The BEST Dua For Illness

Just as we are blessed with good health, we also understand that it is part of Allah's plan to test us with illness. This can be a frustrating part of life where we are faced with mental or physical unease. But this hardship can actually bring us closer to God if we remember Him and ask Him for help.

Invocation (the translation of the Arabic word 'dua') can be used to seek God's intervention and through the Holy Quran and the hadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) there are certain duas we can recite.

The best dua for illness 🤧

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to recite the following supplication when visiting a sick or ill person as narrated in Sahih Muslim:

Arabic: أَذْهِبِ الْبَأْسَ رَبَّ النَّاسِ، وَاشْفِ، أَنْتَ الشَّافِي لَا شِفَاءَ إِلَّا شِفَاؤُكَ، شِفَاءٌ لَا يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًا

Transliteration: Adhhibil-ba'sa Rabban-nasi, washfi, Antash-Shafi, la shifa'a illa shifa'uka, shifa'an la yughadiru saqaman

English Translation: "Remove the harm, O Lord of mankind, and heal, You are the Healer. There is no healing but Your healing, a healing which leaves no disease behind."

This prayer acknowledges the ultimate power of Allah as the Healer of Healers, and we affirm that there is only one God of man who can cure all illnesses.

Three more duas for reciting when ill

1. Dua for purification

Arabic: لَا بَأْسَ طَهُورٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

Transliteration: La ba'sa tahoorun insha'Allah

English Translation: "Do not worry, it will be a purification (for you), Allah willing."

This dua is narrated in both authentic Sahih Muslim and Bukhari. This supplication seeks to reassure us that any illness will actually act as purification if it is the will of God. For anyone suffering from physical or mental illness (like headaches) this can help grant patience and give hope.

2. Dua from protection from severe illness

Arabic: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبَرَصِ، وَالْجُنُونِ، وَالْجُذَامِ، وَمِنْ سَيِّئِ الْأَسْقَامِ

Transliteration: Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-barasi, wal-junooni, wal-judhaami, wa min sayyi'il-asqaam

English Translation: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from leprosy, insanity, mutilation, and from all serious illness."

Reported in Ibn Majah, this powerful dua asks for protection from major illnesses like leprosy, or mental health illnesses like depression, and acknowledges that it is indeed only Allah who can cure all sicknesses.

3. Dua for hope

Arabic: وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ

Transliteration: Wa idha maridtu fahuwa yashfeen

English Translation: "And when I am ill, it is He who cures me."

This verse from the Quran (Surah Ash-Shu'ara 26:80) is a profound acknowledgment of Allah's infinite power to heal us. Again, we put our trust and faith in God as the Healer of all.

As with any dua, we ask that Allah (SWT) grant shifa (healing) to all those experiencing illness, ease their suffering, and reward their patience. Ameen.