Al-Tahreij Supplication in Ruqyah: Between Prophetic Tradition and Common Misconceptions
The so-called “Tahreij Supplication” has sparked debate among scholars and healers about its legitimacy in Islamic ruqyah. Some believe it helps expel jinn peacefully, while others warn it has no basis in the Sunnah.
In recent years, discussions around Islamic spiritual healing have reignited controversy over a practice known as “Dua al-Tahreij”, a supplication recited before performing ruqyah to allegedly warn and expel jinn before reciting Qur’anic verses.
Proponents claim it allows for a gentler healing process by urging the possessing spirit to leave the body voluntarily. The common form of the invocation is: “I beseech whoever dwells in my body, by Allah and His Messenger, to leave in obedience to God, and cause no harm.”
However, scholars have clarified that this practice has no authentic foundation in the Sunnah. Sheikh Saad Al-Khathlan emphasized that the concept of Tahreij only appears in prophetic teachings regarding snakes found inside homes, where the Prophet ﷺ instructed believers to give three warnings before killing them.
Likewise, Imam Ibn Baz stated that this supplication has nothing to do with ruqyah, recommending instead that Muslims recite the authentic protection supplication: “I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created.”
Sheikh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid added that it is permissible to admonish a possessing jinn and command it to leave if it causes harm, as long as the method remains free from shirk and consistent with Islamic principles.
Ultimately, all scholars agree that legitimate ruqyah must rely solely on Qur’anic verses and authentic prophetic supplications. Any innovations not rooted in Islamic evidence risk turning genuine spiritual healing into superstition and myth.
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