A few Sunnah medicines and their benefits in the light of Ahadith

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Among your kohl, the best is Asmad, which brightens the eyesight and makes the eyelashes thick.”

Benefits:

Asmad is a black kohl stone that is obtained not only from Iran but also from several other countries. The best quality of Asmad is that which crumbles very quickly, has a shine in its particles, its inner part is smooth, and it is free from dust.
Asmad is cold and dry, strengthens the eyes, strengthens the eye muscles, eliminates excess moisture, and removes dust and dirt from the eyes. It sharpens vision, and if mixed with honey and put into the eyes, it will relieve headaches. If ground with fat and applied to a burnt area, it prevents contraction in the wound. It is the staff of old age. Mixed with musk, it is extremely beneficial for weak eyesight. At night before sleeping, apply three strokes in both eyes. Grinding it finely in rose water and using it is very beneficial.

It is narrated from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that a woman’s husband passed away (during the waiting period of ‘Iddah), and that woman began to have eye pain. People mentioned this to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and they mentioned kohl before him.
Explanation:
Maulana Dawood Raz Dehlavi (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote in the explanation of this hadith that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not permit the application of kohl during the waiting period due to eye inflammation caused by ‘Iddah. If it were not for the ‘Iddah, he would have permitted the application of kohl for eye pain.

In Sunan Ibn Majah, Muhammad bin Sirin, may Allah have mercy on him, narrated a hadith from Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, that he heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: The treatment for sciatica (Arq al-Nisa) is to cook and boil the thigh of a wild goat, then divide its broth into three parts, and then consume the broth on an empty stomach for three days (remember) it should be taken daily on an empty stomach.

, its narrators are trustworthy, and Al-Busiri wrote in Zawaid

that its chains of narration are authentic.
The sayings of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, are of two types: one is general, considering time, place, persons, and circumstances, while the other is specific, where some or all of these factors are taken into account. This hadith falls into the latter category because its audience was the Arabs of Hijaz and its surroundings, especially the rough people of the villages. This treatment is most beneficial for these Bedouin people because this disease usually arises due to dryness, and sometimes it is caused by a thick, fatty substance, which is treated by inducing diarrhea. The thigh meat has two properties: to cook (digest) the substance and to expel it, both of which are needed in this disease. The wild goat is specified because it has fewer impurities (waste) and a concentrated amount of essence with delicacy. This is because the plants that these goats graze on are of a warm nature, and when these plants are fed to an animal, their meat acquires those delicate elements included in the diet. Moreover, after digestion and becoming nourishment for the body, even more delicacy is produced, especially in the thigh meat, where the effect of these plants is stronger than in the meat itself, and this effect is also seen in their milk. However, the cooking and expelling properties found in the thigh meat are not observed in the milk.

(Dr. Adel Azhari wrote that sciatica affects both males and females equally. There is no gender distinction, but the pain is unusually severe in women. The disease starts from the lower part of the spine, then the pain moves towards the thigh, then the back part of the thigh is affected, sometimes suddenly extending to the ankles. Eventually, the soft bone connection between the vertebrae is lost, or heat develops in the muscles. The treatment is to give the patient complete bed rest for two weeks and administer painkillers and analgesics. Aspirin, etc., provide relief and comfort to the patient.)

In Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, Imam Nafi’ (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Fever or high fever is the heat of Hellfire; cool it down with water by sprinkling, ablution, or bathing in any way.”
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) instructed to drink water while sitting and in three breaths, and said that it is pleasant, quenches the veins, and is easily digestible.

Properties:

This is the essence of life and the chief of beverages, one of the four elements and indeed its fundamental member. Because the heavens were created from its vapor, the earth’s formation came into being from its foam, and Allah Almighty created living beings from water alone.
There is a difference of opinion about water whether it acts as food or merely as a medium for the penetration of food. Water is colder; it removes heat, protects the body’s moisture, compensates for the moisture that is lost, makes food subtle, and delivers it into the body’s veins.
The quality of water is known in ten ways:
● By its color, it is known whether it is clean and pure.
● By its smell, it is known that it should not have any other odor.
● By prayer, medicine, and incantation, the Prophetic method of treatment.
● By taste, it is known that it should be sweet and delicious, like the water of the Nile and Euphrates.
● By its weight, it is known that it should be light and its consistency delicate.
● Its quality is known by its passage, that its path and passage are excellent.
● By its source, that the place from which its water emerges is distant.
● By exposure to sunlight and air, it is known that it is not subterranean water where sunlight and air cannot pass.
● By its movement, that it flows swiftly.
● By its abundance, it is known that it is so plentiful that it can remove the impurities mixed with it.
● By the direction of its flow, it is known that it flows from north to south or from west to east.
If these qualities are observed, they are found entirely in only four rivers: the Nile, the Euphrates, the Sihon, and the Jihon.
In Sahih Muslim, it is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
Sihon, Jihon, Nile, and Euphrates are all among the rivers of Paradise.
Imam Muslim mentioned this under the chapter “The Book of Paradise and the Description of its Bliss,” in the section “What in this world are the rivers of Paradise”

.
The lightness of water is estimated in three ways:
● Water is greatly affected by cold and heat and accepts them very quickly; hence, the statement of the wise Hippocrates that the water which warms and cools quickly is the lightest.
● It is estimated by a scale.
● Two equal weights of cotton are soaked in different types of water, then completely dried and weighed; the one that is lightest indicates the lightness of that water.
Although water is essentially colder, its strength varies and changes due to some temporary cause that leads to its alteration. Because water whose northern part is exposed and the other part is covered is cold, and it has slight dryness caused by the northern wind; similarly, the ruling applies to water from other directions.

Water Coming Out of the Ear

This water will be according to the condition of that ear, and drinking it will have a similar effect on the body. Sweet water is beneficial for both patients and healthy people. Cold and sweet water is more beneficial and delicious. It is not appropriate to drink it on an empty stomach, after intercourse, or after eating fresh fruit. However, if taken in sips, it will never cause harm but will strengthen the stomach, stimulate desire, and quench thirst.

Lukewarm Water

Lukewarm water causes bloating and shows effects contrary to the mentioned benefits. Stale lukewarm water is better than fresh. The internal use of cold water is more beneficial than its external use, and hot water is the opposite. Cold water is more beneficial in blood disorders. Similarly, steam prevents it from going to the head and protects from blood disorders; it is suitable for hot-tempered, hot climate and season, and young people, and it is definitely harmful in the need for maturation and dissolution (maturation means cooking the substance and dissolution means dissolving it in the body), such as colds, inflammation, etc. Very cold water damages the teeth, and excessive use of such water bursts the blood and aggravates the cold.

Cold Water

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “Fever is from the heat of Hellfire; cool it with water.”

When a woman suffering from fever was brought to Hazrat Asma bint Abi Bakr, may Allah be pleased with her, she would sprinkle water on her chest and say, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, commanded us to cool fever with water.

Very Cold or Hot Water

Both nerves and most bodily organs are harmed. This is because one is a solvent (dissolving agent) and the other thickens substances. Warm water eliminates the inflammation of waste humors (according to ancient physicians, blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile are called the body’s humors). It performs the work of maturation and dissolution. It expels waste fluids (excess substances). It revitalizes the body and generates heat in it. Drinking it disrupts digestion. When taken with food, it floats on the upper surface of the stomach and loosens it. It is not very effective in quenching thirst. Warm water is suitable for making the body lean. However, its external use is very beneficial.

There is no authentic hadith or effect properly established regarding water heated by the severity of ailments. Neither did any ancient physician consider it harmful nor did they deem it defective. It is the purifier of waste diseases. It is harmful in most diseases but suitable for the elderly. Similarly, it is very beneficial for epilepsy, patients with headaches caused by cold, and those suffering from eye inflammation. Warm water melts kidney fat.

