Bismillahi Arqika (Arabic: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ, “In the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you”) is a prophetic supplication for healing and protection recited by the angel Jibreel (Gabriel) over the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) when he was unwell. The full dua is recorded in Sahih Muslim 2186 in the Book of Salam (Kitab al-Salam), and is graded Sahih (authentic) on the authority of Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (RA).
This guide gives you the full Arabic text with tashkeel and a copy-friendly version, the transliteration, the Dar-us-Salam English meaning, a word-by-word breakdown, the complete hadith narration with grading, the masculine and feminine grammar variations (Arqika, Arqiki, Arqikum), when to recite it, a step-by-step ruqyah method, and answers to the questions readers actually search for.
Table of Contents
What Is Bismillahi Arqika?
Bismillahi Arqika (also spelled Bismillahi Arqeeka, Bismillah Arqika, or Bism Allah Arki Ka in different romanisations) is a short Arabic supplication of healing and protection. The phrase literally translates as “In the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you,” with ruqyah being the Islamic practice of reciting Qur’an and authentic prophetic supplications over a person seeking cure or protection from harm.
What makes this particular dua distinctive among the many supplications for the sick is its origin: it was not invented by a scholar or compiled by a later author. According to the hadith collected by Imam Muslim, when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) fell ill, the angel Jibreel (Gabriel) came to him and recited this exact wording over him. The Prophet (ﷺ) then taught it to his Companions, who in turn transmitted it to the Ummah. This places Bismillahi Arqika in the highest tier of ruqyah duas — an angel’s supplication, narrated through a prophetic chain, preserved in the most authentic hadith book after the Qur’an.
Today it is commonly recited when visiting a sick person, as part of personal ruqyah against the evil eye and jealousy, in the morning and evening adhkar, and over children before sleep alongside the Mu’awwidhat.
Key takeaways:
- The dua is recorded in Sahih Muslim 2186 with a sahih chain, narrated by Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (RA); cross-referenced in Riyad as-Salihin 908, Sunan Ibn Majah 3523, Mishkat al-Masabih 1534 and Jami at-Tirmidhi 972.
- The angel Jibreel originally recited it over the Prophet (ﷺ) when he fell ill — making it a Sunnah supplication for sickness, evil eye (‘ayn) and envy (hasad).
- The ending verb changes by gender of the person you are reciting over: Arqika (male, “you” mas.), Arqiki (female, “you” fem.), Arqikum (plural). For yourself, scholars permit Arqi nafsi (“I perform ruqyah on myself”).
- The method is the classical ruqyah pattern: recite, blow lightly into cupped hands, and wipe over the affected area — often paired with Surah al-Fatihah and the Mu’awwidhat (al-Falaq, an-Nas, al-Ikhlas).
- The dua is not a substitute for medical treatment. The Prophet (ﷺ) himself accepted both prophetic medicine and ruqyah together, and explicitly told his Companions: “Treat your sick” (Sunan Abi Dawud 3855).
Bismillahi Arqika in Arabic, Transliteration & English
Arabic with tashkeel (diacritical marks):
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ يُؤْذِيكَ، مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ أَوْ عَيْنٍ حَاسِدٍ، اللَّهُ يَشْفِيكَ، بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ
Arabic without tashkeel (copy-friendly):
بسم الله أرقيك، من كل شيء يؤذيك، من شر كل نفس أو عين حاسد، الله يشفيك، بسم الله أرقيك
Related:
Transliteration:
Bismillahi arqika, min kulli shay’in yu’dhika, min sharri kulli nafsin aw ‘aynin hasidin, Allahu yashfika, bismillahi arqika.
English meaning (Dar-us-Salam English translation of Riyad as-Salihin 908):
“In the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you, from everything that harms you, from the evil of every soul or envious eye. May Allah heal you; in the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you.”
