Hadith Text and the Objection
In a hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, it is mentioned that the Prophet ﷺ advised some sick people to drink camel’s milk and urine as a treatment.
An objection is raised that how could the Prophet ﷺ order the drinking of something as impure as urine? Christian missionaries and atheists mockingly present this hadith as though it made drinking camel’s urine obligatory for all Muslims. Some opponents have also raised objections by linking it with the Hindu tradition of drinking cow’s urine. This article presents a detailed review of the chain, the ruling, and the objections regarding this hadith.
The Chain of This Hadith
According to the Imams of hadith and the scholars, this hadith is entirely sahih (authentic). No reliable muhaddith has objected to its authenticity. This narration is found not only in Sahih al-Bukhari but also in scores of other books of hadith with various chains. Therefore, in terms of its chain, this hadith is reliable.
The Opinion of the Jurists: Treatment with Camel’s Milk and Urine
A Special Incident
This incident occurred once during the blessed life of the Prophet ﷺ, and after that there is no other mention of such a treatment in the time of any Companion or Successor. The scholars have presented various aspects to explain this hadith:
The Position of Imam Abu Hanifa
According to Imam Abu Hanifa, the Prophet ﷺ had come to know through Allah’s knowledge that the cure of these people lay in this treatment. Thus this incident falls under the category of necessity (idtirar), because under necessity it becomes permissible for a person to use some prohibited and impure things. As the Quran states:
“But whoever is compelled [by necessity], neither desiring it nor exceeding the limit, then there is no sin upon him [for eating it]”
- This ruling is not general but was for specific circumstances, and it is not obligatory for any ordinary Muslim to adopt such a treatment.
Time Period and Abrogation of the Ruling
From the study of the narrations, it becomes clear that this incident took place before the sixth year after the Hijrah. According to Qatadah, the narrator of the hadith, this incident took place before the revelation of the hudud. After that, such methods were abandoned, and the Prophet ﷺ never again recommended this kind of treatment.
Comparison with the Hindu Use of Cow’s Urine
Basic Differences
- The religious sanctity of cow’s urine: In the Hindu religion, drinking cow’s urine is part of sanctity and worship, whereas in Islam no sacred status has been given to camel’s urine.
- The purpose of camel’s urine: In Islam, the mention of camel’s urine is only as a temporary treatment, and it has not been made part of any religious rite or belief.
The Principle of Ease in Islam
In Islam, permission to treat with prohibited and impure things has been given in specific circumstances, such as in a state of necessity. Even today, thousands of medicines contain ingredients obtained from impure or prohibited substances, yet their use for treatment is considered permissible.
Conclusion
The incident of treatment with camel’s urine in Sahih al-Bukhari was a special and exceptional ruling, given in a state of necessity. It is not part of the general rulings or Sunnah of Islam. Nowhere in the hadith is it said that every Muslim must perform such a treatment. The objections raised against it are based on ignorance or ill intent. The principle of Islam has always been to create room for ease for humans when there is need.
