Volume 7, Book 71, Number 645:
Narrated Abu Said:
A group of the companions of Allah’s Apostle proceeded on a journey till they dismounted near
one of the Arab tribes and requested them to entertain them as their guests, but they (the tribe
people) refused to entertain them. Then the chief of that tribe was bitten by a snake (or stung by a
scorpion) and he was given all sorts of treatment, but all in vain. Some of them said, “Will you go to
the group (those travelers) who have dismounted near you and see if one of them has something
useful?” They came to them and said, “O the group! Our leader has been bitten by a snake (or stung
by a scorpion) and we have treated him with everything but nothing benefited him Has anyone of
you anything useful?” One of them replied, “Yes, by Allah, I know how to treat with a Ruqya. But. by
Allah, we wanted you to receive us as your guests but you refused. I will not treat your patient with a
Ruqya till you fix for us something as wages.” Consequently they agreed to give those travellers a
flock of sheep. The man went with them (the people of the tribe) and started spitting (on the bite)
and reciting Surat-al-Fatiha till the patient was healed and started walking as if he had not been
sick. When the tribe people paid them their wages they had agreed upon, some of them (the
Prophet’s companions) said, “Distribute (the sheep).” But the one who treated with the Ruqya said,
“Do not do that till we go to Allah’s Apostle and mention to him what has happened, and see what he
will order us.” So they came to Allah’s Apostle and mentioned the story to him and he said, “How do
you know that Surat-al-Fatiha is a Ruqya? You have done the right thing. Divide (what you have
got) and assign for me a share with you.”