Word-by-Word Breakdown
Understanding each Arabic word makes the dua easier to memorise and more meaningful to recite:
| Arabic | Transliteration | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| بِسْمِ اللَّهِ | Bismillahi | In the name of Allah |
| أَرْقِيكَ | Arqika | I perform ruqyah for you (masculine “you”) |
| مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ | Min kulli shay’in | From every thing |
| يُؤْذِيكَ | Yu’dhika | That harms you |
| مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ | Min sharri kulli nafsin | From the evil of every soul |
| أَوْ عَيْنٍ حَاسِدٍ | Aw ‘aynin hasidin | Or envious eye |
| اللَّهُ يَشْفِيكَ | Allahu yashfika | May Allah heal you |
| بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ | Bismillahi arqika | In the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you |
Two grammatical observations worth noting. First, the root verb raqa — yarqi (رَقَى — يَرْقِي) means to recite over, to chant for cure, which is the technical Islamic term for healing recitation. Second, the word ‘ayn (عَيْن) here does not mean “eye” in the physical sense alone — it refers specifically to the harmful gaze of an envious person, what classical scholars and modern translations call the “evil eye.”
Sahih Muslim 2186 — Full Hadith and Chain
The primary source for Bismillahi Arqika is hadith number 2186 in Sahih Muslim, in the Book of Salam (Kitab al-Salam), in the chapter on medicine, sickness and ruqyah. The hadith is graded Sahih (authentic, the highest grade) and is narrated on the authority of the Companion Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him).
It was narrated from Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (RA) that Jibreel came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: “O Muhammad, are you ill?” He said: “Yes.” So Jibreel recited: “Bismillahi arqika, min kulli shay’in yu’dhika, min sharri kulli nafsin aw ‘aynin hasidin. Allahu yashfika, bismillahi arqika” — “In the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you, from everything that is harming you, from the evil of every soul or envious eye. May Allah heal you. In the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you.”
Sahih Muslim 2186 (Kitab al-Salam); also recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah 3523 and Riyad as-Salihin 908.
The same hadith appears across several major collections, which is part of why scholars treat it as exceptionally well-established. Cross-references include:
- Sahih Muslim 2186 — primary canonical source (Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, d. 261 AH).
- Riyad as-Salihin 908 — Imam an-Nawawi’s curation of the most actionable hadiths, in the Book of Visiting the Sick.
- Sunan Ibn Majah 3523 — in the Book of Medicine.
- Mishkat al-Masabih 1534 — al-Tabrizi’s classical compilation.
- Jami at-Tirmidhi 972 — in the Book of Funerals (in a related narration).
The fact that the same Companion (Abu Sa’id al-Khudri RA) narrates this dua in multiple sahih books, with consistent wording, is what gives Bismillahi Arqika its evidentiary weight. There is no scholarly disagreement about its authenticity.
Arqika, Arqiki & Arqikum — Masculine, Feminine and Plural
Arabic verbs conjugate by the gender and number of the person being addressed. Because Jibreel (AS) was reciting the dua over the Prophet (ﷺ), a single male, the recorded text uses the masculine singular form — arqika (“I perform ruqyah for you”, masculine “you”), and yu’dhika, yashfika. When you recite the dua over someone else, classical scholars (Ibn Baz, Ibn al-Uthaymin and the standing committee of major scholars) permit adjusting the verb endings to match. The wording itself does not change — only the suffix on three verbs.
| Reciting over… | Verb form | Final phrase |
|---|---|---|
| A male (singular) | أَرْقِيكَ arqika | Bismillahi arqika… yu’dhika… yashfika… bismillahi arqika |
| A female (singular) | أَرْقِيكِ arqiki | Bismillahi arqiki… yu’dhiki… yashfiki… bismillahi arqiki |
| Two people (dual) | أَرْقِيكُمَا arqikuma | Bismillahi arqikuma… yu’dhikuma… yashfikuma… bismillahi arqikuma |
| A group (3+) | أَرْقِيكُمْ arqikum | Bismillahi arqikum… yu’dhikum… yashfikum… bismillahi arqikum |
| Yourself | أَرْقِي نَفْسِي arqi nafsi | Bismillahi arqi nafsi, min kulli shay’in yu’dhini… yashfini… bismillahi arqi nafsi |
Reciting on yourself is straightforward and well-precedented — the Prophet (ﷺ) himself would blow into his hands while reciting the Mu’awwidhat (Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas) and wipe over his body whenever he was unwell (Sahih al-Bukhari 5016). The same self-ruqyah principle applies here. You may keep the recorded masculine form when reciting on yourself (treating it as quoting the original prophetic narration), or adjust to arqi nafsi to make the verb agree with the first person.
When to Recite Bismillahi Arqika
The dua is not tied to a fixed time, but Sunnah practice and scholarly guidance highlight five contexts where it is especially appropriate:
- Visiting a sick person. This is the original prophetic context. When you sit with someone who is unwell, recite the dua over them (using arqika or arqiki as appropriate), then make general dua for their healing.
