Surahs for spiritual, physical and mental help

Allah has revealed The Quran as a guide for mankind till the end of time, giving us a guide to help us through our lives in times of joy or happiness, success or failure, in life and in death. Some surahs of the Holy Quran are valuable reading for help with different spiritual, physical and mental needs.

Some are from hadiths while others are transmitted from pious beings through experience. Not all are listed here as every ayah (sentence) of the Quran is beneficial in something.

Which Surahs To Read for Help

As the verse states: ‘And We send down of the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers…’ These surahs include Surah Fatiha, Surah Al-An’am, Surah Yusuf, Surah Duhaa and others. All verses of the Quran provide benefit and some surahs of the Holy Quran provide help with different spiritual, physical and mental health needs.

‘And We send down of the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.’
Quran [17:82]

Surah Fatiha (No.1)

Abu Huraira (RA) reported: The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Allah Almighty said: I have divided prayer between myself and my servant into two halves, and my servant shall have what he has asked for. When the servant says ‘all praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds,’ Allah says: My servant has praised me. When he says ‘the Gracious, the Merciful,’ Allah says: My servant has exalted me. When he says ‘the Master of the Day of Judgment,’ Allah says: My servant has glorified me and my servant has submitted to me. When he says ‘you alone we worship, you alone we ask for help,’ Allah says: This is between me and my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for. When he says ‘guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom you have favoured, not those who went astray,’ Allah says: This is for my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for. (Muslim)

Ayatul Kursi Benefits

Surah Baqarah (No. 2)

The Prophet (SAW) “Do not turn your houses into graves. Verily, Shaytaan does not enter the house where Surah Al-Baqarah is recited.” (Tirmidhi)

He also said: ‘Recite the Quran, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite It. Recite the two bright ones, al-Baqarah, and Surah Al ‘Imran, for on the Day of Resurrection they will come as two clouds or two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading for those who recite them. Recite Surah al-Baqarah, to take recourse to it is a blessing and to give it up is a cause of grief, and the magicians cannot confront it.” (Muslim)

The last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah. In a hadith Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: ‘Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah by night that will suffice him” (Bukhari)

He (SAW) said: ‘Indeed Allah wrote in a book two thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, and He sent down two Ayahs (verses) from it to end Surah al Baqarah with. If they are recited for three nights in a home, no Shaytaan (devil) shall come near it.’ (Tirmidhi)

Surah Al –An’am (No.6)

The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘The Quran was revealed in one-fifth part, whoever memorised it in one-fifth parts would not forget it. Except for Surah al An’am, which was revealed in its entirety; seen off by seventy angels from each heaven until they delivered it to the Prophet. Never has it been recited over a sick person, without Allah granting him a cure.’ (Baihaqi)

Surah Yusuf (No. 12)

The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Teach your relative the recitation of Surah Yusuf, for any Muslim who recites it or teaches it to his family and slaves, Allah shall ease for him the agony of death and give him the strength that will prevent him from envying a fellow Muslim.’ (Ibn Asakir)

Surah Kahf (No. 18)

The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Whoever recited Surah al Kahf in the same manner in which it was revealed, it will serve for him as a light on the Day of Judgement, from his domicile to Makkah. And whoever recited the last ten verses, and it happens that the Dajjal should appear after that, Dajjal will not be empowered over him.’ (Hakim)

Surah Yaseen (No. 36)

The Prophet (SAW) said: ‘Whoever recited Surah Yaseen in the night seeking Allah’s pleasure, Allah would forgive him.’ [Ibn Hibban)

The Prophet (SAW) also said: ‘Whoever recited Surah Yaseen would seem (in terms of reward) as if he had recited the Qur’an ten times.’ (Tirmidhi)

The Prophet (SAW): The person who reads Surah Yaseen every night, when he dies, he will die as a martyr.’ (Tabarani)

The following have been reported of the Surah also but we could not find the source:

The Prophet (SAW) said: Whoever reads Surah Yaseen in the beginning of the day, all his needs for that day are fulfilled.’

