The hadith states that fever is from the steam of Hellfire, so cool it with water
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 3263, Sahih Muslim: 2210
. Two objections are raised regarding this hadith:◄ The hadith attributes the cause of fever to the heat or steam of Hellfire, whereas fever has various causes including bacteria, viruses, and other physical ailments.
◄ The hadith prescribes water as the treatment for fever, while from the perspective of medical science, bathing during fever can sometimes prove fatal.
First Point
Causes are of two types: apparent and unseen. Apparent causes are those whose connection to the effect is clear or can be understood rationally.
Unseen causes are those known only through the revelation of Allah.
The cause of fever mentioned in this hadith—that it is from the heat or steam of Hellfire—is an unseen cause.
Because the effect of the fire of Hell on the world is an unseen matter, its knowledge can only come from the Shariah.
Second Point
To say that the causes of fever are known and it has no connection with the fire of Hell is incorrect. This is based on the misconception that apparent and unseen causes cannot coexist in one thing, whereas the reality is that both apparent and unseen causes can coexist in the existence of one thing. An example of this is the punishments sent upon previous nations mentioned in the Holy Quran; these punishments had apparent causes, whether it was an earthquake, a flood, or a storm, and along with that, they also had an unseen cause, which was the disobedience of that nation. Now, disobedience is not the apparent cause of the earthquake, but it is certainly its inner or unseen cause.
The same can be said about fever: fever has some apparent causes such as viruses, bacteria, etc., and some unseen or hidden causes, among which is the heat and intensity of the fire of Hell.
Third point
Treating fever with water is proven not only by the saying of the Prophet ﷺ but also by his action. When the Prophet ﷺ was severely ill in the last days of his life and suffering from a high fever, to reduce the heat of the fever, he hung a water-skin above him from which water was dripping onto him
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 27079
. Similarly, during his final illness, once when he intended to lead the prayer, he instructed his family to keep water in a tub and then he performed ablution in it
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 687, Sahih Muslim: 418
.Abu Sulayman al-Khattabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: The method to bring coolness in yellow fever is to give the patient cold water to drink. The most effective and swift treatment is to wet the patient's body parts in water to reduce the heat of the fever. Likewise, the Noble Prophet ﷺ commanded this, not to immerse or submerge the whole body in water
Reference: (A'lam al-Hadith 3/2124)
.Fourth Point
As far as cooling fever with water is concerned, the hadith only mentions to cool it with water, but does not describe its nature or method. Therefore, the method of using water may vary depending on the patient's illness. According to modern medical science today, there is no fever in which the use of water in any form is harmful. Even today, doctors recommend cold water compresses to control fever. On page 218 of the famous medical science book Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine, it is written:
"Fever and its associated systemic symptoms can be treated with Paracetamol, and by tepid sponging to cool the skin”
Translation: Fever and associated systemic symptoms can be treated with paracetamol, and the skin can be cooled by wiping with lukewarm water.
