Medical Madani Pearls Bestowed by the Holy Rasool

Dear Islamic brothers! Our Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم not only told his Ummah the ways of attaining salvation in the Hereafter, but also guided them on how to lead a successful and healthy life. Below are the Madani pearls bestowed by the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم regarding medical science:

Importance of stomach in a human body

The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: Stomach is the pond of body and veins are connected to it. If stomach is fine, then veins return back fine too. And if the stomach is unwell, then they [i.e. veins] return back with an illness. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 5, pp. 66, Hadees 5796)

Clarification: Veins carry healthy food and beneficial body fluids from stomach to other body parts, because of which, one remains healthy. This Hadees is the essence of medical science that ‘If stomach is fine, then whole body is fine. And if stomach is unwell, then the whole body falls ill’. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 247)

What things possess cure?

Those things which have been mentioned to be beneficial in blessed Ahadees; out of those, 12 things are mentioned below:

1. Honey: The one who licks honey in the morning for three days every month, no major calamity would befall him. (Sunan Ibn Majah, vol. 4, pp. 94, Hadees 3450)

Honey sherbet [sweet drink] possesses such effectiveness which even experienced doctors are unaware of. Honey is extremely beneficial for phlegmy ailments. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 251)

2. Cucumber: Hold firm upon cucumber because Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has kept [bestowed] cure for every ailment in it. (Kanz-ul-’Ummal, vol. 5, pp. 19, part 10, Hadees 28277)

3. Date:

 *Eating seven ‘Ajwah dates of Madinah Munawwarah daily for seven days are beneficial for leprosy. (Al-Kamil li Ibn ‘Adee, vol. 7, pp. 407)

*‘Ajwah date is from Paradise. It possesses cure from poison. (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 4, pp. 17, Hadees 2073)

*If anyone eats seven ‘Ajwah dates in the morning (before eating anything else), he will remain safe from magic spell and poison that day. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 3, pp. 540, Hadees 5225)

*By eating date, one does not get afflicted with the ailment of colic (i.e. appendix pain). (Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, vol. 5, pp. 12, part 10, Hadees 28191)

*Eating dates in the morning before eating anything else kills stomach worms. (Al-Jami’-us-Sagheer, pp. 398, Hadees 6394)

4. Nigella seed: Nigella seeds have cure for every ailment except death. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 18, Hadees 5687)

5. Fenugreek: Attain cure from fenugreek. (Tanzeeh-ush-Shari’ah, vol. 2, pp. 246)

6. Large raisin: Eat it, as it [large raisin] is an excellent food. Large raisins strengthen blood vessels and muscles, eliminate weakness, calm down anger, eliminate phlegm, brighten up facial complexion, and make mouth fragrant. (Kashf-ul-Khifa, vol. 2, pp. 291, Hadees 2839)

Small sized raisins are referred to as Kishmish [in Urdu] and big sized raisins are referred to as Munaqqa [in Urdu]. (Payt ka Qufl-e-Madinah, pp. 150)

7. Talbinah^[1]: There is cure for every ailment in Talbinah. (Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, vol. 5, pp. 16, part 10, Hadees 28242)

*A Talbinah comforts an ill heart and removes some grief. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 19, Hadees 5689)

Clarification: In ‘Arab Sharif, they cook flour or chaff thinned. And put some milk and honey in it. In Urdu, it is called “Lapta” and in Punjab, they call it “Seirah”. Because it is thin and white like milk, that’s why it is called Talbinah. It is very light food and it digests quickly. It is given to many patients. It is easy on stomach. It strengthens the heart. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 17)

8. Quince (a fruit like pear and apple): Eat quince in the morning (before eating anything else) because it removes heartburn. (Al-Jami’-us-Sagheer, pp. 398, Hadees 6404)

9. Eating watermelon before food washes stomach thoroughly and uproots the disease completely. (Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, vol. 5, pp. 20, part 10, Hadees 28283)

10. Eat olive and use its oil, because it has cure for seventy (70) diseases. Out of which, leprosy is one of them. (Al-Jami’-us-Sagheer, pp. 398, Hadees 6392)

11. Miswak possesses cure for every disease except death. (Al-Jami’-us-Sagheer, pp. 297, Hadees 4840)

12. Aab-e-Zam Zam is a cure for every disease. (Jam’-ul-Jawami’, vol. 6, pp. 190, Hadees 18373)

Prohibition from unwholesome things

The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has pointed out those things as well that can cause harm to the human health. Two blessed Ahadees are mentioned below in this regard:

1. One who drinks water in the morning (before eating anything else), his strength decreases. (Majma’-uz-Zawaid, vol. 5, pp. 142, Hadees 8292)

