I shall illustrate this with a few examples.

Writing on paper with saffron, soaking it in water, and then giving the liquid to the patient to drink—even though no evidence for this practice of writing is authentically established from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. What is the wisdom behind using saffron for the writing?

Treatment by staring: some healers recite over a sick person, someone possessed, bewitched, or afflicted by the evil eye, while staring into the person’s eyes. They continue staring until the patient is healed, the possessed person regains consciousness, or the jinn flees. They even use this method with women! And do not be surprised if one of them says, “I tried it, and it worked!”

Writing Quranic verses and ruqyahs on the body! Sometimes they write on the back, sometimes on the leg, and sometimes on the face. They even do this to women, writing on a woman’s back, abdomen, chest, and below her navel! This betrays a lack of decency and modesty on the part of the healer and the woman’s relative or husband. Indeed, it stems from weak religious commitment, bad character, and vile souls—Allah is our refuge. Even if we concede that this is indisputably prohibited, is it permissible to write on the back of a man or a boy?

Prescribing a specific number of repetitions for particular verses: this verse, for example, is to be recited seven times; another fourteen times; and another a thousand times. Some say, “Recite the ruqyah over him three times daily for a month!” They merely forgot to specify whether it should be done before or after meals!

Some write Quranic verses on paper or cloth and then burn it so that the patient may inhale its smoke! This fits in neatly alongside oral medicines, even if it does not conform to revealed law. All that remains is for them to make from it intramuscular and intravenous injections, nasal snuff, and eye drops—for the evil eye, naturally!

There is also what they call “imaginative recitation.” Its method is for the healer to grasp one of the veins at the joint of the afflicted person’s hand and begin reciting. He then says, “While I am reciting, mention the names of anyone who comes to mind.” The person names some people he knows, whereupon the healer says, “These are the people who afflicted you with the evil eye or something else.”