In short! Water has countless virtues; it is life itself. It is the most important element of the universe; human, animal, and plant life all depend on it. It is cooler but quickly absorbs heat, preserves the body’s moisture, dissolves food, and penetrates the veins. Its benefits and properties vary according to different times and places. In the Quran, rainwater is called blessed water, and some rivers’ water is described as from Paradise. The waters of canals, rivers, seas, wells, springs, rain, hail, and snow each have distinct properties.

Imam Bukhari has narrated a chapter stating that fever is the steam of Hell.

Nafi reported that when Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) had a fever, he would pray: “O Allah! Remove this punishment from us.”

Due to heat, Hell is likened to steam. And the truth of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is: “Patience with fever is a reward,” and the prayer made during fever is even more effective. The Prophet frequently supplicated:

اللهم إني أسألك العفو والعافية

“O Allah! I ask You for well-being.”

In one narration, it is said to cool (fever) with Zamzam water. This refers to fever caused by the agitation of yellow bile; in such cases, bathing with cold water or washing hands and feet is also beneficial. Modern medicine has also accepted that using ice in severe fever is of the same kind.

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Fever is from the steam of Hell, so cool it with water.”

One branch of contemporary medicine is hydrotherapy, which is quite advanced. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) was sent by Allah Almighty as a treasure of all beneficial knowledge. Therefore, the principles he presented in medicine are so comprehensive that no wise person can refute them.

Prophetic Instructions Regarding the Treatment of Fever

In Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, Imam Nafi’ (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Fever or high fever is the heat of Hellfire; cool it down by sprinkling water, ablution, or bathing in any way.”
(Bukhari mentioned this in

in the “Book of Medicine” where he established the chapter “Fever is the steam of Hellfire,” and Muslim mentioned it in Hadith number

under the chapter “There is a cure for every disease.” Some physicians say that in every case of fever when the heat rises greatly, two types of treatment with water are done. The first method is to externally apply ice or water to cool down the temperature, and the second method is to repeatedly give water orally so that all the body organs, especially the kidneys, are activated to perform their functions for the body’s energy.)

Fever also brings great benefit to the body which no medicine can provide; generally, such beneficial fever lasts for one day. These fevers open up obstructions in the intestines that cannot be opened by medicines. In short, where fever is worrisome, it is also beneficial. Whether the eye inflammation is new or old, such fevers cause it to disappear in a way that the intellect fails to understand how it happened. Similarly, fever is a cause of relief from paralysis, facial palsy, and stroke (a disease in which muscles become stiff).

Regarding the treatment of fever, a Marfu’ narration from Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) has been reported by Abu Nu’aym (may Allah have mercy on him):
“When any of you has a fever, sprinkle cold water on the one afflicted with fever for three days early in the morning.”
(Hakim mentioned this in Al-Mustadrak

and Dhahabi authenticated and agreed with it exactly as they did. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote in Fath al-Bari that its chain is strong, and Ziya al-Maqdisi mentioned it in Mukhtarah, and Haithami attributed it to Tabarani in Majma’

and said all its narrators are trustworthy.)

Elsewhere, a Marfu’ narration from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) is mentioned in Sunan Ibn Majah:
“Fever is one of the furnaces of Hellfire; remove it with cold water.”

(Ibn Majah narrated this under Hadith number

and declared its narrators trustworthy, and Busrī in his Zawa’id authenticated its chains and considered the narrators trustworthy.)

Stale Water

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah رضي الله عنهما that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم went to the house of an Ansari companion, and with him was his companion (Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه). He said: “If you have stale water from last night kept in a water-skin, then serve it to us, otherwise we will drink the water directly.” That companion was watering his garden and said, “O Messenger of Allah! I have stale water here.” The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم went under a shed. So he took both guests with him, took water in a bowl, and added milk from one of his goats, which the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم drank, and his companion Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه also drank.

Water from Ice and First Rainfall

It is narrated in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from the Prophet ﷺ that he used to say this supplication at the beginning of the prayer:
“O Allah! Wash away my sins with water like snow and hail.”
Snow contains a smoky (smoke-like) quality and substance, and its water also has the same quality. There is wisdom implied in asking for sins to be washed away with snow water. It has been explained earlier that from it, the heart gains coolness, strength, and vigor, and through it, the true nature of the treatment of hearts and bodies is revealed. It becomes clear how diseases should be treated with their opposites (contrary temperaments).
Hail water is more pleasant and delicate compared to snow, but frozen and solid water will have qualities according to its state. The goodness and harm in the snow that falls on mountains or lands depend on their condition. After bathing, sexual intercourse, exercise, and eating hot food, one should strictly avoid drinking snow water. Similarly, patients with cough, chest pain, liver weakness, and those with a cold temperament should avoid it.

Water from Wells and Drains

Well water is usually very light, while water from underground drains is heavy. This is because well water is stagnant and may contain impurities, and air does not pass through drain water. It should be taken out and drunk immediately. It is better to let it sit for a while so that the air can do its work, and if it is used after one night, it is even better. Water that passes through hard soil or comes from an unused well is the worst, especially when its soil is also bad, making it even worse and harder to digest.

Watermelon is called Batikh in Arabic. Watermelon was also present in Arabia. It is commonly found here in Pakistan and India. It is a useful fruit of summer, containing sweet juice that relieves heat and quenches thirst.
Its seeds are ground and mixed with water and sweetener to make a strengthening and thirst-quenching drink. Eating watermelon increases urination, so it also somewhat cleanses the bladder. However, it causes bloating. It is better to cut and eat it fresh. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to eat dates and watermelon together and said:

نكسر حر هذا ببرد هذا وبرد هذا بحر هذا.

Its coolness (of watermelon) removes the heat of this (date), and the heat of this (date) removes the coolness of that (watermelon).

(Taken from The Fortunate Foods that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ate, by Umm Abdul Munib)

Barley is called Suwayq in Arabic. Grinding or crushing barley is more difficult compared to wheat, and it is also hard to chew. It was the common food of the Arabs at that time; ordinary people would soak it in water and eat it. Even after roasting barley, its husk remains in the flour. During the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, sieves were used less frequently. Abu Hazim asked Suhail bin Saad (may Allah be pleased with him), “Did the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ eat bread made from wheat flour?” He replied, “No, I never saw that.” Abu Hazim asked, “Were there sieves at that time?” The answer was no. He then asked, “How did they eat bread made from sifted flour?” Suhail bin Saad said: “They would blow on the flour, and the barley husks would fly away. The rest, whatever remained, they would soak and use.”

The nutrients in refined flour and sifted flour bread are lost, whereas coarse and unsifted flour is beneficial for health. A Western doctor, Hadley, lived for twenty-five years in a place where bread made from unsifted flour was eaten. He observed that the residents there did not suffer from stomach ulcers, intestinal ulcers, colic, gallstones, or cancer.

Nowadays, doctors and herbalists advise patients with stomach, intestinal, colic, and gallstone problems to eat bread made from coarse and unsifted flour.

Sifting flour is itself a luxury that requires a sieve. Moreover, a Muslim should benefit from every part of Allah’s blessings. Sifting flour and separating the bran is a sign of arrogance and the way of delicate, noble people. To cultivate simplicity in temperament, unsifted flour is better.

Abu Saeed Al-Maqbari narrates that Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by some people who had roasted goat meat in front of them. They invited him to eat, but he refused and said that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ passed away without ever eating bread made from barley to fill his stomach.

This shows that the Prophet ﷺ was not inclined to fill his stomach or house with worldly things; he used them only when necessary.

Similarly, beetroot is called Salq in Arabic. It is a root vegetable like turnip and radish, eaten as a vegetable. Its taste is similar to radish, its texture resembles turnip, and its color is deep purple or fiery red. It is eaten both raw and cooked. It contains abundant iron (calcium) and blood-forming elements. It strengthens the brain and is especially beneficial for those with a phlegmatic temperament. Let us see in what context beetroot is mentioned in the food of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

It appears that beetroot was a common produce of Madinah Munawwarah. Suhail bin Saad (may Allah be pleased with him) says that an old woman used to cook beetroot roots and sprinkle barley flour on it, making it very delicious. After performing Friday prayer, we would stop at her place on the way back to eat this food.