2. The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم prohibited from using impure medicine. (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 4, pp. 7, Hadees 2052)

Clarification: Impure refers to ‘Haraam or filthy medicines’. Few commentators are of the opinion that impure refers to unpleasant and smelly medicines. (Mirqat) i.e. do not feed patients the medicines that are extremely unpleasant or have foul odour. As there is a danger of one falling severely ill because of this. Especially, those who have sensitive nature. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 228)

Prevention advised by the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Munzir رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا states: (One day), the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم came to my house with Sayyiduna ‘Ali کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم. We had bunches of dates hanging. The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم started eating them. Sayyiduna ‘Ali کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم also joined him and started eating them. The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘O ‘Ali! Stop, stop! (i.e. refrain from eating these dates), because you still have weakness (i.e. you have just recovered from the illness and sign of weakness is apparent on you. Therefore, prevention is important for you)’. Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Munzir رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا says: Then I cooked beetroot and barley for them. Then the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘O ‘Ali! Eat from it because this is beneficial and suitable for you.’ (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 4, pp. 3, Hadees 2013)

In relation to this blessed Hadees, Hakeem-ul-Ummat, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه says: The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is also a great physician (in fact, he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the physician of all physicians). He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم knows everything; medicines, prevention, unwholesome and beneficial diet. We also came to know that prevention is mandatory for an ill person; in fact, even for the one who has just recovered from an illness and is still weak. Doctors say that prevention is more important than medicine, as it is said, ‘Prevention is better than cure’. Medicine without prevention is just like Salah without Wudu. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 37)

Do not compel [patients] to eat or drink

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: Do not compel your ailing people on eating and drinking because Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ feeds them. (Sunan Ibn Majah, vol. 4, pp. 91, Hadees 3444)

Clarification: Some patients hate eating and drinking. Those who go to visit them should refrain from compelling them to eat or drink. In this “not eating” of theirs, there is betterment for them. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 225)

Three miscellaneous blessed sayings of Beloved Mustafa صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

1. If someone among you is sitting in shade and the shadow withdraws from him so that he is partly in sun and partly in shade, he should get up from there. (Abu Dawood, vol. 4, pp. 338, Hadees 4821)

Clarification: He should either move in complete shade, or in complete sunlight. Because shade is cold and sunlight is warm; therefore, taking both coolness and warmth, at the same time on the body is harmful for health. Therefore, one should refrain from it. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 387)

2. Do not leave dinner. At least eat a fistful of dates (if you don’t find anything). Because leaving dinner makes old age befall (quicker). (Sunan Ibn Majah, vol. 4, pp. 50, Hadees 3355)

3. سَافِرُوا تَصِحُّوا: Travel, you will become healthy. (Al-Jami’-us-Sagheer, pp. 284, Hadees 4624)

My dear Islamic brothers! By travelling, one’s climate changes and he gains more experiences. Keep travelling with the Sunnah learning Madani Qafilahs of Dawat-e-Islami with the intention of gaining reward.  اِنْ شَآءَاللہ عَزَّ وَجَلََّ you will attain reward as well as there will be blessings in your health too. If you merely make the intention of becoming healthier, then the reward of Hereafter will not be gained. (Gharaylu ‘Ilaj, pp. 25)

Can everyone use the treatment mentioned in Hadees?

One should not carry out the treatments mentioned in the blessed Ahadees himself. Undoubtedly, blessed sayings of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم are absolutely and certainly true. However, it is possible that the treatments that the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has advised, were for special occasions, in accordance with the suitability of the climate, and suitable for the nature of specific type of people. As in relation to the Hadees ‘فِی الحَبَّةِ السَّودَاءِ شِفَاءٌ مِّن کُلِّ داءٍ اِلَّاالسَّامَ’ (i.e. nigella seed has cure for everything except death), Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه says: (Cure from) every disease refers to having cure from the diseases relating to phlegm and mucus. Because nigella seed is dry and has warm effect, that’s why it is effective for the diseases relating to moistness and winter.

(He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه further states): Here, it is referred to the common ‘diseases of ‘Arab. (Mirqat) Meaning that nigella seed is beneficial for the common Arab diseases. Be mindful that the medicines prescribed in the blessed Ahadees shall only be used after consulting with an experienced doctor. Do not use (the medicines prescribed to the people of Arab) merely based on your own judgement, as our physique and nature is different to the people of Arab.

(Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 216 to 217)

Mareezaan-e-jahan ko tum shifa daytay ho dam bhar mayn

Khudara dard ka ho mayray darmaan Ya Rasoolallah

You grant cure to the ailing ones of the world instantly

Please cure my ailment as well, Ya Rasoolallah

(Qabala-e-Bakhshish, pp. 127)