- Self-ruqyah for illness, pain or anxiety. Recite the dua, cup your hands, blow gently into them, and wipe over the chest or the painful area. Pair with Surah al-Fatihah, al-Falaq and an-Nas for the strongest combination from the Sunnah.
- For children before sleep. A consistent prophetic practice was to seek protection over children at night. Recite over the child’s head and chest, then wipe gently.
- When you fear the evil eye or envy. If you notice unusual fatigue, unexplained physical symptoms or recurring misfortune after a specific event (a compliment, a public moment, a sudden success), Bismillahi Arqika is one of the primary Sunnah duas against ‘ayn and hasad.
- As part of morning and evening adhkar. Scholars include this dua among the recommended supplications for daily protection alongside Ayat al-Kursi, the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah and the three Quls.
How to Recite — Step-by-Step Ruqyah Method
Ruqyah from the Sunnah is simple, not ritualised. There is no fixed number of repetitions, no special posture and no requirement of wudu (though it is preferred). Follow these steps:
- Begin with the right intention. Intend that this recitation is a means; the actual healing is from Allah alone. The Prophet (ﷺ) was clear: “Allah has not sent down any disease without sending down a cure for it” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5678).
- If reciting on yourself or someone else, place your hand on the affected area (or the head/chest for general illness). Reciting on a sick person from across the room is allowed too; physical contact is preferred but not required.
- Recite the full dua slowly and clearly, paying attention to the meaning rather than rushing through the words.
- Pair with Qur’anic ruqyah verses. The strongest documented combination is Surah al-Fatihah, Ayat al-Kursi, the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah, and the three Quls (Surah al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas). This is the Sunnah ruqyah package.
- Cup your hands and blow into them lightly (a soft puff of breath, not spitting), then wipe over the body or the affected area. This was the Prophet’s (ﷺ) own self-ruqyah method, narrated by his wife Aisha (RA) in Sahih al-Bukhari 5016.
- Repeat three or seven times if needed. Odd-number repetition is from the Sunnah for ruqyah; there is no obligation, but consistency over time matters more than a single long session.
- Combine with medical treatment, not as a replacement. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “O servants of Allah, treat yourselves (medically)” (Sunan Abi Dawud 3855). Ruqyah and medicine work together in the Islamic framework.
Benefits and Virtues
The benefits of Bismillahi Arqika trace directly to what the dua actually asks for — protection from harm, the evil eye, and envy, plus a request for healing from Allah Himself:
- Comprehensive protection. The phrase min kulli shay’in yu’dhika (“from everything that harms you”) is unrestricted — it covers physical illness, psychological distress, jinn-related harm and the effects of the evil eye.
- Defence against evil eye and envy. The Prophet (ﷺ) said “The evil eye is real” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5740). This dua names ‘ayn hasid (the envious eye) explicitly, making it one of the most targeted Sunnah duas against evil eye and jealousy.
- Healing as Allah’s act, not the reciter’s. The clause Allahu yashfika (“Allah heals you”) puts the healing squarely with Allah — the reciter is merely a means. This protects the practitioner from arrogance and the patient from shirk.
- Origin in angelic recitation. Because the wording was first recited by Jibreel over the Prophet (ﷺ), reciting it connects you to the original Sunnah model of ruqyah — not a folk practice, but an authenticated angelic supplication.
- No conditions, no time restriction. Unlike duas tied to specific salah or pilgrimage acts, Bismillahi Arqika can be recited anywhere, at any time, in any state of cleanliness, on behalf of yourself or others.
- Strengthens reliance on Allah (tawakkul). Reciting it regularly trains the heart to associate every fear of harm with Allah’s name first — the deepest spiritual benefit of any ruqyah practice.
Bismillahi Arqika vs. Allahumma Arqika and Common Spellings
Readers often search for variations of this dua because the same Arabic letters can be transliterated several ways in English, Urdu, Hindi and Bahasa romanisations. The phrase you may have seen written as Bismillah Arqika, Bismillahi Arqeeka, Bismillahi Arqeek, Bism Allah Arki Ka or even Bismillah Arqeeqa is in nearly every case the same dua — بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ — with a different romanisation convention. The Arabic is fixed; only the English spelling drifts.
