Supplications for the sick and for those who visit them, from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, with sources and a transliteration guide.
AI-generated English narration.
These are supplications for the sick person, and for those who visit them. The Arabic is the reliable text; the transliteration is only a pronunciation aid. Supplication goes alongside medical care and does not replace it.
Reports also say that illness is not wasted: the Prophet ﷺ said that no fatigue, disease, sorrow or distress befalls a Muslim, even the prick of a thorn, except that Allah expiates some of his sins for it (Sahih al-Bukhari 5641).
Key points
- The Qur’an records the words of Ibrahim and Ayyub in illness and hardship.
- The Prophet ﷺ made a supplication over the sick, asking Allah, the One who cures, for a cure that leaves no illness.
- For pain, he taught placing a hand on the place, saying bismillah three times, then seeking refuge in Allah seven times.
- When visiting the sick, he said “La ba’s, tahurun in sha’ Allah”, and a seven-times supplication for the person’s cure is reported.
- He forbade wishing for death because of hardship and taught a different supplication.
Practical steps
- Place your hand on the place of pain, say bismillah three times, then say “A’udhu billahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhadhir” seven times.
- Ask Allah for a cure with “Adh-hibil-ba’s, Rabban-nas…” when you or someone you love is ill.
- When you visit someone who is ill, say “La ba’s, tahurun in sha’ Allah”.
- Beside a sick person, you can say the seven-times supplication for their cure.
- If you are tempted to wish for death because of hardship, say the supplication taught by the Prophet ﷺ instead.
Qur’an
“And when I am ill, it is He who cures me”
Surah Ash-Shu'ara (26) — 26:80
When to read: the words of Ibrahim
“And [mention] Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful."”
Surah Al-Anbiya (21) — 21:83
When to read: the words of Ayyub
Hadith
Adh-hibil-ba's, Rabban-nas, ishfi wa Anta ash-Shafi, la shifa'a illa shifa'uk, shifa'an la yughadiru saqama.
Take away the disease, O the Lord of the people! Cure him as You are the One Who cures. There is no cure but Yours, a cure that leaves no disease.
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 5675 .
When to read: Said by the Prophet ﷺ when he visited a patient, or when a patient was brought to him (reported by Aisha).
A'udhu billahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhadhir.
I seek refuge with Allah and with His Power from the evil that I find and that I fear.
Sahih Muslim, no. 2202 .
When to read: Said for pain in the body: place a hand on the painful place, say bismillah three times, then say this seven times (Uthman ibn Abi al-As).
La ba's, tahurun in sha' Allah.
No harm will befall you! May Allah cure you! May Allah cure you!
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 3616 .
When to read: Said by the Prophet ﷺ when visiting a sick person (Ibn Abbas). The Arabic can be understood as: no harm; it is a purification, if Allah wills.
As'alullahal-'Azim, Rabbal-'Arshil-'azim, an yashfiyak.
I ask Allah, the Mighty, the Lord of the mighty Throne, to cure you.
Sunan Abi Dawud, no. 3106 .
When to read: Said seven times beside a sick person whose time has not yet come (Ibn Abbas). Graded sahih by al-Albani.
Allahumma ahyini ma kanatil-hayatu khayran li, wa tawaffani idha kanatil-wafatu khayran li.
O Allah! Let me live as long as life is better for me, and take my life if death is better for me.
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6351 .
When to read: For someone tempted to wish for death because of hardship. The Prophet ﷺ forbade wishing for death and taught this instead (Anas).
Hadith text and grading above are shown as supplied by their source. HikmahBridge does not grade Hadith itself. See Sources & Methodology.
FAQ
Can I say these supplications for myself?
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ taught the supplication with the hand on the place of pain to a man who described his own pain (Sahih Muslim 2202).
Is it permitted to wish for death when I am very ill?
The Prophet ﷺ forbade wishing for death because of a calamity, and taught to say: “O Allah, let me live as long as life is better for me, and take my life if death is better for me” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6351).
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