Should he read Qur’aan for those who are affected by the jinn or focus on da’wah?

We need to make da’wah, but one of us is focusing on treating those who are affected by the jinn.
Is it permissible to neglect da’wah in order to do this deed? How should those who are affected by evil whispers from the jinn be treated? Is it permissible to accept payment for this reading?.

Praise be to Allaah.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked this question and he said:

Calling people to Allaah (da’wah) is a communal obligation (fard kafaayah); if sufficient people undertake to do it, the rest are then absolved of the obligation. If a person finds that he has to do it and no one else can take his place, then it takes priority over reading Qur’aan over one who is affected by the jinn. That is because the results of da’wah are certain whereas the results of reading Qur’aan over one who is affected by the jinn may not be certain. How many people have had Qur’aan recited over them and have not benefited.

So if this man realizes that he has to do da’wah and no one else can take his place, then he must do da’wah even if that means he does not recite Qur’aan over one who is affected the jinn.

But if it is the matter of fard kafaayah, then you should look and decide what is in people’s best interests. If it is possible to combine the two – which seems to be the case – by devoting a day for one and day for the other whilst continuing to engage in da’wah, that is better, so that he may benefit his Muslim brothers who are suffering from this affliction and so that the work of calling people to Allaah may continue at the same time.

With regard to the correct treatment of those who are affected by the jinn, that varies from one case to another, but the best is to recite Qur’aan over the person, such as the words (interpretation of the meaning):

“O assembly of jinn and men! If you have power to pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth, then pass beyond (them)! But you will never be able to pass them, except with authority (from Allaah)!

Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men) deny?

There will be sent against you both, smokeless flames of fire and (molten) brass, and you will not be able to defend yourselves.

Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men) deny?”
[al-Rahmaan 55:33-36]

Because this reminds them [the jinn] that they cannot flee from Allaah. You should also recite al-Mi’wadhatayn [the last two Soorahs of the Qur’aan] and Qul Huwa Allaahu Ahad [al-Ikhlaas 112] and Aayat al-Kursiy [al-Baqarah 2:255]. You may also preach to them as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah used to do, telling them, “It is haraam for you to harm the Muslims or to beat them,” etc.

With regard to accepting payment for that: if he does not take money that is better, but if he takes it without stipulating payment beforehand that is acceptable. If those for whom he is reading do not carry out their duties towards the reader and he insists that he will only read for them if he is given something in return, there is nothing wrong with that, as this is what the people of the raiding party sent out by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did. It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “A group of the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) set out on a journey and traveled until they stopped in (the land of) one of the Arab tribes. They asked them for hospitality but they refused to welcome them. The chief of that tribe was stung by a scorpion and they tried everything but nothing helped them. Some of them said, ‘Why don’t you go to those people who are camped (near us), maybe you will find something with them.’ So they went to them and said, ‘O people, our chief has been stung by a scorpion and we have tried everything but nothing helped him. Can any of you do anything?’ One of them said, ‘Yes, by Allaah, I will recite ruqyah for him, but by Allaah we asked you for hospitality and you did not welcome us, so I will not recite ruqyah for you until you give us something in return.’ Then they agreed upon a flock of sheep.’ Then he went and spat drily and recited over him Al-hamdu Lillaahi Rabb il-‘Aalameen [Soorat al-Faatihah]. (The chief) got up as if he was released from a chain and started walking, and there were no signs of sickness on him. They paid them what they agreed to pay. Some of them (i.e. the companions) then suggested to divide their earnings among themselves, but the one who performed the ruqyah said, ‘Do not divide them until we go to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and tell him what happened, then wait and see what he tells us to do.’ So they went to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and told him what had happened. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked, ‘How did you know that it (al-Faatihah) is a ruqyah?’ Then he added, ‘You have done the right thing. Share out (the flock of sheep) and give me a share too.’ And the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) smiled.”

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2276; Muslim, 2201)