One genuine distinction is worth highlighting: Allahumma Arqika (اللَّهُمَّ أَرْقِيكَ, “O Allah, I perform ruqyah for you”) is a slightly different phrasing some readers encounter. It is not the wording in Sahih Muslim 2186. The authentic prophetic dua begins with Bismillahi (“in the name of Allah”) rather than Allahumma (“O Allah”). Stick with the wording preserved in Sahih Muslim — that is the verified Sunnah.
Likewise the combined phrase Bismillahi arqika wallahu yashfika min kulli daa’in (“…and Allah will heal you from every illness”) that circulates on social media adds wording not present in the hadith. The authentic ending is simply Allahu yashfika, bismillahi arqika. If a phrase isn’t in the recorded hadith, treat it as a paraphrase, not the Sunnah text.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bismillahi Arqika min kulli shay’in mean in English?
The full phrase Bismillahi arqika min kulli shay’in yu’dhika translates as “In the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you, from everything that harms you.” It is the opening of the longer dua taught by Jibreel to the Prophet (ﷺ) in Sahih Muslim 2186. The word arqika means “I perform ruqyah for you” (recite healing words over you), and min kulli shay’in yu’dhika means “from every thing that harms you” — an unrestricted phrase covering all forms of harm.
Is it “Arqika,” “Arqeeka,” or “Arqeek” — which transliteration is correct?
All three are romanisations of the same Arabic word أَرْقِيكَ. The most common academic transliteration is arqika (used in the Dar-us-Salam English translation of Riyad as-Salihin). Arqeeka is a phonetic spelling that better captures the long i sound for English readers. Arqeek drops the final short a vowel (which Arabic speakers often soften in pronunciation). All three are the same word — choose whichever helps you pronounce it correctly. The Arabic spelling never changes.
Can a woman recite Bismillahi Arqika, or should it be Arqiki for females?
Anyone — male or female — can recite the dua. The grammar suffix changes based on who is being recited over, not who is reciting. When reciting over a male, use arqika. When reciting over a female, use arqiki (yu’dhiki, yashfiki, arqiki). When reciting on yourself, you can either keep the original wording from the hadith as a quotation, or use arqi nafsi (“I perform ruqyah on myself”) to make the verb agree with the first person. Women have always practised ruqyah in Islamic tradition — the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ), including Aisha (RA), are reported as performing ruqyah on him and on others.
What does “Allahu Yashfika” mean inside the dua?
Allahu yashfika (اللَّهُ يَشْفِيكَ) translates as “May Allah heal you” or “Allah will heal you.” It is the heart of the dua — the moment where the reciter explicitly attributes healing to Allah alone. The verb yashfi means “to cure / to grant complete recovery,” and Allah Himself uses this verb in Surah ash-Shu’ara 26:80 where Prophet Ibrahim (AS) says: “And when I am ill, it is He who cures me.” This is why ruqyah is never magic or self-empowerment in Islam — the cure is always Allah’s gift, the dua is just the means.
Can I recite Bismillahi Arqika on myself (Arqi Nafsi)?
Yes. Self-ruqyah is well-established in the Sunnah. The Prophet (ﷺ) himself would blow into his hands while reciting the Mu’awwidhat (Surah al-Falaq, Surah an-Nas, and according to one narration Surah al-Ikhlas), then wipe over his body — particularly when ill, before sleep, and during his final illness (Sahih al-Bukhari 5016). For Bismillahi Arqika, you can either keep the original wording as a recited quotation from the hadith, or adapt the verb to Bismillahi arqi nafsi, min kulli shay’in yu’dhini, min sharri kulli nafsin aw ‘aynin hasidin, Allahu yashfini, bismillahi arqi nafsi (“I perform ruqyah on myself…”). Both approaches are scholarly-accepted; the first preserves the prophetic text, the second matches the grammar to the speaker.
What’s the difference between Bismillahi Arqika and Allahumma Arqika?
Bismillahi Arqika (“In the name of Allah, I perform ruqyah for you”) is the authentic prophetic wording preserved in Sahih Muslim 2186. Allahumma Arqika (“O Allah, I perform ruqyah for you”) is a variant phrasing that circulates online but is not the recorded wording in the major hadith collections for this particular dua. They are similar in spirit but different in transmission status. For the Sunnah practice, use the Bismillahi wording — that is what Jibreel recited and what the Prophet (ﷺ) taught.
