Quran as Healing
The word for healing in the Quran comes from the root “shin-fa-ya” ( ش ف ي ) and occurs six times in the Quran.
wayashfi | وَيَشْفِ | and He heals / cool | 9:14:8 |
washifāon | وَشِفَآءٌ | and a healing | 10:57:8 |
shifāon | شِفَآءٌ | a healing | 16:69:17 |
shifāon | شِفَآءٌ | a healing | 17:82:6 |
yashfīni | يَشْفِينِ | [He] heals me. | 26:80:4 |
washifāon | وَشِفَآءٌ | and a healing.” | 41:44:16 |
Physical Healing
Three of these occurences are in reference to healing of the body.
[9:14] You shall fight them, for GOD will punish them at your hands, humiliate them, grant you victory over them, and cool/heal the chests of the believers.
قَـٰتِلُوهُمْ يُعَذِّبْهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ وَيُخْزِهِمْ وَيَنصُرْكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَيَشْفِ صُدُورَ قَوْمٍ مُّؤْمِنِينَ
8 | wayashfi | وَيَشْفِ | and He heals / cool |
9 | ṣudūra | صُدُورَ | (the) chests (of) |
10 | qawmin | قَوْمٍ | a people |
11 | mu’minīna | مُّؤْمِنِينَ | ones who believe. |
[26:80] “And when I get sick, He heals me.
وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ
Quran as Healing
Three of the occurences are in reference to the Quran as healing.
[10:57] O people, enlightenment has come to you herein from your Lord, and healing for anything that troubles your hearts, and guidance, and mercy for the believers.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَآءٌ لِّمَا فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
1 | yāayyuhā | يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا | O |
2 | l-nāsu | ٱلنَّاسُ | [the] people! |
3 | qad | قَدْ | Verily |
4 | jāatkum | جَآءَتْكُم | [it] came to you [all] |
5 | mawʿiẓatun | مَّوْعِظَةٌ | an enlightenment |
6 | min | مِّن | from |
7 | rabbikum | رَّبِّكُمْ | your Lord, |
8 | washifāon | وَشِفَآءٌ | and a healing |
9 | limā | لِّمَا | for what (is) |
10 | fī | فِى | in |
11 | l-ṣudūri | ٱلصُّدُورِ | the hearts, |
12 | wahudan | وَهُدًى | and guidance |
13 | waraḥmatun | وَرَحْمَةٌ | and mercy |
14 | lil’mu’minīna | لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ | for the believers. |
[17:82] We send down in the Quran healing and mercy for the believers. At the same time, it only increases the wickedness of the transgressors.
وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا
[41:44] If we made it a non-Arabic Quran they would have said, “Why did it come down in that language?” Whether it is Arabic or non-Arabic, say, “For those who believe, it is a guide and healing. As for those who disbelieve, they will be deaf and blind to it, as if they are being addressed from faraway.”
وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ قُرْءَانًا أَعْجَمِيًّا لَّقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا فُصِّلَتْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥٓ ءَا۬عْجَمِىٌّ وَعَرَبِىٌّ قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ هُدًى وَشِفَآءٌ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِن مَّكَانٍۭ بَعِيدٍ
Honey as Healing
The last example references honey as healing.
[16:69] Then eat from all the fruits, following the design of your Lord, precisely. From their bellies comes a drink of different colors, wherein there is healing for the people. This should be (sufficient) proof for people who reflect.
ثُمَّ كُلِى مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ فَٱسْلُكِى سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًا يَخْرُجُ مِنۢ بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ فِيهِ شِفَآءٌ لِّلنَّاسِ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Honey Healing for Body Quran Healing for Soul
Honey is the only food that, when properly stored, never spoils. Archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that are thousands of years old and still preserved. Honey also contains a natural antiseptic that can kill bacteria. Honey has been used since ancient times for treating wounds. Its antibacterial properties help prevent infection, and its anti-inflammatory properties reduce swelling and pain. Honey can promote wound healing by drawing out moisture, reducing inflammation, and preventing infection.
Similarly, the Quran is an anti-bacterial for our soul. Reading, reflecting, and applying the verses of the Quran to our lives protects our souls from the infections that occur from the vices of this world. The Quran is our source of truth that calibrates our lives and serves the same purpose: to fight off satanic whispers that attempt to infect our souls. So, just as honey protects against infections to help heal a wound, the Quran protects against infections to help heal the soul.