Prophetic medicine

Prophetic medicine ('Al-Tibb al-nabawī, Arabic: الطب النبوي‎) refers to the actions and words (hadith) specifically of the Islamic prophet Muhammad with regards to sickness, treatment and hygiene, and the genre of writings undertaken primarily by non-physician scholars to collect and explicate these traditions.^[1] It is distinct from Islamic medicine, in that the latter is a broader category encompassing a variety of medical practices rooted in Greek natural philosophy. Prophetic medical traditions exhort humans to not simply stop at following Muhammad's teachings, but encourage them to search for cures as well. The literature of Prophetic medicine thus occupies a symbolic role in the elucidation of Islamic identity as constituted by a particular set of relationships to science, medicine, technology and nature. There has historically been a tension in the understanding of the medical narratives: are they of the same nature as Muhammad’s religious pronouncements, or are they time-sensitive, culturally situated, and thus not representative of a set of eternal medical truths? ^[2] This body of knowledge was fully articulated only in the 14th century, at which point it was concerned with reconciling Sunnah (traditions) with the foundations of the Galenic humoral theory that was prevalent at the time in the medical institutions of the Islamicate world.^[3] It is nonetheless a tradition with continued modern-day currency, as suggested by the online presence of resources on the genre.^[4][5]

Overview

Prophetic medicine is sometimes casually identified with Unani medicine or traditional medicine, although it is distinguished from some iterations of these and from scientific medicine most predominantly by the former being specifically a collection of advice attributed to Muhammad in the Islamic tradition.^[6] One would do well to note that medieval interpretations of the medical hadith were produced in a Galenic medical context, while modern-day editions might bring in recent research findings to frame the importance of the genre. In the hadith, Muhammad recommended the use of honey and hijama (wet cupping) for healing and had generally opposed the use of cauterization for causing "pain and menace to a patient".^[7] Other items with beneficial effects attributed to Muhammad, and standard features on traditional medicine in the Islamicate world, include olive oil; dates; miswak as a necessity for oral health and Nigella sativa or "black seed" or "black cumin" and its oils. These items are still sold in Islamic centers or sellers of other Islamic goods. The value of honey is traced to specific mention of its virtues in the Quran and not just Muhammad:

And thy Lord taught the Bee to build its cells in hills, on trees, and in (men's) habitations;
Then to eat of all the produce (of the earth), and find with skill the spacious paths of its Lord: there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for men: verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought.

— Quran, sura 16 (An-Nahl), ayat 68-69^[8]

Muhammad's firm belief in the existence of a cause and a cure for every disease is described in many hadith along the lines of the below:^[7][9]

Make use of medical treatment, for Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease, namely old age.

— Abu Dawood, Sunan Abu Dawood^[10]

This belief can be said to be a grounding philosophy of this otherwise loosely defined field,^[11] and is said to have encouraged early Muslims to engage in medical research and seek out cures for diseases known to them.^[9]

Some Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim Ahadith say that a mixture of camel urine and milk was recommended to certain people by the Prophet to be drunk as medicine.^{[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]} Camel urine is sold as traditional medicine in shops in Saudi Arabia.^{[24][25][26][27][28][29]} The Sunni scholar Muhammad Al-Munajjid's IslamQA.info recommends camel urine as beneficial to curing certain diseases and to human health and cited Ahadith and scientific studies as justification.^{[30][31][32][33]} King Abdulaziz University researcher Dr. Faten Abdel-Rajman Khorshid discovered that cancer and other diseases could be treated with camel urine as recommended by the Prophet.^{[34][35][36][37][38][39]} The United Arab Emirates "Arab Science and Technology Foundation" reported that cancer could be treated with camel urine.^[40][41] Camel urine was also prescribed as a treatment by Zaghloul El-Naggar, a religious scholar.^[42][43][44] Camel urine is the only urine which is permitted to be drunk according to the Hanbali madhhab of Sunni Islam.^[45] The World Health Organization said that camel urine consumption may be a factor in the spread of the MERS virus in Saudi Arabia.^{[46][47][48][49][50]} The Gulf Times writer Ahmad al-Sayyed wrote that various afflictions are dealt with camel urine by people.^[51] Dandruff, scalp ailments, hair, sores, and wounds were recommended to be treated with camel urine by Ibn Sina.^[52] A thesis from King Saud University for the Master's degree in the Department of Botany &Microbiology at The College of Science King Saud University by Aishea Mohammed Ba-hatheq found that camel urine had anti-bacterial properties.^[53] Arab American University Professor of Cell Biology and Immunology Bashar Saad (PhD) along with Omar Said (PhD) wrote that medicinal use of camel urine is approved of and promoted by Islam since it was recommended by the prophet.^[54] A test on mice found that cytotoxic effects similar to cyclophosphamide were induced on bone marrow by camel urine.^[55] Infections in the eye, acne, burn wounds, infection sin the skin, cirrhosis of the liver, allergies, yeast and bacterial infections are treated with camel urine.^[56] Besides for consumption as a medicinal drink, camel urine is used to help treat hair.^[57][58] Bites from insects were warded off with camel urine, which also served as a shampoo.^[59] Camel urine is also used to help treat asthma, infections, treat hair, sores, hair growth and boost libido.^[60][61] Some cosmetic and aphrodisiac treatments contain camel urine.^[62]

