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Explained ḥadīths

Prophetic Medicine

5 ḥadīths

We visited Khabbāb ibn al-Aratt (may Allah be pleased with him) when he was ill and he had been cauterized in seven places

عن قيس بن أبي حازم، قال: دخلنا على خباب بن الأرت - رضي الله عنه - نعودُه وقد اكْتَوى سبعَ كَيّات، فقال: إن أصحابنا الذين سَلفوا مضوا، ولم تَنقصهم الدنيا، وإنّا أصبنا ما لا نجد له مَوضعاً إلا التراب ولولا أن النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - نهانا أن ندعوَ بالموت لدعوتُ به. ثم أتيناه مرة أخرى وهو يبني حائطاً له، فقال: إن المسلم ليُؤجَر في كل شيء يُنفقه إلا في شيء يجعلُه في هذا التراب.
Qays ibn Abi Hāzim reported: We visited Khabbāb ibn al-Aratt (may Allah be pleased with him) when he was ill and he had been cauterized in seven places. He said to us: "Our companions who died (during the lifetime of the Prophet) left (this world) without having their rewards reduced due to enjoying the pleasures of this life, but we have (so much) wealth that we find no way to spend it except on the ground. Had the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) not forbidden us to wish for death, I would have wished for it." When we visited him for a second time, he was building himself a wall, and he said: "A Muslim is rewarded (in the Hereafter) for whatever he spends, except for something he has spent on building."
Al-Bukhari and Muslim. This is the wording of Al-BukhariGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation

This Hadīth relates that Khabbāb ibn al-Aratt (may Allah be pleased with him) was sick and had been cauterized in seven places for his sickness, so his companions came to pay him a visit. He told them that the early Companions had died without enjoying any worldly pleasures, which could have lessened the reward they had been promised in the Hereafter. He also said that he had collected so much wealth that he could not find a way to spend it, except on the ground, and that if the Messenger of Allah had not forbidden them from supplicating to Allah for death (except in times of trial regarding one's religion, when one should supplicate to Allah with the reported supplications), he would have asked Allah for it. He also told them that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that a person is rewarded for everything he spends, except what he spends on the ground, meaning what he builds, because if a person builds only what he needs, this does not require much expenditure. So the money spent on constructing extra (unnecessary) buildings is not rewarded, except a building that was made for the poor to live in or its income was dedicated to the cause of Allah, or something similar. This kind of building is rewarded, but there is no reward in building a place to live in (that is unnecessarily large and beyond the space he needs). Regarding cauterization, its prohibition is meant for anyone who believes that the cure comes from the cauterization, but there is no harm in it for the one who believes that Allah, the Exalted, is the Curer. The prohibition may also be meant for a person who is able to use another method of treatment, but rushed to have cauterization and did not make it the last resort.

Reference

بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف سليم الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي. تطريز رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف فيصل آل مبارك، تحقيق د. عبدالعزيز آل حمد، دار العاصمة-الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1423هـ. رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين؛ للإمام أبي زكريا النووي، تحقيق د. ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير-دمشق، الطبعة الأولى، 1428هـ. شرح رياض الصالحين؛ للشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مدار الوطن-الرياض، 1426هـ. صحيح البخاري –الجامع الصحيح-؛ للإمام أبي عبدالله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، عناية محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم؛ للإمام مسلم بن الحجاج، حققه ورقمه محمد فؤاد عبدالباقي، دار عالم الكتب-الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1417هـ. عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري؛ تأليف بدر الدين العيني، تحقيق عبدالله محمود، دار الكتب العلمية-بيروت، الطبعة الأولى، 1421هـ. فتح الباري بشرح صحيح البخاري؛ للحافظ أحمد بن علي بن حجر العسقلاني، دار المعرفة-بيروت. كنوز رياض الصالحين؛ فريق علمي برئاسة أ.د. حمد العمار، دار كنوز إشبيليا-الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1430هـ. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف د. مصطفى الخِن وغيره، مؤسسة الرسالة-بيروت، الطبعة الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ.

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com

Allah has spoken the truth, and your brother's abdomen has lied. Let him drink honey

عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه أنَّ رجلًا أتى النبيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: أخي يَشْتكي بطنَه، فقال: «اسْقِه عَسَلًا» ثم أتى الثانيةَ، فقال: «اسْقِه عَسَلًا» ثم أتاه الثالثةَ فقال: «اسْقِه عَسَلًا» ثم أتاه فقال: قد فعلتُ؟ فقال: «صدق اللهُ، وكذب بطنُ أخيك، اسْقِه عَسَلًا» فسقاه فبرأ.
Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "My brother has some abdominal trouble." The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "Let him drink honey." The man came for the second time and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "Let him drink honey." He came for the third time and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Let him drink honey." When he came for the fourth time, he said: "I have done that", and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah has spoken the truth, and your brother's abdomen has lied. Let him drink honey." So he made him drink honey and he was cured.
Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation

