Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:

➊ This prohibition is of a discouraging (tanzihi) nature, meaning that one should not cauterize (apply fire) without severe necessity, because it causes the patient much pain.

➋ Secondly, it involves the use of fire, and it has been reported that punishing with fire is prohibited.

➌ In reality, cauterization (branding with fire) is a last resort treatment.

➍ When no benefit is gained from any other remedy, only then should cauterization be used, as in another hadith it is stated that the last remedy is cauterization.

➎ It is said that in the disease of plague (ta‘un), cauterization is extremely beneficial; wherever the pustule appears, it should immediately be burned with fire.

➏ This treatment has been commonly practiced in Arabia.

➐ Honey serves both as a medicine and as a food.

➑ It expels phlegm, and its use is very beneficial in cold diseases (amrad baridah).

➒ Applying pure honey to the eyes is also very beneficial, especially at bedtime; in this way, it has hundreds of benefits.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
The attainment of cure is possible through other means as well, but the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) specifically mentioned three things, thereby indicating a principle of treatment: that those ailments related to blood can be remedied by the extraction of blood. For this, cupping (hijamah) is beneficial. Blood can also be drawn through phlebotomy (fasd), but this was not commonly practiced among the Arabs. Bilious (safrawi) diseases can be treated with honey, as honey is a laxative (mus-hil). Through it, bilious matter is expelled. If, by any means, the harmful substances are not expelled, then cauterization with fire is beneficial; however, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade it because it causes the patient much pain. In reality, cauterization is a last resort, to be used when no medicine proves effective. (Fath al-Bari: 10/172)
(2)
As long as possible, treatment should be done in a mild and gentle manner; that is, first through diet, then through medicines, after that by cupping (hijamah), then by phlebotomy (fasd), and finally by cauterization. In any case, cauterization is also a method of treatment. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) cauterized Sa'd ibn Mu'adh (radi Allahu anhu), but this is in the case when no other method proves effective.

Benefit:
This hadith proves that prayer should be performed on a mat, a row, or the like; if such things are not available, then it is also correct to pray on the ground. The noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum ajma'in) followed the Sunnah to such an extent that when the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would observe the night prayer (tahajjud) with diligence, the Companions would also be diligent in observing it. However, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would advise them to be moderate, to perform voluntary acts of worship according to their strength, and not to overburden themselves lest they become weary. Even if a deed is small, it should be performed consistently. If a person does a great deal for a few days and then abandons it, such an action is of no benefit. Islam teaches moderation. After the passing of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), there was no longer any concern regarding the congregational performance of the Tarawih prayer, so Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) ordered the congregational performance of Tarawih, which continues to this day. And all praise is due to Allah.