The Reception of the Qur'an in Traditional Medical Practice: A Living Qur'an Study of the Therapeutic Dimension of the Qur'an
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59373/drs.v3i2.69Keywords:
Living Qur'an, Qur'an Reception, Traditional Medicine, Spiritual Therapy, Religious PracticesAbstract
This study aims to analyze the practice of using Quranic verses as a medium for healing and to understand its meaning as well as public responses to it. The phenomenon of Quranic verse-based healing represents a form of living reception of the Quran embedded within socio-religious practices. In this context, Quranic verses are not only regarded as sacred texts recited in acts of worship but are also interpreted as therapeutic instruments believed to possess spiritual power in the healing process. This practice is typically carried out by traditional healers known as molang, individuals recognized within the community for their specialized knowledge and experience in utilizing Quranic verses as healing media. Employing a qualitative approach with the Living Quran method, this field research focuses on the functional reception of the Quran within society. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation involving healers and community members who engage with these practices. The analysis was conducted through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that healing practices performed by molang, such as Abdullah Marjuki and Ridwan Janan, combine the recitation of Quranic verses with specific media, forming a distinctive model of traditional medicine. These verses are believed to carry spiritual efficacy capable of addressing various illnesses. Strong public trust contributes significantly to the continuity of this practice. Overall, community responses indicate positive perceptions of its effectiveness, enabling this tradition to persist within religious and cultural life.
Downloads
References
Alimin, M., Nawas, M. Z. A., Thaha, H., Syahruddin, S., & Gita, G. (2026). The Performative Reception of The Qur’an in Mappasuru’ Tradition: A Living Qur’an Study in Tampumia Village. Al Muhafidz: Jurnal Ilmu Al-Qur’an Dan Tafsir, 6(1), 94–108. https://doi.org/10.57163/8qw57m90
AUBERLET, J.-M., BHASKAR, A., CIUFFO, B., FARAH, H., HOOGENDOORN, R., & LEONHARDT, A. A. (2014). Data collection techniques. In Traffic Simulation and Data. CRC Press.
Azizah, N., Mustofa, A., & Nadlir, M. A. (2025). Verses of Shifa’: A Response to Qur’anic Verses As a Health Intervention. Syntax Idea, 7(3), 499–515. https://doi.org/10.46799/syntaxidea.v7i3.12733
Baker, M. J. (2003). Data Collection – Questionnaire Design. The Marketing Review, 3(3), 343–370. https://doi.org/10.1362/146934703322383507
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. SAGE.
DeLong-Bas, N. J. (2022). The Qur’an: Ritual, Practice, Embodiment, and Culture. In Routledge Handbook of Islamic Ritual and Practice. Routledge.
Eyssartier, C., Ladio, A. H., & Lozada, M. (2008). Cultural Transmission of Traditional Knowledge in two populations of North-western Patagonia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 4(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-4-25
Faris, S. (2024). Sunnah as a Bridge between Theological and Practical Dimensions. Dirasah International Journal of Islamic Studies, 2(2), 120–135. https://doi.org/10.59373/drs.v2i2.31
Fateha, T. N., & Mansur, S. (2025). Konstruksi Konsep Penyembuhan dalam Al-Qur’an: (Studi Interpretatif Ayat-Ayat Tentang Syifa’). Reflection : Islamic Education Journal, 2(4), 42–52. https://doi.org/10.61132/reflection.v2i4.1481
Gilson, L. (2003). Trust and the development of health care as a social institution. Social Science & Medicine, 56(7), 1453–1468. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(02)00142-9
Gilson, L. (2006). Trust in health care: Theoretical perspectives and research needs. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 20(5), 359–375. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777260610701768
Haque, A., & Keshavarzi, H. (2014). Integrating indigenous healing methods in therapy: Muslim beliefs and practices. International Journal of Culture and Mental Health, 7(3), 297–314. https://doi.org/10.1080/17542863.2013.794249
