Taking a fee for reciting over the sick

Q: We hear about some of those who treat with the Qur'an; they recite Qur'an and lawful supplications over water or good oil to treat sorcery, the evil eye, and demonic possession, and they take a fee for this. Is this permissible in the Shari'ah? And does reciting over oil or water carry the same ruling as the healer reciting over the patient himself?

A: There is no harm in taking a fee for the ruqyah (healing by Qur'anic recitation) of a patient, for it is established in the two Sahihs that a group of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) visited a tribe of Arabs who did not host them, and their master was bitten, and they did everything; nothing benefited him. So they came to the delegation of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and said to them: "Is there among you one who performs ruqyah, for our master has been bitten?" They said: "Yes, but you did not host us, so we will not perform ruqyah for him except for a fee." They agreed with them on a flock of sheep, so one of the Companions performed ruqyah on him with the opening of the Book, and he was cured, and they gave them what they had agreed upon. The Companions said among themselves: "We will not do anything until we inform the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)." When they arrived in al-Madinah, they informed him (peace and blessings be upon him) of that, and he said: .
And there is no harm in reciting in water and oil to treat the patient, the one afflicted with sorcery, or the insane, but reciting over the patient by blowing on him is more preferable, better, and more complete. Abu Dawud (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated with a good chain that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited for Thabit ibn Qays ibn Shammās in water and poured it over him.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This authentic hadith covers ruqyah for the patient on himself, in water and oil, and the like. And success is from Allah.