Book 23: Medicine and Spells

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.

Anas told that the Prophet (ﷺ) cauterized As'ad b. Zurara because of a redness from which he suffered. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Zaid b. Arqam told that God’s messenger ordered them to treat pleurisy with sea costus and olive oil. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He told that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recommend olive oil and wars for pleurisy. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Asma’ daughter of ‘Umais told that the Prophet (ﷺ) asked her what laxative she used and she replied that she used spurge, whereupon he declared that it was very hot. She then used senna as a purgative, and. the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “If anything contained a remedy for death it would be senna.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan gharlb tradition.

Abud Darda’ reported God's messenger as saying, “God has sent down both the disease and the cure, and He has appointed a cure for every disease, so treat yourselves medically, but use nothing unlawful.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told that God’s messenger prohibited unclean medicine. Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Salma, the Prophet’s woman-servant, told that no one complained to God’s messenger of a headache without his telling him to get cupped, or of a pain in his legs without his telling him to dye them with henna. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

She said that God’s messenger never had a wound or a bleeding foot* without ordering her to put henna on it. Tirmidhi transmitted it. * Nakba is used. It means an injury to the foot caused by a stone which produce bleeding.

Abu Kabsha al-Anmari told that God’s messenger used to have himself cupped on the top of his head and between his shoulders and that he used to say: “If anyone pours out any of this blood he will not suffer if he applies no medical treatment for anything.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Jabir told that the Prophet (ﷺ) had himself cupped above the thigh for a contusion from which he suffered. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud said: In telling about the night when he was taken up to heaven God’s messenger said that he did not pass a company of angels without their ordering him to command his people to have themselves cupped. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying that this is a hasan gharlb tradition.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. ‘Uthman told that when a physician consulted the Prophet (ﷺ) about putting frogs in medicine he forbade him to kill them.* Abu Dawud transmitted it. * The flesh of frogs mixed with olive oil was used as an antidote for snake bite, and the fat was considered helpful for extracting teeth. The prohibition of killing frogs most probably applies only to killing them for medicinal purposes.

Anas said that God's messenger used to have himself cupped in the two veins at the sides of the neck and on the shoulder. Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah added that he used to have himself cupped on the 17th, 19th, and 21st.

Ibn ‘Abbas said the Prophet (ﷺ) liked to have himself cupped on the 17th, 19th, and 21st. Baghawi transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone has himself cupped on the 17th, 19th, and 21st, it will be a remedy for every disease.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Kabsha daughter of Abu Bakra told that her father used to forbid his family to have themselves cupped on a Tuesday, and used to assert on the authority of God’s messenger that Tuesday is the day of blood in which there is an hour when it does not stop. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Zuhri reported in mursal form that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “If anyone has himself cupped on a Wednesday or a Saturday and is smitten by leprosy, he must blame no one but himself .” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it. It has been given an isnad, but Abu Dawud said that that is not sound;

He reported in mursal form that God’s messenger said: “If anyone has himself cupped or smeared with something on a Saturday or a Wednesday, he must blame no one but himself if he gets leprosy.” It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Zainab the wife of ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud told that ‘Abdallah saw a thread on her neck and asked what it was. When she told him that it was a thread over which a spell had been recited for her he took it, cut it up and said, “You, family of ‘Abdallah, are independent of polytheism. I have heard God’s messenger say that spells, charms and love-spells are polytheism.” She replied, “Why do you speak like this? My eye was discharging and I kept going to so and so, the Jew, and when he applied a spell to it it calmed down.” ‘Abdallah said, “That was just the work of the devil who was pricking it with his hand, and when a spell was uttered he desisted. All you need to do is to say as God’s messenger did, ‘Remove the harm, O Lord of men, and heal. Thou art the Healer. There is no remedy but Thine which leaves no disease behind.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Jabir told that when the Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about a charm for one who is possessed (nushra)* he replied, “It pertains to the work of the devil.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Nushra comes from a root meaning to disperse and is said to be used meaning a charm for one who is possessed because it disperses the trouble.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar told that he heard God’s messenger say: “If I drink an antidote, or tie on an amulet, or compose poetry, I am the type who does not care what he does.”* Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Meaning that one who does any such thing is an abandoned character.

Al-Mughira b. Shu'ba reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: “He who has himself cauterized or uses a spell has exempted himself from trust in God.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Isa b. Hamza told that he went to visit ‘Abdallah b. ‘Ukaim* who was suffering from erysipelas and asked why he did not attach an amulet. He replied, “We seek refuge in God from that. God’s messenger said that if anyone hangs anything on himself he will be left to it.”** Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Mirqat, iv, 510 wrongly gives Hukaim. Cf. Tahdhib, v, 323 f. ** If anyone puts his trust in a charm instead of seeking God’s help His help will be withheld from him.