Haque, Md. I., Chowdhury, A. B. M. A., Shahjahan, Md., & Harun, Md. G. D. (2018). Traditional healing practices in rural Bangladesh: A qualitative investigation. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 18(1), 62. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-018-2129-5
Hechehouche, O., Dzulkifli, M. A., & Alias, I. A. (2020). The Quranic-based Healing through Sound and its Psychological Effect: A Review of Literature. IIUM JOURNAL OF HUMAN SCIENCES, 2(2), 75–80. https://doi.org/10.31436/ijohs.v2i2.172
Kulsoom, B. (2024). RUQYAH: LISTENING TO QURANIC VERSES, A DISEASE TREATMENT STRATEGY. International Journal of Islamic and Complementary Medicine, 5(1), 56–70. https://doi.org/10.55116/IJICM.V5I1.64
Lestari, B., Hafidzi, A., Syifa, L. N., Nadhir, M. I., Fikri, I., Na`Imah, H., & Dr. H. Hamdan Mahmud, M. A. (2023). Islamic Law Guidelines Regarding The Banjar People’s Belief In Using Turmeric And Whiting To Cure ‘Kepidaraan’. Indonesian Journal of Islamic Jurisprudence, Economic and Legal Theory, 1(2), 85–91. https://doi.org/10.62976/ijijel.v1i2.14
Ma’arif, C., Rahman, N. H. B. A., & Muslih, M. K. (2024). From Living Qur’ān to Living Īmān: Syed Naquib al-Attas’s Reception of Theological Verses and the Formulation of New Kalam. Religia, 27(1), 103–124. https://doi.org/10.28918/religia.v27i1.8564
Maisyanah, Rahman, A., Kholis, N., Bakar, M. Y. A., & Hasan, A. A. A. (2024). Living Qur’an Approach to Improve Critical Thinking Skills in Islamic Religious Education Learning. Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education, 8(4), 1383–1398. https://doi.org/10.35723/ajie.v8i4.7
Martin, R. C. (1982). Understanding the Qurʾan in Text and Context. History of Religions, 21(4), 361–384. https://doi.org/10.1086/462906
Mazzocchi, F. (2006). Western science and traditional knowledge. The EMBO Reports, 7(5), 463–466. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.embor.7400693
MILES, M. B., & HUBERMAN, A. M. (1984). Drawing Valid Meaning from Qualitative Data: Toward a Shared Craft. Educational Researcher, 13(5), 20–30. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X013005020
Mulder, D. C. (1983). The ritual of the recitation of the Qur’an. NTT Journal for Theology and the Study of Religion, 37(3), 247–252. https://doi.org/10.5117/NTT1983.3.008.MULD
Nusaibah, N., & Sanuri, S. (2025a). The Revelation of Al-Fatihah: A Tafsir-Based Analysis of Its Context, Themes and Societal Impact. QiST: Journal of Quran and Tafseer Studies, 4(2), 569–590. https://doi.org/10.23917/qist.v4i2.10863
Nusaibah, N., & Sanuri, S. (2025b). The Revelation of Al-Fatihah: A Tafsir-Based Analysis of Its Context, Themes and Societal Impact. QiST: Journal of Quran and Tafseer Studies, 4(2), 569–590. https://doi.org/10.23917/qist.v4i2.10863
Rafiq, A. (2021). The Living Qur’an: Its Text and Practice in the Function of the Scripture. Jurnal Studi Ilmu-Ilmu Al-Qur’an Dan Hadis, 22(2), 469–484. https://doi.org/10.14421/qh.2021.2202-10
Rosyad, A., & Amin, M. Y. K. (2023). The Tradition of Reciting Al-Fatihah as Healing at Al-Banat Gondang. Jurnal Semiotika-Q: Kajian Ilmu al-Quran Dan Tafsir, 3(2), 113–140. https://doi.org/10.19109/jsq.v3i2.20873
Saeed, A. (2005). Interpreting the Qur’an: Towards a Contemporary Approach. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203016770
Saeed, A. (2014). Reading the Qur’an in the Twenty-First Century: A Contextualist Approach. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315870922
Saniy, F. H., Gafar, L. A., Affandi, A. K., & Ghozi, M. D. N. (2025). The Healing Practice of Ustadz Akiluddin in Mamben Daya Village, Wanasaba District: A Living Qur’an Study of Surah Al-Isrā’ Verse 82. Al-Fahmu: Jurnal Ilmu Al-Qur’an Dan Tafsir, 4(2), 427–441. https://doi.org/10.58363/alfahmu.v4i2.282
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Mauhibur Rokhman, Ari Kartiko, Bahrudin Zamawi, Srikandi Maryati

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Dirasah International Journal of Islamic Studies by Perkumpulan Dosen Tarbiyah Islam Indonesia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at.




