Medicine and Spells

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying:

“God has not sent down a disease without sending down remedy for it.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Jabir reported God's messenger as saying:

“There is a medicine for every disease, and when the medicine is applied to the disease it is cured by God’s permission.” Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying:

“There is a remedy in three things: the incision of a cupping-glass, a drink of honey, or cauterization by fire, but I forbid my people to cauterize.” Bukhari transmitted.it.

Jabir told that at the battle of the Confederates* Ubayy was struck by an arrow in the median vein of the arm and God’s messenger cauterized it. Muslim transmitted it. * i.e. the battle of the Trench, 5 A. H.

He told that when Sa'id b. Mu'adh was shot in the median vein of his arm the Prophet (ﷺ) with his own hand cauterized it with a broad arrow head. Afterwards it swelled up and he cauterized it a second time. Muslim transmitted it.

He told that God’s messenger sent to Ubayy b. Ka'b a physician who cut a vein of his and cauterized it. Muslim transmitted it.

Aba Huraira told of hearing God’s messenger say:

“Nigella seed is a remedy for every disease but <i>sam</i>.” Ibn Shihab said sant is death and the nigella seed is <i>shuniz</i>.* (Bukhari and Muslim.) * <i>Taj al-’arus </i>says this is a Persian word which came to be used by Arabs. It indicates a seed of a species of nigella.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that a man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and told him his brother's bowels were loose, so God’s messenger told him to give him honey to drink . He did so and then came and said, “I gave it him to drink but it has only made his bowels more loose.” This he said three times, and when he came a fourth time and was told to give him honey to drink he said, “I have done so, but it has only increased the looseness.” God's messenger replied, “God has spoken the truth and your brother’s bowels have lied.” He then gave him it to drink and he recovered. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "The best medical treatments you apply are cupping and sea costus.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying:

“Do not afflict your children by squeezing for a swelling in the uvula, but apply costus.” (Bukhari and Muslim .)

Umm Qais reported God's messenger as saying:

“Why do you compress the uvula in this way? Use this Indian aloes wood, for it contains seven types of remedy, among them being a remedy for pleurisy. It is applied through the nose for a swelling of the uvula and poured into the side of the mouth for pleurisy.” (Bukhari and Muslim )

‘A’isha and Raf’i b. Khadij reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying:

“Fever is due to the vehemence of the heat of hell, so cool it with water.” (Bukhari and Muslim.).

Anas said God’s messenger gave permission to use a spell for the evil eye, scorpion sting and small pustules. Muslim transmitted it.

'Aisha said :

The Prophet (ﷺ) gave command that we should use a spell against the evil eye. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Umm Salama told that the Prophet (ﷺ) saw in her house a girl with <i>saf’a</i>, i.e. yellowness,* in her face and said:

“Use a spell for her, for she has been affected by the evil eye.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) * <i>Saf’a</i> is explained as a stroke from the devil, or the influence of the evil eye. It may be read <i>suf’a</i> which means blackness, or blackness tinged with red. <i>Sufra</i> normally means yellowness, but it can also mean blackness, and that may be the interpretation it should have here, in which case one should read suf'a.

Jabir told that God’s messenger prohibited spells, and the family of ‘Amr b. Hazm came and said, “Messenger of God, we had a spell proved efficacious which we applied for scorpion bite, but you have prohibited spells.” They submitted it to him and he said, “I see no harm in it. If any of you is able to benefit his brother, let him do so.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Auf b. Malik al-Ashja‘i said:

In the pre-Islamic period we used to apply spells, and we asked God’s messenger how he looked upon that. He replied, “Submit your spells to me. There is no harm in spells so long as they involve no polytheism.” Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying:

“The evil eye is genuine If anything could get ahead of the decree the evil eye would do so. And when you are asked to bathe do so.”* Muslim transmitted it. * An indication of the practice here intended will be found in the tradition of Abu Umama near the end of Section II of this chapter.

Usama b. Sharik told that when God’s messenger was asked whether they should make use of medical treatment he replied, “Yes servants of God, make use of medical treatment, for God has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease; viz., old age.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir reported God’s messenger as saying:

“Do not force your invalids to eat, for God most high gives them food and drink.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a gharib tradition.