(Taken from The Fortunate Foods Eaten by the Prophet ﷺ, Umm Abdul Munib)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Zamzam, whatever purpose (or illness) it is drunk for, it is for that.”

Hazrat Abu Dharr Ghifari رضي الله عنه stated that Zamzam is also beneficial as food; he said, I stayed in Masjid al-Haram for thirty days and nights, and this was my only food until I became fat.

Properties:

This is the most exalted and blessed water among the various waters present in the world. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and the noble companions used to carry this water with them. It is beneficial not only for thirst but also for hunger. As a result of the strike of Jibril, Allah Almighty caused it to emerge from the earth to quench the thirst of Ismail, peace be upon him, and made it continue until the Day of Judgment. Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, says: I myself have conducted many experiments with this water. I know that people survived for several days on Zamzam alone without eating any other food; they would perform Tawaf with us and did not feel hunger. Rather, by its strength, they were able to fulfill marital rights and fasting did not weaken them.

The water of Zamzam is the chief of all waters, the highest, the best, and the most respected. It is the most beloved, the most precious, and the finest water in the eyes of people. It was produced by the strike of Jibril, peace be upon him, and became the means of quenching the thirst of Prophet Ismail, peace be upon him.

In Sahih Bukhari, there is a Marfu’ Hadith narrated that Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, stayed between the Kaaba and its curtains for forty days without any food or drink. The Prophet, peace be upon him, told him that this (water of Zamzam) is delicious food. Except for Imam Muslim, others have added in their chains of narration that this water is a cure for diseases.

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
Use black pelo (they are good for health).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with them, that we were breaking pelo with the Prophet, peace be upon him, at the place of Mar al-Zahran, and he said:
“Break the pelo that is very black because it is more delicious.”

Properties:

This is a forty-foot tall tree. Its trunk is curved, with spreading and bent branches; it is also called Arak and Kabat in Arabic. Its fruit is black, dark red in color, round in shape, and is also dried and preserved. Allah Almighty has endowed it with effects for stopping bleeding, reducing swelling, and healing leprosy.

The tree’s fruit, called Pilo, is mostly found in the Hijaz region. Its temperament is hot and dry. It has many benefits: it strengthens the stomach, improves digestion, expels phlegm, relieves back pain, and is beneficial in many other diseases. If ground and consumed, it induces urination, cleanses the bladder, strengthens the stomach, and hardens the stool.

Hazrat Aisha (RA) narrates that when someone passed away, a pot of Talbina was prepared, followed by Thareed. Talbina soothes the heart of the patient and reduces depression.

Properties:

Talbina is a sweet porridge which can be cooked with bread and sweeteners, also called Hareerah. It is a very thin consistency of milk and barley porridge, which has many benefits mentioned in Hadith. It is very light as food, does not cause indigestion, and is especially beneficial for the sick and distressed. It acts quickly and generates natural heat. Being a soft food, it is easily digestible and gentle on the stomach.

In the Battle of Uhud, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was wounded. When the bleeding did not stop, Hazrat Fatimah رضي الله عنها burned a mat and applied its ashes to the Prophet’s ﷺ wound, which stopped the bleeding.

Properties

This is a type of plant found in water, similar to coconut, from which nowadays mosque mats and similar items are made. It contains a sucking substance. Its ashes have astringent properties. It is useful for stopping bleeding. If these ashes are dissolved in vinegar and put into the nose of a person suffering from nosebleeds, the bleeding will stop.

Ibn Sunni has narrated this tradition from some of the pure wives:
“They reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, came to me one day when I had a boil on my finger. He asked me: Do you have Chiraita? I said: Yes, I have. He said: Apply it and say: O Allah, who makes the big small and the small big! Reduce what has appeared on me.”
Chiraita is an Indian medicine obtained from the root; its temperament is hot and dry. It is beneficial for stomach and liver diseases and dropsy. Its fragrance also strengthens the heart. In Sahihain, it is narrated from Hazrat Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her:
She said that she applied the fragrance of Chiraita with her own hand on the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, at the time of putting on and removing the Ihram during the Farewell Pilgrimage.
A small minor boil or abscess that forms in the body due to the strong nature of the body’s defense. Where the abscess is about to discharge due to the force of the defense, the skin there becomes thin. Now ripening and discharge of the matter (to mature and expel it) is necessary. This process is completed very quickly with Chiraita because Chiraita has the ability to ripen and expel the matter along with its fragrance, which is present in the substance. For this reason, the author of “Qanun,” Bu Ali Sina, expresses the view that after a burn caused by fire, the most beneficial thing is Chiraita, which is used mixed with rose oil and vinegar.

In the Holy Quran, in Surah An-Nahl, Allah Almighty has said:
“There is indeed a lesson for you in the cattle: We give you to drink of what is in their bellies—between excretion and blood—a pure milk, palatable to those who drink it.”
Similarly, when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ascended on the Mi’raj journey, he was offered a cup of milk and a cup of wine. The Prophet (peace be upon him) chose the milk and disliked the wine. It was said to him that he preferred nature, and if he had chosen the wine, his Ummah would have gone astray.

In another narration in Sahih Bukhari, it is mentioned that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that milk has cream.

Regarding this milk, the Quran states:
“In it (Paradise) will be rivers of milk, the taste of which never changes.”
It is narrated in Sunan that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever Allah feeds should say: O Allah, bless it for us and provide us with better sustenance. And whoever Allah gives milk to should say: O Allah, bless it for us and increase it, for I do not know anything else besides milk that suffices for eating and drinking.”
Although milk appears simple, in reality, it is naturally composed of three substances: cheese, ghee, and water.
Cheese is cold and moist; it nourishes the body.
Ghee is moderate in heat and moisture; it is suitable for a healthy human body and has countless benefits.
Water is warm and wet; it causes diarrhea and refreshes the body.
Overall, milk is colder and wetter than moderate. Some say that milk’s heat and moisture increase when it is drawn. Others say it is moderate in coldness and moisture.
The best milk is fresh, drawn from the udder. As time passes, it deteriorates. When milk is drawn from the udder, it has less coldness and much moisture. Sour milk is the opposite. Milk after forty days of birth is the best. Milk with a lot of cream is very good, has a pleasant smell, and is delicious. It has slight sweetness and moderate fat. Its thinness and thickness are also moderate, provided it is taken from a healthy young animal whose meat is moderate and whose fodder and water are also moderate.
Milk produces good blood, revitalizes a dry body, provides excellent nutrition, and is very beneficial for anxiety, sorrow, grief, and melancholic diseases. If mixed with honey and drunk, it protects internal wounds from putrid (foul-smelling) humors. Drinking it with sugar improves complexion. Fresh milk compensates for the harm caused by sexual intercourse, is beneficial for the chest and lungs, and is excellent food for patients with cataracts (an eye disease where a veil covers the eye, i.e., cataract). However, it is harmful to the head, stomach, liver, and spleen. Excessive consumption harms teeth and gums. Therefore, one should rinse the mouth after drinking milk. It is narrated in Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet (peace be upon him) drank milk, then asked for water and rinsed his mouth, saying that milk contains fat.
It is harmful to people with fever and also harms those with headaches. It is painful for the brain and weak head. Continuous use causes blindness and night blindness. It causes joint pain and liver obstructions. It causes bloating in the stomach and intestines. Its defects are corrected with honey and ginger jam. All these diseases affect those who are not accustomed to milk.

Sheep’s Milk

It is the thickest and most moist; it contains such fat and odor that are not found in goat’s or cow’s milk. It produces phlegmatic waste. Regular consumption causes whiteness in the skin. Therefore, it should be diluted with water so that the body receives its lesser portion. It is soothing for thirst and has a lot of coolness.

