Quran Verses About Healing
The Quran calls itself a cure: 'We send down of the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers' (17:82) — healing aimed first at 'what is in the breasts' (10:57). It credits all recovery to Allah — 'and when I am ill, it is He who cures me' (26:80) — and preserves the dua of Ayyub, answered after years of illness (21:83-84). These nine ayahs gather the Quran's words on shifa.
Updated July 16, 2026
- Surah Al-Isra 17:82
وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٞ وَرَحۡمَةٞ لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارٗا
And We reveal of the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy for believers though it increase the evil-doers in naught save ruin
The Quran's description of itself — sent down as healing and mercy for the believers.
- Surah Yunus 10:57
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡكُم مَّوۡعِظَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَشِفَآءٞ لِّمَا فِي ٱلصُّدُورِ وَهُدٗى وَرَحۡمَةٞ لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ
O mankind! There hath come unto you an exhortation from your Lord, a balm for that which is in the breasts, a guidance and a mercy for believers
Where the healing lands first — instruction from your Lord and 'healing for what is in the breasts.'
- Surah An-Nahl 16:69
ثُمَّ كُلِي مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ فَٱسۡلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلٗاۚ يَخۡرُجُ مِنۢ بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٞ مُّخۡتَلِفٌ أَلۡوَٰنُهُۥ فِيهِ شِفَآءٞ لِّلنَّاسِۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةٗ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Then eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of thy Lord, made smooth (for thee). There cometh forth from their bellies a drink divers of hues, wherein is healing for mankind. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for people who reflect
The honey verse — from the bee's belly comes a drink of varying colors 'in which there is healing for people.'
- Surah Ash-Shu'ara 26:80
وَإِذَا مَرِضۡتُ فَهُوَ يَشۡفِينِ
And when I sicken, then He healeth me
Ibrahim's creed about illness — 'and when I am ill, it is He who cures me.'
- Surah Fussilat 41:44
وَلَوۡ جَعَلۡنَٰهُ قُرۡءَانًا أَعۡجَمِيّٗا لَّقَالُواْ لَوۡلَا فُصِّلَتۡ ءَايَٰتُهُۥٓۖ ءَا۬عۡجَمِيّٞ وَعَرَبِيّٞۗ قُلۡ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ هُدٗى وَشِفَآءٞۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ فِيٓ ءَاذَانِهِمۡ وَقۡرٞ وَهُوَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ عَمًىۚ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ يُنَادَوۡنَ مِن مَّكَانِۭ بَعِيدٖ
And if We had appointed it a Lecture in a foreign tongue they would assuredly have said: If only its verses were expounded (so that we might understand)? What! A foreign tongue and an Arab? - Say unto them (O Muhammad): For those who believe it is a guidance and a healing; and as for those who disbelieve, there is a deafness in their ears, and it is blindness for them. Such are called to from afar
For those who believe, this Quran is 'a guidance and cure' — its healing reaches those who receive it.
- Surah Al-Anbya 21:83
۞وَأَيُّوبَ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ ٱلضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرۡحَمُ ٱلرَّـٰحِمِينَ
And Job, when he cried unto his Lord, (saying): Lo! adversity afflicteth me, and Thou art Most Merciful of all who show mercy
The dua of Ayyub after years of illness — 'adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.'
- Surah Al-Anbya 21:84
فَٱسۡتَجَبۡنَا لَهُۥ فَكَشَفۡنَا مَا بِهِۦ مِن ضُرّٖۖ وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُ أَهۡلَهُۥ وَمِثۡلَهُم مَّعَهُمۡ رَحۡمَةٗ مِّنۡ عِندِنَا وَذِكۡرَىٰ لِلۡعَٰبِدِينَ
Then We heard his prayer and removed that adversity from which he suffered, and We gave him his household (that he had lost) and the like thereof along with them, a mercy from Our store, and a remembrance for the worshippers
The answer to that dua — Allah removed his affliction and restored his family, 'a reminder for the worshippers.'
- Surah Az-Zumar 39:23
ٱللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحۡسَنَ ٱلۡحَدِيثِ كِتَٰبٗا مُّتَشَٰبِهٗا مَّثَانِيَ تَقۡشَعِرُّ مِنۡهُ جُلُودُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُمۡ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمۡ وَقُلُوبُهُمۡ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ يَهۡدِي بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَمَن يُضۡلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنۡ هَادٍ
Allah hath (now) revealed the fairest of statements, a Scripture consistent, (wherein promises of reward are) paired (with threats of punishment), whereat doth creep the flesh of those who fear their Lord, so that their flesh and their hearts soften to Allah's reminder. Such is Allah's guidance, wherewith He guideth whom He will. And him whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no guide
The physical effect of revelation — skins shiver, then skins and hearts soften and relax at the remembrance of Allah.
- Surah Ar-Ra'd 13:28
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطۡمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۗ أَلَا بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَئِنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ
Who have believed and whose hearts have rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest
The heart's baseline cure — by the remembrance of Allah, hearts are assured.
Arabic text: Tanzil Uthmani (public domain). English translation: Marmaduke Pickthall, “The Meaning of the Glorious Koran” (1930) — public domain.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Quran say about healing?
It names itself 'healing and mercy for the believers' (17:82), especially for 'what is in the breasts' (10:57); it points to honey as a cure Allah placed in creation (16:69); and it attributes all recovery to Allah — 'when I am ill, it is He who cures me' (26:80).
What is the dua of Ayyub for illness?
'Anni massaniya addurru wa anta arhamur-rahimin' — 'Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful' (21:83). The next ayah records that Allah responded and removed what afflicted him.
Does Quranic healing replace medicine?
No — the Quran presents spiritual healing and created means side by side: revelation heals hearts (10:57) while honey is praised as a physical cure (16:69). Muslims are expected to take the means Allah created while trusting Him as the ultimate healer (26:80).
Sit with these ayahs, not just skim them
Read each verse in its surah, favorite the ones that hold you, and ask Noor about anything unclear — free to start.
Get Living Quran free