Several Sunni Ahadith mention camel urine:^{[63][64][65][66]}

Sunni Ahadith on drinking camel urine 

A Sahih Hadith found in Sahih Bukhari says - Narrated Anas: The climate of Medina did not suit some people, so the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered them to follow his shepherd, i.e. his camels, and drink their milk and urine (as a medicine). So they followed the shepherd that is the camels and drank their milk and urine till their bodies became healthy. Then they killed the shepherd and drove away the camels. When the news reached the Prophet (ﷺ) he sent some people in their pursuit. When they were brought, he cut their hands and feet and their eyes were branded with heated pieces of iron. ( حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ نَاسًا، اجْتَوَوْا فِي الْمَدِينَةِ فَأَمَرَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَلْحَقُوا بِرَاعِيهِ ـ يَعْنِي الإِبِلَ ـ فَيَشْرَبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا، فَلَحِقُوا بِرَاعِيهِ فَشَرِبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا، حَتَّى صَلَحَتْ أَبْدَانُهُمْ فَقَتَلُوا الرَّاعِيَ وَسَاقُوا الإِبِلَ، فَبَلَغَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَعَثَ فِي طَلَبِهِمْ، فَجِيءَ بِهِمْ فَقَطَعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ، وَسَمَرَ أَعْيُنَهُمْ. قَالَ قَتَادَةُ فَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِيرِينَ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ كَانَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْزِلَ الْحُدُودُ.)^[67]
A Sahih Hadith found in Sahih Bukhari says - Narrated Anas: The climate of Medina did not suit some people, so the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered them to follow his shepherd, i.e. his camels, and drink their milk and urine (as a medicine). So they followed the shepherd that is the camels and drank their milk and urine till their bodies became healthy. Then they killed the shepherd and drove away the camels. When the news reached the Prophet (ﷺ) he sent some people in their pursuit. When they were brought, he cut their hands and feet and their eyes were branded with heated pieces of iron. ( حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ نَاسًا، اجْتَوَوْا فِي الْمَدِينَةِ فَأَمَرَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَلْحَقُوا بِرَاعِيهِ ـ يَعْنِي الإِبِلَ ـ فَيَشْرَبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا، فَلَحِقُوا بِرَاعِيهِ فَشَرِبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا، حَتَّى صَلَحَتْ أَبْدَانُهُمْ فَقَتَلُوا الرَّاعِيَ وَسَاقُوا الإِبِلَ، فَبَلَغَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَعَثَ فِي طَلَبِهِمْ، فَجِيءَ بِهِمْ فَقَطَعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ، وَسَمَرَ أَعْيُنَهُمْ. قَالَ قَتَادَةُ فَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِيرِينَ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ كَانَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْزِلَ الْحُدُودُ.)^[68]
A Sahih Hadith found in Sahih Bukhari says - Narrated Anas: Some people from `Uraina tribe came to Medina and its climate did not suit them, so Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) allowed them to go to the herd of camels (given as Zakat) and they drank their milk and urine (as medicine) but they killed the shepherd and drove away all the camels. So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent (men) in their pursuit to catch them, and they were brought, and he had their hands and feet cut, and their eyes were branded with heated pieces of iron and they were left in the Harra (a stony place at Medina) biting the stones. (See Hadith No. 234, Vol. 1) ( حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ نَاسًا، مِنْ عُرَيْنَةَ اجْتَوَوُا الْمَدِينَةَ، فَرَخَّصَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَأْتُوا إِبِلَ الصَّدَقَةِ فَيَشْرَبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا، فَقَتَلُوا الرَّاعِيَ وَاسْتَاقُوا الذَّوْدَ، فَأَرْسَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأُتِيَ بِهِمْ، فَقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ وَسَمَرَ أَعْيُنَهُمْ، وَتَرَكَهُمْ بِالْحَرَّةِ يَعَضُّونَ الْحِجَارَةَ. تَابَعَهُ أَبُو قِلاَبَةَ وَحُمَيْدٌ وَثَابِتٌ عَنْ أَنَسٍ.)<sup>[69]</sup>