Goat’s Milk

The temperament of milk is mild and moderate, and it is easy to digest. It revitalizes a dry body, is extremely beneficial for throat wounds and dry cough, and eliminates hemoptysis (blood pressure). Milk is generally a beneficial drink for the human body because it contains nutrition and promotes blood production. From childhood, humans become accustomed to it, and this is exactly in accordance with human nature. Therefore, it is narrated in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim that:
“On the night of Mi’raj, a cup of wine and a cup of milk were brought to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He looked at both and then took the cup of milk in his hand. Upon this, Angel Jibril (Gabriel) said, ‘Praise be to Allah who guided you towards nature. If you had taken the cup of wine, your Ummah would have gone astray.'”
Sour milk, when left for a long time, causes the intestines to discharge and produces impure humors. Only a warm stomach can digest it, and for this reason, it is also beneficial.

Cow’s Milk

It nourishes the body and makes it fresh. In moderation, it causes diarrhea. Cow’s milk is the most moderate, and its thinness, thickness, and fat content are better compared to goat’s and sheep’s milk. It is narrated in Sunan from Abdullah bin Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, that you should consume cow’s milk because it obtains nourishment from every tree.

Camel’s Milk

When some individuals from the Akal and Arina tribes newly arrived in Madinah Munawwarah found the air of Madinah Tayyibah unsuitable, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prescribed camel milk and urine for them.

Camel milk is somewhat salty. Moreover, it is thinner and more diluted than the milk of all other animals, which makes it very beneficial for liver pain. Its nutritional value is very low, so it is helpful in relieving constipation and as a laxative. Similarly, camel urine contains heat. Due to its warmth, it is beneficial for stomach ailments.

Camel Milk and Their Urine

In the Sahihain, Hazrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that:
A group of people from the tribes of Ariniyah and Akal came to the presence of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). These people disliked residing in Medina and complained about this dislike to the Prophet (peace be upon him). He said: If you use the milk and urine of the camels brought for Zakat, it would be beneficial. They did so. When this group became healthy, instead of being grateful, they deliberately attacked the shepherds, killed them, took the camels away, and prepared for battle. They rebelled against Allah and His Messenger. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sent an expedition to pursue them. They were captured. He ordered their hands and feet to be cut off, and their eyes to be pierced with needles to blind them. This was done to them, and they were left in the sun. With this torment, all of them died.
The estimation of the edema disease can be understood from a narration in Muslim. In Sahih Muslim, it is narrated that they said in their complaint:
We reside in Medina, and as a result of this residence, our bellies have swollen and trembling has appeared in our limbs, then the upper part of the hadith is mentioned.
Edema is a physical disease caused by a cold substance that penetrates the dysfunction of the organs, causing enlargement in those organs. Sometimes this condition appears in all external organs, and this cold foreign substance penetrates around them, causing their enlargement.
The two medicines that are urgently needed for the treatment of this disease should be such that they draw out this substance and expel it through mild diarrhea. These two qualities are excellently present in camel milk and urine. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) ordered their use. Therefore, the dung of a she-camel is soft, and with this soft stool, the dirty substance is expelled, and it also has the property of bringing urine. Whether this stool and urine are in greater or lesser quantity, their use opens obstructions, meaning all kinds of blockages are cleared. Therefore, camels generally eat various types of grass which are beneficial medicines. This disease does not occur without liver disorder. If not from the liver, at least some involvement is necessary, and usually, liver obstruction is the cause. The milk of Arabian camels is very beneficial for this and for opening obstructions, and other benefits also arise from it which reduce or eliminate edema.
Razi (may Allah have mercy on him) said that the milk of a she-camel is a healing medicine for all liver pains. Similarly, it also removes the temperament disorder of the liver. Israili has said that the milk of a she-camel is very thin; it has extraordinary liquidity and rapid penetration, and in terms of nutrition, it is the least. For this reason, it is the strongest in softening waste among all foods, and eating it causes diarrhea.

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, permitted wearing a silk shirt to relieve itching.

In Islamic law, the use of silk is prohibited for men, but the Prophet, peace be upon him, allowed it for relieving itching and lice.

Properties:

Since silk is made from an animal, it is used in animal-based medicines. It strengthens the heart and eyesight and has a warm and dry temperament. If the silk is fine, it provides warmth to the body, and if it is coarse, it provides coolness. Since itching also occurs due to dryness and heat, it is beneficial in this regard because it contains softness.

In Sahihayn, there is a narration from Qatadah, may Allah have mercy on him, of this hadith:
Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, granted special permission to Abdul Rahman bin Awf and Zubair bin Al-Awam, may Allah be pleased with them, to wear silk clothes due to itching.

In another narration, it is stated that:
Abdul Rahman bin Awf and Zubair bin Al-Awam, companions of the Prophet, complained to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, about scabies during a battle. The Prophet allowed both of them to wear silk shirts, and I saw them wearing it on their bodies.

(Bukhari mentioned this

under the chapter “Silk in War” in Al-Jihad, and Muslim mentioned it

under the chapter “Permissibility of Wearing Silk for Men.”)

Silk clothes and gold were prohibited for the men of my Ummah and made permissible for women.

(This is established by Abdul Razzaq in his Musannaf under hadith number

, and An-Nasa’i in

in the chapter on adornment where the prohibition of gold for men is established. Tirmidhi also narrated it in hadith number

under the first chapter on clothing. This hadith is authentic and its narrators include several companions.)

And in Bukhari, it is narrated from Hazrat Hudhayfah, may Allah be pleased with him:
“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade wearing and sitting on silk and said that it is for the disbelievers in this world and for you in the Hereafter.”

(Imam Bukhari mentioned the permissibility of men wearing silk under the chapter on clothing.)

Allah Almighty has stated in Surah An-Nur:

﴿يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ﴾

“Lit from the oil of a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it.”

It is narrated in Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said, “Drink olive oil and use it for massage because it is obtained from a very blessed tree.”
It is also narrated in Bayhaqi and Ibn Majah from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“Use olive oil as food and apply it on the head, for it is taken from a very blessed tree.”
In another hadith, it is mentioned to use olive oil as food and apply it on wounds because it is obtained from a blessed tree.

In a hadith, it is mentioned to use olive oil as food and apply it on wounds because it is obtained from a blessed tree.

The chain of this hadith is authentic)
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Properties

Olive is the name of a tree commonly found in the regions of Syria, Palestine, and Jordan. In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty has sworn by this blessed tree, saying:

﴿وَالتِّينِ وَالزَّيْتُونِ ‎. وَطُورِ سِينِينَ ‎. وَهَٰذَا الْبَلَدِ الْأَمِينِ.﴾

“By the fig and the olive, and by Mount Sinai, and by this secure city.”

The fruit of the olive is about the size of a green berry or jujube. It is pickled and also cooked in curries. Oil is extracted from it, known as olive oil. Olive oil is warm in temperament; those who have described it as dry are mistaken. Good and excellent oil comes from ripe fresh olives, whereas oil extracted from raw olives has a somewhat cold and dry temperament. The oil of red olives has a moderate temperament, and that of black olives is warm moderate. Its oil acts as an antidote, opens obstructions, and expels intestinal worms. The older the oil, the more its warmth increases. All types of this oil are beneficial for the skin and prevent the graying of hair.
The salty water of olives is very useful for burns and boils and reduces inflammation of the gums. Its leaves are beneficial for measles, allergies, and cleaning infected wounds. Its benefits are many more besides these.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Keep eating olives and keep massaging with its oil because it is the fruit and oil of a blessed tree.

In Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, it is narrated from Ka’b bin Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
“I had pain in my head, and people took me to the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). There were so many lice in my head that they were crawling on my face. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘Indeed, you are in great hardship and distress.'”
In another narration, it is mentioned that “The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered his head to be shaved and said that in exchange, feed a group of six men, or slaughter a goat, or fast for three days.”
There are two causes for the occurrence of lice on the body or head: either from outside the body or from inside the body.
The cause from outside the body is dirt and filth that accumulates layer upon layer on the body, and the other is when the substance that the nature throws between the skin and flesh is produced; this thick moisture mixes and comes out through the pores. Because of illness, there is an abundance of dirt and filth, and lice increase on children’s heads because they have more such moisture and causes from which lice are produced. This is why the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had the heads of Bani Ja’far shaved.
The best treatment for this is to shave the head so that the pores open, allowing vapors to escape. Thus, when the roots open, the stale vapors will come out, and the substance of the secretion will weaken. It is better that after shaving the head, lice-killing medicines be applied so that lice do not remain on the head.

