one recites the selected verses, lightly blowing over the patient, or recites over water and then gives the water to the patient to drink, just as related in the report of Thabit ibn Qays: “The Prophet ﷺ took some earth from the valley of Buthan, placed it in a cup, blew upon it, and poured it over him.” (1)

The second kind consists of incantations that are tainted by polytheism—those in which help is sought from anyone other than Allah, by invoking, appealing to, or seeking refuge in them—such as charms pronounced in the names of jinn, angels, prophets, or the righteous. This amounts to supplicating other than Allah and is major shirk. The same ruling applies when the words are in a language other than Arabic or in expressions whose meaning is unknown, for fear that disbelief or polytheism may be smuggled into them without one’s knowledge. This type of ruqyah is forbidden.

Amulets (tamāʾim): the plural of tamīmah. They are objects hung around the necks of children to ward off the evil eye, and they are sometimes worn by adult men and women as well. These amulets fall into two categories: