Dimensions of the Early Islamic Use of Al-Ruqyah Al-Islāmiyyah: Insights from Maḥmūd Nāẓim Al-Nasīmī

This article examines the early Islamic practice of al-ruqyah al-islāmiyyah (Islamic healing incantations) through the analysis of Maḥmūd Nāẓim al-Nasīmī, highlighting how the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ reformed pre-Islamic healing traditions rooted in superstition and polytheism. The central issue addressed is how Islam redirected such practices toward a framework grounded in tauḥīd, ethical integrity and psychological reassurance. Thus, the objective of the article is to clarify the scope and dimensions of ruqyah in its formative period according to al-Nasīmī and to demonstrate its broader role beyond mere ritual recitation. Methodologically, the study employs qualitative textual analysis of the Qurʾān, authentic ḥadīth, early scholarly writings and al-Nasīmī’s commentary, with reference to modern academic perspectives. The findings reveal a tripartite framework: ruqyah’s role in treating psychological disorders such as fear, insomnia, and afflictions linked to sorcery or the evil eye, its application to physical illnesses where remedies were lacking, and its integration with material medicine to strengthen hope and recovery. Overall, the outcome underscores al-ruqyah al-islāmiyyah as a multidimensional system of healing that harmonized spiritual reliance with empirical remedies, establishing a holistic model of care that remains ethically and socially relevant. Beyond its historical significance, this study highlights the potential of al-ruqyah al-islāmiyyah to reinforce spiritual resilience and ethical awareness within the contemporary Muslim community. It offers insights that may guide present efforts to integrate faith-based healing values with modern understandings of mental and spiritual well-being.