Surah Dukhan (No. 44)

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: ‘Whoever recites Ad-Dukhan during the night, in the morning seventy thousand angels seek forgiveness for him.’ (Tirmidhi)

Surah Waqiah (No. 56)

The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Whoever recites Surah al Waqiah at night would never encounter poverty’ (Ibn Sunni)

The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Surah al Waqiah is the Surah of Wealth, so recite it and teach it to your children.’ (Ibn Asakir)

Surah Hashr (No. 59)

The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Whoever when he wakes in the morning says ‘I seek refuge with Allah against the accursed Shaytaan’ and then recited three verses from the last part of Surah al Hashr, will be assigned seventy thousand angels to pray for him until the evening, and should he die that day, he would have died a martyr.’ (Ibn Ahmad)

Surah Mulk (No. 67)

The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Surah Mulk is the protector from the torment of the grave.’ (Hakim)

Surah Zilzaal (No. 99)

The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Whoever recited Surah Zilzaal would get the reward of reciting half the Quran.’ (Tirmidhi)

Surah Al-Adiyat (No. 100)

The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Whoever recites Adiyat his reward equals one half of the Quran.’ (Hakim, Tirmidhi)

Surah Al Kafiroon (No. 109)

The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Recite Surah al Kafiroon and then go to sleep after coming to its end, for it is a clearance from shirk.’ (Abu Dawud)

Surah Ikhlas (No. 112)

The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘By Him in Whose hand my soul is, it is equal to one-third of the Qur’an!’ (Bukhari)

Surah Falaq and Surah Naas (No. 113 & 114)

Aisha (RA) narrated, ‘Whenever Allah’s Apostle became sick, he would recite Mu’awwidhat (Surah Falaq and Surah Naas) and then blow his breath over his body. When he became seriously ill, I used to recite (these two Surahs) and rub his hands over his body hoping for its blessings.’ (Bukhari)

Other remedies from the Quran

The following have been mentioned in different sources but we could not find a source name so have been included as anecdotal or experiential remedies from pious beings and elders:

Surahs for stress, anxiety and depression

Removing fear and grief Recite Surah Nooh (No. 71) regularly.
To cure Insomnia Read Surah Al Mujadila (No. 58) to enable sound sleep quickly.
Preventing nightmares Reciting Surah Al Ma’aarij (No. 70) before going to bed is a safety measure against nightmares and unpleasant dreams.
Surah for sadness Reciting Surah Duha (No.93) helps you in times of sadness. Read it with knowing the meaning. It was revealed to the Prophet (SAW) in his time of sorrow.

Memorising of the Quran Recite Surah Muddathir (No. 74), then make dua. Insha’Allah memorising the Quran will become easy

Fulfilment of any need Reciting Surah Yaseen 41 times is effective in the fulfilment of needs.

Removing of poverty Recitation of Surah Qalam (No.68) in Salaah removes poverty. Also recitation of Surah Al-Qariah (No. 101) is effective in increasing one’s sustenance.

To have victory in a contest Recitation of Surah Feel (No. 105) will help achieve victory in any contest.

Protection of a vessel Recite Surah Luqmaan (No. 31) when embarking on a vessel, it will be a means of safeguarding from drowning etc.

Ailment of the heart Recite Surah Inshirah (No. 94) regularly.

Protection for an unborn or newborn child Recite Surah Al Haqqah (No. 69) regularly during pregnancy and near the newborn child after birth.

Remedy from migraine Recite Surah Takaathur (No. 102) continuously while suffering migraine.

Relief from kidney pain Recite Surah Quraish (No. 106) before consuming food to bring relief Insha’Allah.

Help with epilepsy Reciting Surah As Shams (No. 91) by the afflicted person or near them is believed to be very beneficial in its remedy.

Finding lost objects Recite Surah Duha (No. 93) a number of times while searching for the object.

Surah for marriage It is reported that reciting Surah Nuh (No. 71) is beneficial in this regard. Within this surah are the verses 10-12 which instruct to seek forgiveness of your Lord, after which not only will you be forgiven but will get an increase in wealth and children. And children come from marriage.

Surah for evil eye The Prophet said (SAW): ‘Qul Hoo wAllahu Ahad’ (No. 112) and ‘Muwaidaitain’ [al-Falaq and an-Naas No. 113 & 114] when you enter the evening and when you wake up in the morning three times and it will protect you from everything.”(Tirmidhi)

A piece of timeless advice for Muslims for whatever purpose you intend to pursue: