Ruqyah (Incantation) or D’awah (Propagation)

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him)
was asked this question and he said:

Calling people to Allah (d’awah) is a communal obligation
(fard kifayah); if sufficient people undertake to do it, the rest are then
absolved of the obligation. If a person finds that he has to do it and no
one else can take his place, then it takes priority over reading Quran over
one who is affected by the jinn. That is because the results of d’awah are
certain whereas the results of reading Quran over one who is affected by the
jinn may not be certain. How many people have had Quran recited over them
and have not benefited.

So if this man realizes that he has to do d’awah and no one
else can take his place, then he must do d’awah even if it means he does not
recite Quran over one who is affected by the jinn.

But if it is the matter of fard kifayah, then you should look
and decide what is in people’s best interests. If it is possible to combine
the two – which seems to be the case – by devoting a day for one and a day
for the other whilst continuing to engage in d’awah, that is better, so that
he may benefit his Muslim brothers who are suffering from this affliction
and so that the work of calling people to Allah may continue at the same
time.

With regard to the correct treatment of those who are
affected by the jinn, this varies from one case to another, but the best is
to recite Quran over the person, such as the words (interpretation of the
meaning):

“O assembly of jinn and men! If you have power to pass beyond
the zones of the heavens and the earth, then pass beyond (them)! But you
will never be able to pass them, except with authority (from Allah)!

Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn
and men) deny?

There will be sent against you both, smokeless flames of fire
and (molten) brass, and you will not be able to defend yourselves.

Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn
and men) deny?”
[55:33-36]

Because this reminds them [the jinn] that they cannot flee
from Allah. You should also recite al-Mu’awwadhatayn [the last two Surahs of
the Quran] and Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad [112] and ayat al-Kursiy [2:255]. You
may also preach to them as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah used to do, telling
them, “It is haram for you to harm the Muslims or to beat them,” etc.

With regard to accepting payment for this: if he does not
take money it is better, but if he takes it without stipulating payment
beforehand that is acceptable. If those for whom he is reading do not carry
out their duties towards the reader and he insists that he will only read
for them if he is given something in return, there is nothing wrong with
that, as this is what the people of the raiding party sent out by the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did. It was narrated that
Abu Sa’eed (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “A group of the companions
of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) set out on a
journey and traveled until they stopped in (the land of) one of the Arab
tribes. They asked them for hospitality but they refused to welcome them.
The chief of this tribe was stung by a scorpion and they tried everything
but nothing helped them. Some of them said, ‘Why don’t you go to those
people who are camped (near us), maybe you will find something with them.’
So they went to them and said, ‘O people, our chief has been stung by a
scorpion and we have tried everything but nothing helped him. Can any of you
do anything?’ One of them said, ‘Yes, by Allah, I will recite ruqyah
(incantation) for him, but by Allah we asked you for hospitality and you did
not welcome us, so I will not recite ruqyah for you until you give us
something in return.’ Then they agreed upon a flock of sheep. Then he went
and spat drily and recited over him Al-hamdu Lillahi Rabb il-‘alameen [Surat
al-Fatihah]. (The chief) got up as if he was released from a chain and
started walking, and there were no signs of sickness on him. They paid them
what they agreed to pay. Some of them (i.e. the companions) then suggested
to divide their earnings among themselves, but the one who performed the
ruqyah said, ‘Do not divide them until we go to the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) and tell him what happened, then wait and
see what he tells us to do.’ So they went to the Messenger of Allah (peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him) and told him what had happened. The
Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked, ‘How
did you know that it (al-Fatihah) is a ruqyah?’ Then he added, ‘You have
done the right thing. Share out (the flock of sheep) and give me a share
too.’ And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
smiled.” (al-Bukhari, Muslim).