It is authentically established in Sahīh Muslim, on the authority of Abū Sa‘īd al-Khudrī—may Allah be pleased with him—that “Gabriel came to the Prophet—may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him—and asked, ‘O Muhammad, are you ill?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ Gabriel said, ‘In the name of Allah, I recite over you for healing from everything that harms you, from the evil of every soul or envious eye. May Allah heal you. In the name of Allah, I recite over you for healing.’”1
It is also authentically established in the two Sahīh collections, on the authority of Āisha—may Allah be pleased with her—that “the Prophet—may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him—used to invoke protection for some members of his household, passing his right hand over them and saying, ‘O Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the affliction and heal him, for You are the Healer. There is no healing except Your healing—a healing that leaves no illness behind.’”2 In another narration, she said: “Whenever one of us fell ill, the Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him—would pass his right hand over the person and then say”—and she related the supplication3. In another narration, she said: “The Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him—used to recite this healing invocation,” and she related it4.
In Sahīh al-Bukhārī, Abd al-Azīz ibn Suhayb said: “Thābit and I visited Anas ibn Mālik. Thābit said, ‘Abū Hamza, I am ill.’ Anas asked, ‘Shall I recite over you the healing invocation of the Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ Anas then said, ‘O Allah, Lord of mankind and Remover of affliction, grant healing. You are the Healer. There is no healer but You—a healing that leaves no illness behind.’”5
The words, “O Allah, Lord of mankind,” entail appealing to Allah through His lordship over all mankind: He created them, governs their affairs, and directs all that concerns them. In His hand—glorified is He—are life and death, health and illness, wealth and poverty, and strength and weakness.