Ka’b bin Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that during the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came to me while I was lighting a fire under a pot, and lice were falling from my head (and I was in Ihram). The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, “Do these lice trouble you?” I replied, “Yes.” He said, “Then shave your head.”
Shaving the head is prohibited in the state of Ihram, but in this hardship, the Prophet allowed Ka’b bin Ujrah to shave his head and also ordered him to give expiation.

Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah have narrated from Asma bint Umais (may Allah be pleased with her):
“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, ‘What do you use to relieve diarrhea?’ She said, ‘Shabrim.’ He (peace be upon him) said, ‘It is hot and harmful.’ She said, ‘Then after that, we used Sanna to relieve diarrhea.’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘If anything could save from death, it would be Sanna.'”
(Tirmidhi narrated this hadith as number

, Ibn Majah as

, Ahmad as

, and Hakim as

. Its chain contains ignorance, but it is supported by the following hadith, which strengthens it.)

The second hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah is narrated by Ibrahim bin Abi Abla from Abdullah bin Umm Haram (may Allah be pleased with him):
“Abdullah bin Umm Haram, who participated in the prayer with the Qiblah turned, said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say, ‘Use only Sanna and Zira (cumin), for both of these are a cure for every disease except poison.’ It was asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is poison?’ He (peace be upon him) said, ‘Death.'”
(Ibn Majah narrated this hadith as number

, and Hakim as

. Its chain includes Amr bin Bakr Al-Saksaki, who is weak, and it is mentioned in Tahdhib that his follower was Shaddad bin Abdul Rahman Al-Ansari. This hadith is supported by the previous one.)

Sanna is a plant that grows in Hijaz, with the best quality found in Makkah. Sanna is an excellent medicine with minimal harmful effects. It is primarily hot and dry, close to moderate in degree. It acts as a laxative for both bile and phlegm. It strengthens the heart, which is its greatest virtue, as despite being a laxative, it is a heart tonic. It specifically removes melancholic obsession (waswas). It is an elixir for ulcers developing in the body. It makes muscles agile, prevents hair loss, protects against lice, cures chronic headaches, and is beneficial for itching, rashes, eczema, and epilepsy. Its decoction is more beneficial than its powder. The dose of the powder is three dirhams, approximately nine grams, and the decoction is five dirhams, approximately fifteen grams. If the decoction is prepared with violet flowers (Gul Banafsha Mobaz Munqi), it is even better.

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “Cupping and using Indian oud are both excellent treatments.”

In the case of high blood pressure, blood is drawn from certain parts of the body to relieve pain and other symptoms; this process is called cupping or hijama. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, himself underwent cupping and paid the person who performed it.

When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, ascended during the Mi’raj, the angels said to him:
Tell your Ummah to undergo cupping. Cupping is an ancient treatment that is very beneficial; it is useful in both hot and cold regions. It is a national treatment of China and is practiced throughout the country.
It is prevalent not only in Arab countries but also in Southeast Asian countries.
In universities in America and Europe, students studying Alternative Medicine are taught and trained in cupping (hijama).
Every doctor (male or female) should learn it and treat through it. However, treatment should only be done after learning from an experienced teacher; one should not experiment on their own.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, while narrating the event of Mi’raj, said that (that night) wherever the group of angels passed, they told him to command his Ummah to treat themselves with cupping.

Properties

Relieving the back and sharpening the eyesight, giving the body an outward beauty, and alleviating throat and shoulder pain are among its benefits. Besides this, if diseases of the face, teeth, ears, eyes, nose, etc., are caused by high blood pressure, it is also beneficial for them. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ selected it for headaches; it is useful for pain in the hands, wrists, and so on.

The demand of faith is that upon every statement of the Noble Prophet ﷺ, one should say آمنا وصدقنا and accept it without any doubt or hesitation because whatever he said is from Allah and is absolutely true. The healing effect of cupping is a reality that even modern medicine and wisdom have acknowledged because it removes impure blood and replaces it with pure blood, which is a kind of guarantee for health. Truthfully, Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ performed cupping on his head while in the state of Ihram due to a headache on one side of his head.

A headache on one side of the head is called a migraine; it is a very painful headache. In this condition, the Prophet ﷺ had cupping done on his head. It is clear that the treatment for this pain is exactly what the Prophet ﷺ did.

Allah Almighty says: ﴿فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ لِّلنَّاسِ﴾
“In it (honey) is healing for people.”

When a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) suffered from diarrhea, the Prophet (peace be upon him) prescribed honey for him, which cured him.

Properties

It is extremely beneficial for choleric, phlegmatic, and melancholic diseases. In cold diseases, treatment is done with warm medicine, and honey contains the highest degree of warmth. It helps to remove cold and phlegm substances and various hardened impurities in the veins. It expels moisture, is a companion of old age, and a tonic for the young. It builds immunity in children, protects concoctions, and eliminates the undesirable qualities of medicines. It is a diuretic, makes hair long, beautiful, and soft, its kohl causes burning in the eyes, and when used as a tooth powder, it strengthens the gums and increases the shine of the teeth. Eating it on an empty stomach removes phlegm and stomach waste. It opens obstructions and cleanses the bladder and kidneys.

(For this topic, studying the book “Pure Honey, Pure Life” by the respected father of the author, Malik Bashir Ahmad Sahib Hafizahullah, published by Academy Lahore, will be very beneficial.)

Treatment of Diarrhea in Prophetic Medicine

In Sahihain, there is a hadith narrated by Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) from Abu Mutallib that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, my brother has pain in his stomach.” In one narration, it is mentioned that he was having diarrhea. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Give him honey to drink.” He went and returned and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I gave him honey but it did not benefit him.” In another narration, it is mentioned that giving honey increased the diarrhea. This happened two or three times repeatedly, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) kept ordering to give honey. The third or fourth time, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Allah’s word is true, but your brother’s stomach is lying.”

(Bukhari mentioned this

under the chapter of medicine with honey (باب الدواء بالعسل) and in the same chapter, the verse of Allah (فيه شفاء للناس) is also mentioned. Muslim also established a chapter on treatment with honey under hadith

in “As-Salam”.)

Honey possesses extraordinary benefits; it cleanses the impurities that develop in the stomach or intestines. It acts as a solvent for humors, whether caused by food or applied externally, beneficial for the elderly and those who produce phlegm or have a cold, moist temperament. It is highly nutritious and softens stool. It acts as a supervisor for medicinal mixtures and the medicines included in them. It prevents spoilage over time.

It improves the taste of unpleasant medicines and removes their harmful qualities. It cleanses and beautifies the liver and chest. It induces urination and cures phlegmatic cough.

If used warm with rose oil, it repels insect bites. It reduces the سميت of opium users. If honey is mixed with water and given, it benefits from the bite of a mad dog. It neutralizes the effect of poisonous plants (Dharti ke phool, a type of snake umbrella). If fresh meat is dipped in honey, it cannot rot for three months.

If cucumbers, cucurbits, pumpkins, eggplants, and other fresh fruits are kept in honey, they remain in excellent condition for six months. It prevents infection in a dead body. Honey is called a protector, trustworthy, supervisor, and custodian. If applied to a lice-infested body and hair, it kills lice and nits, promotes hair growth, and beautifies it by making it soft and smooth. If applied as kohl in the eyes, it benefits cataracts. If used as a paste on teeth, it enhances their shine and whiteness, protects teeth, strengthens gums, and opens the veins. It regulates menstrual flow and initiates it. Licking honey on an empty stomach removes phlegm, cleanses the stomach’s villi, and removes waste from the stomach. It provides moderate warmth to the stomach and protects the senses from the harm of sweetness.

