Ruqyah, Amulets, and Tawilah Are Shirk
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Q: What is the meaning of the hadith: "Indeed, ruqyah, amulets, and tawilah are shirk (associating partners with Allah)"?
A: The hadith is sound in its chain of narration; it was narrated by Ahmad and Abu Dawud from the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud. Its meaning, according to the scholars, is that ruqyah consisting of words whose meaning is unknown, or the names of the jinn, or the like, is prohibited. Tawilah is a type of sorcery called al-sarf wa al-'atf (diverting and attracting). Amulets are things hung on children to protect them from the evil eye or the jinn; they may also be hung on the sick and the elderly, or on camels and the like. The answer regarding them has already been given in the answer to the third question. What is hung on animals is called awtar (amulets), and it is minor shirk, with the same ruling as amulets. It is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): This is evidence for the prohibition of all amulets, whether they are from the Qur'an or from something else.
Likewise, ruqyah is forbidden if it is of unknown nature.Sunan Abi Dawud 3886Sahih (Al-Albani) narrated by Muslim.
Similarly, ruqyah in water is permissible. This is done by reciting over the water and having the sick person drink it, or by pouring it over him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did this, as it is established in Sunan Abu Dawud in the Book of Medicine that he (peace and blessings be upon him) recited over water for Thabit ibn Qays ibn Shammās and then poured it over him. The Salaf (the earliest generations) used to do this, so there is no harm in it.
A: The hadith is sound in its chain of narration; it was narrated by Ahmad and Abu Dawud from the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud. Its meaning, according to the scholars, is that ruqyah consisting of words whose meaning is unknown, or the names of the jinn, or the like, is prohibited. Tawilah is a type of sorcery called al-sarf wa al-'atf (diverting and attracting). Amulets are things hung on children to protect them from the evil eye or the jinn; they may also be hung on the sick and the elderly, or on camels and the like. The answer regarding them has already been given in the answer to the third question. What is hung on animals is called awtar (amulets), and it is minor shirk, with the same ruling as amulets. It is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):
That he sent a messenger to the army during one of his military expeditions, telling them: "Let no amulet of a bowstring remain on the neck of a camel without being cut off."
أنه أرسل في بعض مغازيه إلى الجيش رسولا يقول لهم: لا يبقين في رقبة بعير قلادة من وتر إلا قطعتLikewise, ruqyah is forbidden if it is of unknown nature.
There is no harm in invocations so long as there is no polytheism in them.
لا بأس بالرقى ما لم تكن شركًاSimilarly, ruqyah in water is permissible. This is done by reciting over the water and having the sick person drink it, or by pouring it over him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did this, as it is established in Sunan Abu Dawud in the Book of Medicine that he (peace and blessings be upon him) recited over water for Thabit ibn Qays ibn Shammās and then poured it over him. The Salaf (the earliest generations) used to do this, so there is no harm in it.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.