Answer:

The names of Allah Ta’ala and words of Qur’an Shareef have tremendous reward and effect. Some of them have been taught to us by the teachings of the Prophets in the Quran Eg. Yunus (Alayhis Salaam) Dua in distress:

لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

Some have been taught to us by Nabi (Sallahu alayhi wasallam) himself in the Ahadeeth. E.g. Whoever recites:

لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل قدير

(La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay in qadir) one hundred times in the day will receive the reward of freeing 10 slaves, one hundred rewards will be written for him and one hundred sins wiped away.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Certain practices have been advised by the Awliya (pious) based on their experience and have been proven through experience to be effective, although not definitive. The teachings based on the experiences of the Awliya should not be regarded as Sunnah nor a specific teaching of Islam.

A Wazifa (practice) is prescribed as a spiritual treatment and results in better spiritual health. This is likened to an individual that goes to the doctor and the doctor prescribes medication for him to take a certain amount at a certain time of the day as these have been tested in a lab and an individual takes the medication without asking the doctor for the proof. However, an individual should understand that the Wazifa and medication are both a treatment and not the curer. The curer is none other than Allah (SWT).

And Allah Knows Best
Darul Ihsan Fatwa Dept.