Despite all these benefits, it temporarily harms those with a choleric temperament, but this harm is less than that caused by vinegar and other sour substances. Moreover, its benefits greatly increase when taken with them.

Honey is food during meals, medicine during treatment, and syrup in place of syrup. It is a superior type of sweetness, a high-grade gold, and a rare delight. Therefore, nature has created nothing possessing all these benefits except honey—nothing better, similar, or to be eaten with it. The ancient treatment regimen was based on honey; all treatments revolved around it. In fact, ancient books do not even mention sugar. For centuries, people did not even know its name; sugar is a modern product. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to drink honey mixed with water on an empty stomach. This is a potent recipe that acts like alchemy for health, known only to the most intelligent and learned scholars.

After knowing these qualities, understand that the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) prescription was to cure the patient’s diarrhea caused by stomach fullness. Therefore, he prescribed honey to expel the waste spread in the stomach and intestines. Honey burns and removes the waste, and a thick, sticky substance dominated the stomach. Food retention there was difficult due to the sticky substance adhering to the villi in the stomach, similar to the hairs of the arwi leaf, which become coated with sticky humors, spoiling the stomach and food. Hence, treatment should be such that this thick substance is cleansed from the villi, which honey can do. Honey is the best treatment for this. This disease can be cured with honey, especially if mixed with a little warm water, SubhanAllah.

The repeated use of honey by the Prophet (peace be upon him) was a rare treatment method because the amount and frequency of medicine depend on the severity of the disease. If the amount is insufficient relative to the disease, it will not be completely cured; if the amount or frequency is excessive, other harms may occur. Therefore, he prescribed honey. The man gave an insufficient amount to cure the disease, so the purpose was not achieved. When they informed the Prophet (peace be upon him) about the condition, he understood that the medicine was not given in proportion to the disease. When they complained about the treatment, he ordered more honey to be given so that the quantity reached the level to uproot the disease. When the repeated doses reached the resistance limit of the disease, it was cured by Allah’s grace. Adjusting the medicine’s quantity according to its nature, the disease, and the patient’s strength is the most important principle of medicine; without it, treatment remains incomplete.

The Prophet’s (peace be upon him) statement: صدق الله وكذب بطن أخيك indicates the certainty of the medicine’s benefit. The disease was not due to lack or defect of medicine but because the stomach was not functioning properly and could not accept the medicine due to the abundance of corrupted matter. Therefore, he repeated the treatment so that it would be effective against the excess matter.

His treatment method had no relation to other physicians’ methods because the Prophet’s medicine is certain and definitive, inspired and revealed by Allah. His treatment was divine revelation, based on prophethood’s light and perfect intellect. In contrast, other physicians’ treatments depend on temperament, dominant conjecture, and experience. Denying the benefit of prophetic treatment is hardly possible. However, it is necessary to accept this treatment with full faith and conviction and believe in its complete healing. The Quran, which cures diseases of the heart, will not heal those who do not accept it with certainty. Those with corrupt hearts increase in filth and disease, so how can the human body be cured by the Quran? Prophetic medicine benefits only those with pure and clean bodies, just as Quranic healing benefits pure souls and lively hearts. Therefore, those who deny prophetic medicine cannot be healed by the Quran. Even if some benefit occurs, complete healing will not happen without fulfilling these conditions. This does not mean there is any defect in the medicine or treatment but that the body itself lacks the capacity to benefit due to internal corruption. Healing does not occur due to the body’s impurity and inability to accept the medicine.

Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) established a chapter in Sahih Bukhari: (Allah has placed) healing in three things.

Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Healing is in three things: cupping, drinking honey, and cauterization with fire, but I forbid my nation from cauterization.” Another chapter is:

Treatment with honey and the virtues of honey, including Allah’s statement that in it is healing for people from every disease.

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) liked sweetness and honey.

Explanation by Allama Dawood Raz Dehlvi, may Allah have mercy on him

Honey serves both as medicine and food, expels phlegm, and its use is very beneficial in cold diseases. Applying pure honey to the eyes is also very beneficial, especially before sleeping. It has hundreds of benefits in this way.

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
“Whoever eats seven Ajwa dates in the morning, no magic or poison can harm him that day.”

Properties

This is the fruit of Paradise; its use with certainty is extremely beneficial. Along with all the qualities of dates, the Prophetic tradition has given it a special status. For this reason, it is much more expensive compared to ordinary dates.

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: Use Indian frankincense; it cures seven diseases. For sore throat, it is inserted into the nose. For pleurisy (pain in the ribs with an internal abscess), it is chewed.

Properties

Its temperament is hot; it is beneficial for phlegm and cold, excellent for liver weakness and intermittent fever. It is also an antidote for poison. When mixed with honey and water and applied on the mouth, it removes warts and freckles. It is anthelmintic and useful for pleurisy.

Prophetic treatment of pleurisy with Indian frankincense, peace be upon him

Imam Tirmidhi, may Allah have mercy on him, narrated from Hazrat Zaid bin Arqam, may Allah be pleased with him, that:
“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said that the treatment for pleurisy is Indian agarwood and olive oil.”
(Tirmidhi brought this under the Book of Medicine,

, chapter on the treatment of pleurisy, however, Hakim

has declared the chain of narration weak due to Maymun Abu Abdullah Al-Basri.)
Pleurisy is a painful, severe inflammation near the muscles of the chest, ribs, and surrounding area. It is also common that every pain occurring in the ribs is called pleurisy because the location of the pain is there; hence, pleurisy means “the one who has pain in the side,” and here the intention is to indicate inflammation of the side. Therefore, whenever there is pain in the side, regardless of the cause, it is attributed to that side.
In light of other hadiths, if Indian agarwood is finely ground and mixed with warm olive oil, then gently massaged on the affected area where the wind has accumulated, or a few spoonfuls are taken orally, it will be an excellent treatment. This remedy not only benefits but also reduces inflammation and dissolves harmful substances, thereby curing the disease. It strengthens the internal organs, opens blockages, and the benefit of Indian agarwood is exactly the same.

Oud (Qist) Hindi and Oud (Qist) Bahri

The discomfort caused by the accumulation of foul and corrupted winds in the chest is relieved by Oud Hindi. Sahib Khawas al-Adwiya writes that Qust Bahrī is sweet, warm, and dry. It strengthens the brain, empowers the vital organs, and gives strength to the semen, liver, and muscles. It dissolves the winds. It is beneficial in mental illnesses, paralysis, palsy, and tremors. It kills stomach worms and promotes urination and menstruation.

Zaat al-Janb is an inflammation of the rib, which is a very deadly disease like tuberculosis and consumption, and its treatment is necessary.

Both Oud Hindi and Oud Bahrī are roots, and mixing them to make nasal snuff (naswar) and putting it in the nose is extremely beneficial for such diseases. Both these medicines are also very effective in rib inflammation.

Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) permitted some families of the Ansar tribe to perform ruqyah (spiritual healing) for poisonous animal bites and ear ailments. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that I was cupped for the disease of Zaat al-Janb during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and at that time Abu Talhah, Anas bin Nadr, and Zaid bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with them) were present. Although cupping was not liked by the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him), it was permitted in cases of necessity.

Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came to his house, so I milked a goat and mixed fresh well water in it (making raw lassi) and presented it to him صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. He صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم took the bowl and drank it. Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه was on his left side and an Arab was on his right side. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم gave the remaining (water-mixed) milk to the Arab and said that the right side has the priority first.

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
Whoever eats seven dates from Medina in the morning will not be harmed by poison until the evening.

This fruit is a divine nourishment for the mother and child. When Allah Almighty blessed Maryam, peace be upon her, with the birth of Jesus, peace be upon him, He said about the date palm tree:

﴿وَهُزِّي إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ تُسَاقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًا جَنِيًّا﴾

“And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.”

Thus, this was not only the nourishment for Maryam, peace be upon her, during childbirth, but Jesus, peace be upon him, also first received food from this tree.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, also preferred dates as the very first food for a newborn, which is called “ghurhtī” in Urdu and “tahnik” in Arabic. The first birth after the Hijrah in Medina was that of Abdullah ibn Zubair, may Allah be pleased with them both, and the Prophet, peace be upon him, performed tahnik for him with dates.

