adhkar, asking Allah to grant healing to family members, friends in hospital, or anyone in the ummah who is suffering. Our guides on the dua for sick person and dua for health and healing expand on specific variations.

Before medical appointments. Making dua before a doctor visit, a test, or a procedure is a recognized Sunnah practice. It is not a replacement for medical care but a complement to it — trusting in Allah while taking the practical means available.

When you feel unwell yourself. Reciting the Bismillah dua (Sahih Muslim 2202) over your own pain — three times Bismillah, then seven times seeking refuge — is a simple, immediate practice the Prophet ﷺ taught explicitly.

For a broader reflection on finding hope during illness and hardship, DemiManifest's piece on hope through hardship is a thoughtful read. And DeenBack's dua for ease provides additional supplications for relief during difficult periods.

The Quran itself is described as a source of shifa in multiple verses. In Surah Al-Isra, Allah says: "And We send down of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy for the believers" — (17:82). The full verse in Arabic and tafsir is available at quran.com/17/82. Related hadith on ruqyah and healing supplications are searchable at sunnah.com.

Also see our dedicated articles on the dua for health and on the dua for pain for specific supplications by context. And for the etiquette of visiting someone unwell, our guide on Islamic etiquette of visiting the sick covers everything you need to know.

Related Duas for Healing — At a Glance

The dua of Prophet Ayyub (AS) — "Rabbi anni massaniya ad-durru wa Anta Arhamur-Rahimeen" (My Lord, adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful — Quran 21:83) — is particularly recited for chronic illness or prolonged suffering, as it mirrors the patience and tawakkul (trust in Allah) that Ayyub (AS) showed through his trials.

Signs That Your Relationship With Dua Is Growing

The dua for shifa is not just words recited in a moment of panic. A deepening dua practice looks like this:

• You think of those who are sick and make dua for them before anything else.
• Reciting the dua feels like a conversation with Allah, not a formula.
• You feel genuine hope and calm after making dua, even when the illness continues.
• You share the dua with others naturally — not as a correction, but as a gift.

These are signs of a heart that is turning toward Allah with yaqeen (certainty). The Prophet ﷺ said: "Make dua to Allah while being certain of a response" (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3479, classified sahih). The more you recite the dua for shifa — for yourself and for others — the more natural this certainty becomes.