Dear Islamic brothers! Our Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم not only told his Ummah the ways of attaining salvation in the Hereafter, but also guided them on how to lead a successful and healthy life. Below are the Madani pearls bestowed by the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم regarding medical science:
The Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم said: Stomach is the pond of body and veins are connected to it. If stomach is fine, then veins return back fine too. And if the stomach is unwell, then they [i.e. veins] return back with an illness. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 5, pp. 66, Hadees 5796) Clarification: Veins carry healthy food and beneficial body fluids from stomach to other body parts, because of which, one remains healthy. This Hadees is the essence of medical science that ‘If stomach is fine, then whole body is fine. And if stomach is unwell, then the whole body falls ill’. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 247)
Those things which have been mentioned to be beneficial in blessed Ahadees; out of those, 12 things are mentioned below:
1Talbinah is a meal made from barley flour, formed by adding milk and honey to the dried barley powder
Clarification:In ‘Arab Sharif, they cook flour or chaff thinned. And put some milk and honey in it. In Urdu, it is called “Lapta” and in Punjab, they call it “Seirah”. Because it is thin and white like milk, that’s why it is called Talbinah. It is very light food and it digests quickly. It is given to many patients. It is easy on stomach. It strengthens the heart.
(Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 17)
The Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم has pointed out those things as well that can cause harm to the human health. Two blessed Ahadees are mentioned below in this regard:
Clarification: Impure refers to ‘Haraam or filthy medicines’. Few commentators are of the opinion that impure refers to unpleasant and smelly medicines. (Mirqat) i.e. do not feed patients the medicines that are extremely unpleasant or have foul odour. As there is a danger of one falling severely ill because of this. Especially, those who have sensitive nature. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 228)
Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Munzir رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا states: (One day), the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم came to my house with Sayyiduna ‘Ali کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجـْھَـهُ الـکَـرِیْم. We had bunches of dates hanging. The Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم started eating them. Sayyiduna ‘Ali کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجـْھَـهُ الـکَـرِیْم also joined him and started eating them. The Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘O ‘Ali! Stop, stop! (i.e. refrain from eating these dates), because you still have weakness (i.e. you have just recovered from the illness and sign of weakness is apparent on you. Therefore, prevention is important for you)’. Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Munzir رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا says: Then I cooked beetroot and barley for them. Then the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘O ‘Ali! Eat from it because this is beneficial and suitable for you.’ (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 4, pp. 3, Hadees 2013) In relation to this blessed Hadees, Hakeem-ul-Ummat, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه says: The Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم is also a great physician (in fact, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم is the physician of all physicians). He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم knows everything; medicines, prevention, unwholesome and beneficial diet. We also came to know that prevention is mandatory for an ill person; in fact, even for the one who has just recovered from an illness and is still weak. Doctors say that prevention is more important than medicine, as it is said, ‘Prevention is better than cure’. Medicine without prevention is just like Salah without Wudu. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 37)
The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم said: Do not compel your ailing people on eating and drinking because Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ feeds them. (Sunan Ibn Majah, vol. 4, pp. 91, Hadees 3444)
Clarification: : Some patients hate eating and drinking. Those who go to visit them should refrain from compelling them to eat or drink. In this “not eating” of theirs, there is betterment for them. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 225)
Clarification: He should either move in complete shade, or in complete sunlight. Because shade is cold and sunlight is warm; therefore, taking both coolness and warmth, at the same time on the body is harmful for health. Therefore, one should refrain from it. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 387)
One should not carry out the treatments mentioned in the blessed Ahadees himself. Undoubtedly, blessed sayings of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم are absolutely and certainly true. However, it is possible that the treatments that the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم has advised, were for special occasions, in accordance with the suitability of the climate, and suitable for the nature of specific type of people. As in relation to the Hadees ‘فِی الحَبَّةِ السَّودَاءِ شِفَاءٌ مِّن کُلِّ داءٍ اِلَّاالسَّامَ’ (i.e. nigella seed has cure for everything except death), Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه says: (Cure from) every disease refers to having cure from the diseases relating to phlegm and mucus. Because nigella seed is dry and has warm effect, that’s why it is effective for the diseases relating to moistness and winter. (He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه further states): Here, it is referred to the common ‘diseases of ‘Arab. (Mirqat) Meaning that nigella seed is beneficial for the common Arab diseases. Be mindful that the medicines prescribed in the blessed Ahadees shall only be used after consulting with an experienced doctor. Do not use (the medicines prescribed to the people of Arab) merely based on your own judgement, as our physique and nature is different to the people of Arab.
(Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 216 to 217)
Mareezaan-e-jahan ko tum shifa daytay ho dam bhar mayn Khudara dard ka ho mayray darmaan Ya Rasoolallah You grant cure to the ailing ones of the world instantly Please cure my ailment as well, Ya Rasoolallah
(Qabala-e-Bakhshish, pp. 127)