Properties

Every region’s dates have their own effect, but the special quality of the dates of Madinah Munawwarah is clear from the mentioned hadith. It is Sunnah to eat dates mixed with cheese and bread. It is also considered a type of curry, has a warm temperament, is very beneficial for strengthening the liver and sexual power, and eating it mixed with pine nuts yields wonderful results. Compared to other fruits, it possesses physical strength. Eating it on an empty stomach eliminates stomach worms. It also acts as an antidote. It is simultaneously medicine, food, and fruit. It is both a drink and a sweet, as well as a treatment.

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
“The water of mushroom is a cure for the eyes.”

Properties

It is a component of manna and salwa, and its water is considered a cure for the eye. The best way to use it is to include its water while preparing kohl. It grows wild and is not sown anywhere. It does not have leaves. Usually, after the rains of Saawan and Bhadon, it emerges from the vaporous essence of the earth due to the combination of the earth’s surface and internal heat. It is used both raw and cooked. Excessive use is harmful; cooking it in oil with spices is better.

Allama Dawood Raz Dehlvi, may Allah have mercy on him, wrote in the explanation of the mentioned hadith of Sahih Bukhari that manna and salwa is a sweet that was given to the Israelites without effort, similarly, mushrooms also grow naturally, which is a wild herb. Its characteristic is being described that dropping its juice into the eye is beneficial. The common people also call it “snake’s umbrella.” It is usually found in wheat fields.

It is narrated from Abdullah bin Ja’far رضي الله عنهما that I saw the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم eating dates mixed with cucumber and kaddari.

Cucumber and kaddari (fresh) are cold in temperament. Eating both together moderates their temperament. Weak people can use this to restore their energy. Aisha رضي الله عنها says that after migrating to Medina, I developed a fever and became very weak. My mother tried many remedies and finally fed me dates and cucumbers, after which my body recovered.

Cucumber is called khiyar in Arabic and kaddari is called qatha. Kaddari is the Urdu name; in Punjabi, it is called tar. It has the same taste as cucumber but its structure is thinner and longer. Both cucumber and kaddari have a cold effect. And by the mercy of the Lord, both these cold fruits grow in summer.

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
“Every disease has a cure in black seed except death.”

You have often seen small triangular black seeds in pickles or chutneys. These seeds, known as black seed, are also used to make curries flavorful and aromatic. These tiny seeds contain a treasure of benefits within them.
Black seed bushes grow to about forty centimeters tall. They grow wild as well as being cultivated on a large scale. They are now abundantly produced in Punjab, Assam, and Himachal Pradesh. The shape of black seed resembles onion seeds to a great extent. Therefore, many people mistake them for onion seeds, but the black seed plant is completely different from the onion plant. The real identification of black seed is that if it is wrapped in white paper and kept, grease stains appear on the paper. Black seed flowers are light blue in color, have eight petals, and bees constantly hover around them. It helps in controlling diabetes; diabetic patients are advised to swallow seven black seeds every morning.

Properties

It is beneficial in all cold diseases, and its benefits in hot and dry diseases are also established. It relieves bloating. It is useful in vitiligo and intermittent fever. It dissolves wind and corrupted bodily fluids. If a few seeds of black seed (kalonji) are ground and mixed with honey and taken with lukewarm water, kidney and bladder stones dissolve within a few days. It promotes milk flow and induces urination and menstruation. When heated in vinegar and applied on the stomach, it kills stomach worms. Drinking black seed oil mixed with water benefits in shortness of breath (dyspnea). If seven seeds are ground and mixed in a woman’s milk and put into the nose of a jaundiced person, it will be very beneficial.

Khalid bin Saad (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that we had gone out and Hazrat Ghalib bin Abreza (may Allah be pleased with him) was with us. He fell ill on the way, and when we returned to Medina, he was still ill. Hazrat Ibn Abi Atiq (may Allah be pleased with him) came to visit him and told us to give him black seeds (kalonji). Take five or seven seeds, grind them, mix with olive oil, and drop it drop by drop into both sides of the nose because Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated to me that she heard the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) say that this black seed is a cure for every disease except death. I asked: What is death? He said: It is death.

Black seed, also known as black cumin, is very beneficial for boils and abscesses. One of the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) had a boil on her finger, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked if she had cumin. She said yes, so the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to place cumin on it.

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: If a fly falls into your drink, immerse the whole fly in the drink and then take it out, because one of its wings (the left wing, on which it falls into the drink) carries disease, while the other wing (the right wing, which you are commanded to immerse) carries healing.

According to the narration in Sunan Ibn Majah, the command of the Prophet, peace be upon him, is that one wing of the fly contains poison and the other contains healing. When it falls into food, immerse it because it falls on the poisonous wing and keeps the healing wing up.

Properties

Here too, the matter is not without interest that Islam, on one hand, is a champion of purity, cleanliness, and hygiene, while on the other hand, when a fly falls into food, it does not order it to be discarded but rather commands to dip it once. In fact, it is clear that Islam is passionate about reforming conditions and souls. Surely, there is improvement in the mentioned practice because the healing elements present on the fly not only act as an antidote to the poison on the other wing but also leave more healing components in the food. That is why Islam has not commanded to throw away the drink but rather to use it because this love is related to divine love, not just human love.

In Sahihain, it is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
When a fly falls into the vessel of any one of you, dip it completely because one of its wings has disease and the other has healing.

In Sunan Ibn Majah, it is narrated from Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“One wing of the fly has poison and the other has healing. Whenever a fly falls into food, dip it because it moves the poisonous wing forward and the healing wing backward.”

From a natural perspective, Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to dip the fly so that the healing element in the other wing comes into the food as a remedy, and by removing the part of every disease and poison or by adding the healing part, its harmful effect is neutralized.

A large group of physicians have written about this treatment method that rubbing a fly on the sting of a wasp or scorpion is highly beneficial. It relieves the inflammation caused by the sting.

Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) established a chapter in the section on treatment titled “Chapter: Can a man ever treat a woman or a woman treat a man?”

Rabee’ bint Mu’adh bin Afra’ (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that we used to accompany the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in battles, serving water to the Muslim warriors, attending to them, and bringing the killed and wounded to Madinah.

From this hadith, it also emerges that the Islamic veil is only to the extent that a woman covers those parts of her body which are obligatory to conceal from non-mahrams, not that she should not leave the house at all.

Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, wrote at the end of his famous book Zad al-Ma’ad that he considers it appropriate to conclude this book with a few beneficial and profitable advices regarding abstinence, which will greatly enhance the benefit of this book. In the book of Ibn Masawayh, I came across a chapter discussing abstinence and caution, which I am quoting here exactly in his words.

Ibn Masawayh states that whoever eats onions for forty days and develops a sore throat should blame himself, and whoever undergoes phlebotomy and then eats salt, resulting in vitiligo or eczema, should blame himself.

Whoever consumes fish and eggs together and suffers from paralysis or stroke should consider himself blameworthy, and whoever enters the bath after a full meal and then suffers a stroke should curse himself.

Whoever drinks milk along with Nabidh (fermented drink) and as a result contracts vitiligo or gout should not be surprised.

Whoever consumes boiled cold eggs and becomes bloated is destined to suffer from asthma. If he looks in the mirror and then suffers paralysis or any other disease, it is not surprising.