A man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and told him that his brother was suffering from an abdominal disorder. Other narrations of this Hadīth mention that this disorder was diarrhea. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered him to give his brother honey to drink, so he gave him some but he did not recover. He went to the Prophet again, and the Prophet ordered him to make him drink honey again, and he did, but his brother did not recover. Then he went to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) for the third time and the same thing happened. On the fourth time, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: ''Allah has spoken the truth and your brother's abdomen has lied. Let him drink honey." The Prophet's statement has two possible interpretations: 1. He was informed about a matter of the unseen through revelation, that the cure for the man's disorder is to drink honey, so he repeatedly ordered him to drink honey so that what he was promised through revelation would come true. 2. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was referring to the Qur'anic verse about honey: {in it is a cure for mankind} [Sūrat An-Nahl: 69], and he knew that this type of sickness can be cured by drinking honey. Hence, when he ordered him for the fourth time to make his brother drink honey, the man did so and his brother was cured with the permission of Allah, the Almighty.

Reference

صحيح البخاري، نشر: دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى، 1422ه. صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، نشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت. كشف المشكل من حديث الصحيحين، لجمال الدين أبي الفرج عبد الرحمن بن علي بن محمد الجوزي، المحقق: علي حسين البواب، الناشر: دار الوطن – الرياض. شرح صحيح البخاري لابن بطال، تحقيق: أبي تميم ياسر بن إبراهيم، نشر: مكتبة الرشد، الرياض-السعودية، الطبعة: الثانية 1423ه، 2003م. معجم اللغة العربية المعاصرة، للدكتور أحمد مختار عبد الحميد عمر بمساعدة فريق عمل، الناشر: عالم الكتب، الطبعة: الأولى، 1429 هـ - 2008 م. - صفات الله عز وجل الواردة في الكتاب والسنة : علوي بن عبد القادر السَّقَّاف دار الهجرة الطبعة : الثالثة ، 1426 هـ - 2006 م.

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Fever is from the searing heat of Hell, so cool it off with water

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «الحُمَّى من فَيْحِ جهنم فأبردوها بالماء».
‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fever is from the searing heat of Hell, so cool it off with water."
Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that fever is from the intense heat of Hellfire. So, the heat that the sick person experiences is from it. Therefore, he urged us to overcome such heat by water.

Reference

صحيح البخاري -أبو عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل بن إبراهيم بن المغيرة الجعفي البخاري، تحقيق محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر -الناشر : دار طوق النجاة -الطبعة : الأولى 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم المحقق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي - الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت. بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، تأليف سليم بن عيد الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي. رياض الصالحين، تأليف محيي الدين النووي، تحقيق عصام موسى هادي، ط: وزارة الأوقاف والشؤون الإسلامية بدولة قطر. شرح رياض الصالحين، المؤلف : محمد بن صالح بن محمد العثيمين، دار الوطن للنشر، الرياض، الطبعة: 1426 هـ. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، تأليف د/ مصطفى الخن، د/ مصطفى البغا، محيي الدين مستو، علي الشربجي، محمد أمين لطفي، مؤسسة الرسالة، ط:الرابعة عشر1407 كنوز رياض الصالحين، تأليف حمد بن ناصر العمار، دار كنوز إشبيليا، ط1-1430ه. دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، تأليف محمد علي بن محمد علان، دار المعرفة للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، بيروت - لبنان، الطبعة: الرابعة، 1425 هـ - 2004 م.

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com

O Banu Bayādah, marry off (your daughters) to Abu Hind, and ask him to marry off (his daughters) to you

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه ، أن أبا هِنْد، حَجَمَ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في اليَافُوخ، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : «يا بَنِي بَيَاضَةَ، أَنْكِحُوا أَبَا هِنْدٍ، وَانْكِحُوا إلَيْهِ» وقال: «وإنْ كان في شيء مِمَّا تَدَاوُون به خيرٌ فَالحِجَامة».
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Abu Hind performed cupping for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in the middle of his head. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) then said: "O Banu Bayādah, marry off (your daughters) to Abu Hind, and ask him to marry off (his daughters) to you.' He added: 'If there is benefit in anything that you use for treatment, then it is cupping.'"
Narrated by Abu DaoudGradeGood hadith
Explanation

This Hadīth shows that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had cupping made for him in his head by Abu Hind (may Allah be pleased with him). It also implies that suitability in family background and profession is not considered in marriage, for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commanded Banu Bayādah, one of the Ansār tribes who belonged to the Azdi and Qahtāni Arabs, to marry their daughters off to Abu Hind and marry his daughters. Abu Hind was one of the freed slaves who belonged to Banu Bayādah, and beside being an ex-slave, his job was making cupping, which was a lowly profession in the sight of the Arabs. However, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not pay attention to suitability in family background or profession. Other texts indicate that suitability in religiousness and morals should be considered. Finally, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned that among the best methods of treatment is cupping.

