Active and Verbal Prayers

There are two ways to pray: actively with deeds, or verbally with the heart. The tilling, cultivating, sowing, and irrigation of a field by a farmer are examples of an active prayer; the opening up of the hands and the begging of God, "O God, bestow us with bounty and send us of your Grace," is an example of an verbal prayer. Performing the latter one without the former will not earn one anything. On the other hand, performing the former without the latter will render the bounty received, and especially any worship performed, deficient and all the farmer's efforts will amount to nothing.

Seeing a doctor when we feel ill and using medicine is a form of active prayer. The opening up of our hands and asking for a cure from God is a form of verbal prayer. Sometimes our aches and pains, our toothache or headache will disappear with trust in God and prayer. However, at other times, God's Will is different and we have to see a doctor. When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "God has created a cure for all ailments; get treatment," he was encouraging us to perform an action.

There are also times when both active and verbal prayer will not suffice. Sometimes God associates a cure with both of them, sometimes with one of them. Everything is within His power. There are many people who live healthily and pleasantly, although they do not know what a verbal prayer is. On the other hand, some people who are devoted to God continue their lives in agony, even though they use medication and do not cease to pray for even a moment. In such situations, one is apt to think that our entreaties are not being heeded. However, answering a wish is one thing, and having it accepted is another. All prayers will be heard and answered, they may be granted immediately, or postponed to a future date. Our prayers may not be granted in this world, being kept to be granted in the Hereafter. This all depends on the wisdom of God. When you call a doctor, he agrees to come; however, if you say, "Give me this medicine," he may not prescribe what you have asked for. He will give it if he thinks it is appropriate and will not if he thinks it is inappropriate; he may give something better and more useful.

God always hears the supplications of His servants, lets them know that He has heard their prayers, and instills in them a lightness of heart; He is closer to a person than their jugular vein. However, He may not give all that His servant wants because of His infinite wisdom. This denial of bestowal may be either because it will be better for the person or it may be because He will grant it at a later date, when it will be more useful. Moreover, He is the owner of all worlds, and has the right to use them as He wishes. Both His kindness and His disfavor are good. He never trifles; there are a thousand reasons for His actions, not one.

Asking Others to Pray for One

A person should ask those who are believed to be devout and careful in observing their duties toward God to pray for him or herself. If we apply to those practicing magic or engaging with jinn as soon as we feel that we have been disturbed by a jinn, groundless apprehensions may grow in us and our morale may be weakened. We request two talismans from one man and two from another, thus turning the poor afflicted person into no more than a porter of talismans. If one of these gets lost, the afflicted person starts to tremble, terrified, and falls into despair. What actually happens here is that, while hoping for recovery, the person is rather afflicted by more troubles. Prayer is the best solution to the problem. Abdullah ibn Amr taught his children prayers and wrote the prayers out so those who did not know any prayers could wear them. Yet, one should not be dependent on such a method. As the Prophet (pbuh) told us, seventy thousand people will go to Paradise without being judged, but, according to authorized Hadith sources, he also said that these would be the people who do not wear amulets, who do not rely on chance, fortune telling or talisman, but rather those who trust God. Therefore, one should continue to pray and maintain permanent trust in God.

Consulting Pious Psychiatrists and Doctors

It is most advisable to go to competent psychiatrists and doctors who believe in the existence of spirits, jinn, and their effects, rather than to those who are materialists or unbelievers. Among those doctors who do not believe and who live a dual life because of the malnutrition and dissatisfaction of their hearts and souls, there are those who urge people assaulted by evil spirits further into trouble by saying, "Go sleep with others, eat and drink, have fun, and try to get rid of evil thoughts." Such advice is like giving seawater to a person who is dying of thirst; the end result is that he feels more thirsty. In fact, a person's illness becomes aggravated because their carnal desires take control of the body, ignoring the heart (spirituality), their mental life withers away, and they spend time with evil ones. The doctor who thinks this way is blind to the truth; it is only by way of looking at things through the eyes of faith and wisdom that he or she will be able to see the truth.

Seeking Refuge in Various Prayers

Most important of all is to seek refuge with God and to trust in Him.

And if a whisper from the devil reaches you, then seek refuge with God. (Qur'an 41:36)

This above verse is God's order to His servants, which means, "A'udhu billahi minash-Shaytan-ir-rajim, bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim" (I seek refuge with God from the accursed Satan. In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate). It is also recommended that one should recite the 97^th and 98^th verses of chapter al-Mu'minun (Qur'an 23).

The Prophet (pbuh) recommends the reading of Ayat al-Kursi (the Verse of the Throne) (Qur'an 2:255). Once one of the companions caught a devil who had taken on the shape of man trying to steal alms. In an attempt to gain his freedom the devil said, "Let me free and I will teach you a prayer that will protect you from us: It is Ayat al-Kursi." The Prophet (pbuh) said, "He is a liar, but on this occasion he is telling the truth."

When the Prophet (pbuh) fell under the influence of some magic incantations, he recited al-mu'awwazatayn, i.e the suras al-Falaq and an-Nas, and was relieved of their power. Moreover, Aisha, the mother of believers, said, "the Prophet recited al-Falaq and an-Nas three times in the morning and in the evening, blew into his palms, and stroked his body as far as his hands could reach." The Prophet (pbuh) also recited Bismillah ellezi la yadurru ma'smihi shay'un fi'l-ardi wala fi's-samai ve huwa's-Semi'u'l-'Alim again three times in the morning and in the evening, which, by God's Grace, can protect one from paralysis. A'udhu bi-kalimati'llahi't-tammati min kulli shaytanin ve hammetin ve min kulli 'aynin ve lammetin is also a useful prayer to recite.

Al-Ghazzali recommended that one recite "Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim" once, "Allahu Akbar" ten times, and both "la yuflihu's-sahiru haytha eta," and "min sherrin neffasati fil 'uqad" nineteen times (Qur'an 20:69, 113:4).

Another scholar recommended that one should take a sip of water, tea, or soup first and then recite the two above-mentioned suras and repeat them nineteen times.

There are many other prayers that can be recited; one can find these in Hadith books or ask an expert. Ashab al-Badr (Companions of Badr), Jawshan al-Kabir, and Qasida al-Burda are prayers that are recommended. 

The safest way to protect ourselves against evil spirits is to feel strong loyalty to God and His Messenger. This requires following the principles of Islam strictly. In addition, we should never abandon prayer, for prayer is a weapon against hostility, protecting us from harm, and helps us to attain our goals.