Mishkat al-Masabih

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

“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.

“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 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.

“Nigella seed is a remedy for every disease but sam.” Ibn Shihab said sant is death and the nigella seed is shuniz.* (Bukhari and Muslim.) * Taj al-’arus 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 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.)

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

“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 )

“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 an invocation for the evil eye, scorpion sting and small pustules. Muslim transmitted it.

The Prophet gave command that we should use an invocation against the evil eye. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

“Use an invocation for her, for she has been affected by the evil eye.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) * Saf’a is explained as a stroke from the devil, or the influence of the evil eye. It may be read suf’a which means blackness, or blackness tinged with red. Sufra 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 invocations, and the family of ‘Amr b. Hazm came and said, “Messenger of God, we had an invocation proved efficacious which we applied for scorpion bite, but you have prohibited invocations.” 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.

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 invocations to me. There is no harm in invocations so long as there is no polytheism in them.” Muslim transmitted it.

“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.

“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 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 used to recommend olive oil and wars for pleurisy. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

“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.

“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 had himself cupped above the thigh for a contusion from which he suffered. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

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 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 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.

“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;

“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 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.

“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.

“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.

“No invocation is to be used except for the evil eye or a scorpion sting.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it on the authority of Buraida.

“No invocation is to be used except for the evil eye, or a scorpion sting, or bleeding.”* Abu Dawud transmitted it. * The text has dam (blood), but it is said that nose-bleeding in particular is what is meant here. Cf. Mirqat, iv, 5U.

Asma’ daughter of ‘Umais said, “Messenger of Go'd, Ja’far’s children are readily susceptible to the influence of the evil eye, so may I use an invocation for them?” He replied, “Yes, for if anything could get ahead of the decree the evil eye could.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

“Why do you not teach this one the invocation for skin eruptions as you taught her writing?” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Umama b. Sahl b. Hunaif told that ‘Amir b. Rabi'a saw Sahl b. Hunaif bathing and said, “I swear by God that I have seen no skin to compare with what I have seen to-day, not even that of a secluded girl.” Sahl fell to the ground and people went to God’s messenger and said to him, “Messenger of God, can you do anything for Sahl b. Hunaif? We swear by God that he cannot raise his head ” He asked if they suspected anyone, and when they replied that they suspected ‘Amir b. Rabl‘a. God’s messenger summoned ‘Amir, and speaking roughly to him, said, “Why does one of you kill his brother? Why did you not invoke a blessing? Bathe on his behalf ” ‘Amir then washed on his behalf his face, hands, elbows, knees and toes, and inside his lower garment, collected the water in a vessel and poured it over him, so he recovered and went away with the people none the worse.* It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna. Malik transmitted it, and in his version he said, “The evil eye is real. Perform ablution for him.” He therefore did so. * The trouble was due to the words of praise which were not qualified by any reference to what God might will, and accordingly attributed to the evil eye.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri told that God’s messenger used to seek refuge in God from jinn and the evil eye in men till the Mu’awwidhatan* came down, after which he made use of them and abandoned everything else. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan gharib tradition. * Qur’an, 113 & 114.

‘A'isha told that God’s messenger asked her, “Have the mugharribun been seen among you?” She asked what that meant and he replied, “They are those in whom is a strain of the jinn.”* Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Mirqat, iv, 514, says this happens if a man neglects to mention God when he has sexual intercourse with his wife.