Ibn Bakht Yashua says to avoid eating eggs and fish together because consuming both causes colic, hemorrhoids, and toothache.
Chronic consumption of eggs causes dark yellowish wrinkles on the face. Salt Aswad, salty fish, and cupping after bathing cause itching and vitiligo.
Chronic consumption of goat kidneys causes infertility. Bathing with cold water after eating fresh fish causes paralysis.
Having intercourse with a menstruating woman is a precursor to leprosy. Having intercourse again without bathing after intercourse causes kidney stones. Keeping the private organ inside the woman’s private parts for too long causes stomach diseases.
Hippocrates said that a deficiency of harmful things is better than an excess of beneficial things, and permanent health protection is possible by avoiding fatigue-induced laziness and refraining from excessive eating and drinking.
Some physicians say that whoever wants to maintain their health should consume good food. One should eat only after the stomach is completely empty and drink water only when unusually thirsty, and even then in small amounts. After lunch, one should rest, and after dinner, take a walk. One should sleep only after relieving oneself of urine and stool. One should avoid entering the bath when the stomach is full. Bathing once in summer is better than bathing ten times in winter. Eating stale dry meat at night is equivalent to inviting death. Intercourse with elderly women ages the youth and makes the healthy sick. This tradition is attributed to Hazrat Ali, may Allah honor his face, but it is not authentic; rather, it is the saying of the famous Arab physician Harith bin Kalda Al-Thaqafi or someone else.
When Harith’s time of death approached, people came to him and asked for some final advice to follow. He advised:
Marry only young women, eat fruit ripe on the tree, and eat it in its season. Avoid medicine as long as the body has endurance. Cleanse the stomach every month; this will clear phlegm, eliminate bile, and produce flesh. When someone eats the midday meal, they should rest for one hour afterward, and after dinner, it is necessary to walk forty steps.
Some kings told their physicians that their life was uncertain and asked for a prescription they could follow. The physician said: Marry only young women, eat only young animals’ meat, do not take medicine without illness, eat ripe fruit thoroughly chewed. If you rest after eating during the day, there is no harm, and after dinner, take a walk before sleeping, even if only 50 steps. Do not eat without appetite. Do not hold back urine. Bathe when it benefits you; do not bathe when it harms any part of your body. Never eat when the stomach is full. Avoid foods that are hard to chew because the stomach will have difficulty digesting them. Cleanse the stomach weekly. Blood is the body’s precious treasure, so do not waste it unnecessarily. Bathe because it removes waste from inside the body that medicine cannot expel.
Imam Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, said that four things strengthen the body:
● Eating meat ● Smelling pleasant fragrances ● Frequent bathing for intercourse ● Wearing clothes made of cotton.
And four things weaken the body:
● Having bad thoughts ● Constant sorrow and grief ● Drinking a large amount of water on an empty stomach ● Excessive consumption of sour things.
Four things strengthen the eyesight:
● Sitting facing the Kaaba ● Applying kohl before sleeping ● Looking at green and fresh things ● Keeping the sitting place clean.
Four things increase sexual power:
● Eating neck meat ● Using Atarfil (a medicinal preparation) ● Pistachios ● Eating bread with vinegar.
Four things increase intellect:
● Avoiding unnecessary talk ● Using a miswak ● Keeping the company of elders ● Attending gatherings of scholars.
(See Adab al-Shafi’i

الآداب الشرعية

and Sharh al-Qamus

)
Plato said: Five things cause laziness in the body and sometimes lead to death:
A craftsman being idle, separation from friends, suppressing anger, rejecting advice, and fools mocking the wise.
Mamun’s physician said: Adopt the habits of a person who observes them well, and you are expected not to suffer from any disease except death, which is inevitable.
Never eat more when food is still in the stomach. Never consume food that tires the mouth while chewing because the stomach will not digest it properly. Avoid unnecessary cupping. Vomiting is necessary in summer.
From Hippocrates’ comprehensive sayings: Excessive movement is the enemy of nature.
Galen was asked the secret of his health. He replied: I do not combine incompatible foods, do not eat food on top of food, and do not allow any food in the stomach that causes discomfort.
Excessive sleeping causes yellowness on the face, blindness of the heart, irritation in the eyes, laziness in work, and excess moisture in the body.
Excessive eating spoils the stomach’s opening, weakens and emaciates the body, causes thick winds, and leads to difficult diseases.
Frequent intercourse causes the body to become thin, weakens the organs, dries the body’s moisture, loosens the nerves, causes obstructions, and its harmful effects reach the whole body, especially the brain. This is because the nafs (soul) is excessively depleted. Frequent ejaculation causes weakness in it, and much of the soul’s part leaves with frequent intercourse.
The best condition for intercourse is when desire arises unusually strongly, and the intercourse is with a girl who is extremely beautiful and youthful, and she is lawful, and the person has full heat and moisture in temperament. This should be a long-standing habit, and the heart should be free from nafsani (egoistic) distractions. Neither excessive intercourse nor excessive fullness should occur to the extent that abstaining from intercourse is appropriate. Neither an empty stomach nor vomiting, no hard labor, no excessive heat, and no excessive cold should be present. If a person observes these ten conditions during intercourse, they will benefit greatly. If any one of these is missing, harm will be proportional. If most or all are missing, such intercourse will lead to destruction.

Some Useful Precautionary Measures

Excessive abstinence that causes imbalance is not beneficial for health; rather, moderation in abstinence is useful. Hakim Galen advised his companions to avoid three things and adopt four things. Then you will not need any physician. Keep yourself away from dust, smoke, and foul-smelling dirty things; use fat, fragrance, sweetness, and baths; do not eat on a full stomach; use Badroj (a famous vegetable that strengthens the heart greatly and causes constipation but, when combined with waste, causes diarrhea) and basil together. Do not eat walnuts in the evening; those suffering from cold should not sleep lying down; a distressed person should not eat sour things; a person undergoing bloodletting should not be hasty because it is a precursor to death; and one whose eyes are in pain should not vomit. Do not consume excessive meat in summer; a fever patient should not sleep in the sun due to cold; and do not go near old seeded eggplants. Whoever drinks a cup of warm water daily in winter will be protected from many diseases. Whoever rubs their body with pomegranate peels while bathing will be freed from dandruff and itching. Whoever uses five seeds of lily along with a little Roman mastic, raw oud, and musk will have a stomach that is neither weak nor corrupted throughout life. Whoever uses watermelon seeds with sugar will have a stomach free from stones and will be relieved from every inflammation in the urine.

Explanation of Four Useful and Harmful Things

The body is destroyed by four things:
● Sorrow ● Grief ● Fasting ● Staying awake at night
Relief is obtained from four things:
● Looking at green and fresh things
● Watching flowing water
● Seeing the beloved
● Looking at fruits
Four things cause blurriness in the eyes:
● Walking barefoot
● Seeing hateful and burdensome things morning and evening
● Excessive sighing and lamenting
● Closely examining fine lines
Four things strengthen the body:
● Wearing soft and smooth clothes
● Bathing in moderation
● Consuming fatty and sweet food
● Applying fine fragrance
Four things dry out the face:
● Its freshness, vitality, and brightness disappear
● Lying, shamelessness
● Frequent ignorant questions
● Excess of immorality and wickedness
Four things bring brightness and vitality to the face:
● Courtesy ● Loyalty ● Generosity ● Abstinence
Four things cause mutual hatred and enmity: arrogance and pride, envy, lying, and backbiting.
Four things increase sustenance: performing Tahajjud prayer, seeking abundant forgiveness from Allah early in the morning, making mutual agreements for charity, and remembering Allah at the beginning and end of the day.
Four things stop sustenance: sleeping in the morning, negligence in prayer, laziness, and dishonesty.
Four things are harmful to understanding and perception: constant consumption of sour things and fruits, sleeping on the back, and sorrow and grief.
Four things increase the power of understanding and perception: being carefree, eating and drinking less, improving foods with sweet and fatty things, and expelling from the body those wastes that are burdensome for the body.
Many things are harmful to intellect: always eating onions, constant consumption of beans, olive oil, and eggplant, excessive sexual intercourse, seclusion, unnecessary thoughts and ideas, drinking alcohol, excessive laughter, and sorrow and grief; all these harm the intellect.
Some scholars say that I was defeated in three debate sessions. The exact reason was not clear to me, but in the first debate session, the reason for defeat was that I had consumed eggplant excessively those days. In the second session, the reason was excessive use of olive oil, and in the third session, the secret of defeat was that I had eaten bean curry very frequently.