English translation
2276. Narrated Abū Saʿīd عَنهُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ:Some of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺwent on a journey till they reached some ofthe Arab tribes (at night). They asked thelatter to treat them as their guests but theyrefused. The chief of that tribe was thenbitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) andthey tried their best to cure him but in vain.Some of them said (to the others), "Nothinghas benefited him, will you go to the peoplewho resided here at night, it may be thatsome of them might possess something (astreatment)." They went to the group of theCompanions (of the Prophet ﷺ) and said,"Our chief has been bitten by a snake (orstung by a scorpion) and we have triedeverything but he has not benefited. Haveyou got anything (useful)?" One of themreplied, "Yes, by Allāh! I can recite a Ruqya,but as you have refused to accept us as yourguests, I will not recite the Ruqya for youunless you fix for us some wages for it." Theyagreed to pay them a flock of sheep. One ofthem then went and recited (Sūrat Al-Fātiḥa): All the praises and thanks be toAllāh, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind,jinn and all that exists). And puffed over thechief who became all right as if he wasreleased from a chain, and got up and startedwalking, showing no signs of sickness. Theypaid them what they agreed to pay. Some ofthem (i.e., the Companions) then suggestedto divide their earnings among themselves, but the one who performed the recitation said, "Do not divide them till we go to the Prophet ﷺ and narrate the whole story to him, and wait for his order." So, they went to Allāh's Messenger ﷺ and narrated the story. Allāh's Messenger ﷺ asked, "How did you come to know that Sūrat Al-Fātiha was recited as Ruqya?" Then he added, "You have done the right thing. Divide (what you have earned) and assign a share for me as well." The Prophet ﷺ smiled thereupon.