Reference

سنن أبي داود, أبو داود سليمان بن الأشعث الأزدي السِّجِسْتاني, المحقق: محمد محيي الدين عبد الحميد, المكتبة العصرية، صيدا – بيروت. صحيح أبي داود – الأم, أبو عبد الرحمن محمد ناصر الدين الألباني, مؤسسة غراس للنشر والتوزيع، الكويت, الطبعة: الأولى، 1423 هـ - 2002 م. عون المعبود شرح سنن أبي داود، ومعه حاشية ابن القيم: تهذيب سنن أبي داود وإيضاح علله ومشكلاته, محمد أشرف بن أمير بن علي بن حيدر الصديقي العظيم آبادي, دار الكتب العلمية – بيروت, الطبعة: الثانية، 1415 هـ. توضيح الأحكام مِن بلوغ المرام، تأليف: عبد الله بن عبد الرحمن بن صالح البسام، الناشر: مكتبة الأسدي، مكة المكرّمة الطبعة: الخامِسَة، 1423 هـ - 2003 م. تسهيل الإلمام بفقه الأحاديث من بلوغ المرام، تأليف: صالح بن فوزان بن عبد الله الفوزان، الطبعة: الأولى، 1427 ه - 2006 م. فتح ذي الجلال والإكرام شرح بلوغ المرام لمحمد بن صالح بن محمد العثيمين، تحقيق: صبحي بن محمد رمضان، وأُم إسراء بنت عرفة، ط1، المكتبة الإسلامية، مصر، 1427هـ. منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، تأليف: عبد الله بن صالح الفوزان، الناشر: دار ابن الجوزي الطبعة: الأولى، 1427 هـ - 1431. بلوغ المرام من أدلة الأحكام، لابن حجر، دار القبس للنشر والتوزيع، الرياض - المملكة العربية السعودية الطبعة: الأولى، 1435 هـ - 2014 م. فتاوى اللجنة الدائمة -المجموعة الأولى-: اللجنة الدائمة للبحوث العلمية والإفتاء - جمع وترتيب: أحمد بن عبد الرزاق الدويش.

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Some people from ‘Ukl or ‘Uraynah came, and the climate of Madīnah did not suit them, so they became ill

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَدِمَ أُنَاسٌ مِنْ عُكْلٍ أَوْ عُرَيْنَةَ، فَاجْتَوَوْا المَدِينَةَ فَأَمَرَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِلِقَاحٍ، وَأَنْ يَشْرَبُوا مِنْ أَبْوَالِهَا وَأَلْبَانِهَا، فَانْطَلَقُوا، فَلَمَّا صَحُّوا قَتَلُوا رَاعِيَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَاسْتَاقُوا النَّعَمَ، فَجَاءَ الخَبَرُ فِي أَوَّلِ النَّهَارِ، فَبَعَثَ فِي آثَارِهِمْ، فَلَمَّا ارْتَفَعَ النَّهَارُ جِيءَ بِهِمْ، فَأَمَرَ فَقَطَعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ، وَسُمِرَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ، وَأُلْقُوا فِي الحَرَّةِ، يَسْتَسْقُونَ فَلاَ يُسْقَوْنَ، قَالَ أَبُو قِلاَبَةَ: فَهَؤُلاَءِ سَرَقُوا وَقَتَلُوا، وَكَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِيمَانِهِمْ، وَحَارَبُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ.
Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Some people from ‘Ukl or ‘Uraynah came, and the climate of Madīnah did not suit them, so they became ill. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered them with the milch camels and drink from their urine and milk. They left, and when they recovered, they killed the herdsman of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and drove off the camels. The news came early in the day, so he sent people in pursuit of them. When the sun had risen, they were brought back. He ordered that their hands and feet be cut off and their eyes be branded, and they were thrown into Al-Harrah, where they begged for water but were not given any. Abu Qilābah said: They stole, killed, disbelieved after embracing faith, and waged war against Allah and his Messenger.
Agreed uponGradeAuthentic
Explanation

Some men from the tribes of ‘Ukl and ‘Uraynah came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as Muslims. They were afflicted with a disease that caused their bellies to swell, and they disliked staying in Madīnah because its food and air did not suit them. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered them to go to the charity camels and drink from their urine and milk. They went, and when they recovered, gained weight, and their color returned, they killed the Prophet's shepherd and drove off the camels. The news reached the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) early in the day, so he sent people in pursuit of them. They were captured by midday and brought before the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as captives. He ordered that their hands and feet be cut off and their eyes be gouged out because they had done that to the shepherd. They were then thrown into Al-Harrah, where they begged for water but were not given any, and they eventually died. Abu Qilābah said: They stole, killed, disbelieved after embracing faith, and waged war against Allah and his Messenger.

Benefits
  1. The purity of the urine of animals whose meat is permissible to eat.
  2. The permissibility of using camel milk and urine for medical treatment and healing.
  3. The legitimacy of equivalence in Qasās (legal retribution), while the prohibition of mutilation applies to cases other than rightful recompense or legal retribution.
  4. Killing a group of people for the murder of one individual, whether they killed him through treachery or banditry.
Reference

صحيح البخاري (1/ 56) (233). صحيح مسلم (3/ 1296) (1671). إرشاد الساري لشرح صحيح البخاري (1/ 298). عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري (3/ 154). التوضيح لشرح الجامع الصحيح (4/ 455). النهاية في غريب الحديث والأثر (1/ 318).

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