A Sahih Hadith found in Sahih Bukhari says - Narrated Abu Qilaba: That he was sitting behind `Umar bin `Abdul `Aziz and the people mentioned and mentioned (about at-Qasama) and they said (various things), and said that the Caliphs had permitted it. `Umar bin `Abdul `Aziz turned towards Abu Qilaba who was behind him and said. "What do you say, O `Abdullah bin Zaid?" or said, "What do you say, O Abu Qilaba?" Abu Qilaba said, "I do not know that killing a person is lawful in Islam except in three cases: a married person committing illegal sexual intercourse, one who has murdered somebody unlawfully, or one who wages war against Allah and His Apostle." 'Anbasa said, "Anas narrated to us such-and-such." Abu Qilaba said, "Anas narrated to me in this concern, saying, some people came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and they spoke to him saying, 'The climate of this land does not suit us.' The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'These are camels belonging to us, and they are to be taken out to the pasture. So take them out and drink of their milk and urine.' So they took them and set out and drank of their urine and milk, and having recovered, they attacked the shepherd, killed him and drove away the camels.' Why should there be any delay in punishing them as they murdered (a person) and waged war against Allah and His Apostle and frightened Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ?" Anbasa said, "I testify the uniqueness of Allah!" Abu Qilaba said, "Do you suspect me?" 'Anbasa said, "No, Anas narrated that (Hadith) to us." Then 'Anbasa added, "O the people of such-and-such (country), you will remain in good state as long as Allah keeps this (man) and the like of this (man) amongst you." (حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَلْمَانُ أَبُو رَجَاءٍ، مَوْلَى أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ جَالِسًا خَلْفَ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، فَذَكَرُوا وَذَكَرُوا فَقَالُوا وَقَالُوا قَدْ أَقَادَتْ بِهَا الْخُلَفَاءُ، فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَى أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ وَهْوَ خَلْفَ ظَهْرِهِ، فَقَالَ مَا تَقُولُ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ زَيْدٍ أَوْ قَالَ مَا تَقُولُ يَا أَبَا قِلاَبَةَ قُلْتُ مَا عَلِمْتُ نَفْسًا حَلَّ قَتْلُهَا فِي الإِسْلاَمِ إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ زَنَى بَعْدَ إِحْصَانٍ، أَوْ قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ، أَوْ حَارَبَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَقَالَ عَنْبَسَةُ حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسٌ بِكَذَا وَكَذَا. قُلْتُ إِيَّاىَ حَدَّثَ أَنَسٌ قَالَ قَدِمَ قَوْمٌ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَكَلَّمُوهُ فَقَالُوا قَدِ اسْتَوْخَمْنَا هَذِهِ الأَرْضَ. فَقَالَ " هَذِهِ نَعَمٌ لَنَا تَخْرُجُ، فَاخْرُجُوا فِيهَا، فَاشْرَبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا ". فَخَرَجُوا فِيهَا فَشَرِبُوا مِنْ أَبْوَالِهَا وَأَلْبَانِهَا وَاسْتَصَحُّوا، وَمَالُوا عَلَى الرَّاعِي فَقَتَلُوهُ، وَاطَّرَدُوا النَّعَمَ، فَمَا يُسْتَبْطَأُ مِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ قَتَلُوا النَّفْسَ وَحَارَبُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ، وَخَوَّفُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ. فَقُلْتُ تَتَّهِمُنِي قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بِهَذَا أَنَسٌ. قَالَ وَقَالَ يَا أَهْلَ كَذَا إِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَزَالُوا بِخَيْرٍ مَا أُبْقِيَ هَذَا فِيكُمْ أَوْ مِثْلُ هَذَا.)^[70]
A Sahih Hadith found in Sunan Nasai says - Anas bin Malik narrated that: A group of eighty people from 'Ukl came to the Prophet [SAW], but the climate of Al-Madinah did not suit them and they fell sick. They complained about that to the Messenger of Allah [SAW] and he said: "Why don't you go out with our herdsmen and drink the milk and urine of the camels?" They said: "Yes (we will do that)." They went out and drank some of the (camels') milk and urine, and they recovered. Then they killed the herdsman of the Messenger of Allah [SAW], so he sent (men after them) and they caught them and brought them back. He had their hands and feet cut off and branded their eyes, and left them in the sun to die. (أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، عَنْ حَجَّاجٍ الصَّوَّافِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو رَجَاءٍ، مَوْلَى أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو قِلاَبَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ نَفَرًا، مِنْ عُكْلٍ ثَمَانِيَةً قَدِمُوا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاسْتَوْخَمُوا الْمَدِينَةَ وَسَقِمَتْ أَجْسَامُهُمْ فَشَكَوْا ذَلِكَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " أَلاَ تَخْرُجُونَ مَعَ رَاعِينَا فِي إِبِلِهِ فَتُصِيبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا " . قَالُوا بَلَى . فَخَرَجُوا فَشَرِبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا فَصَحُّوا فَقَتَلُوا رَاعِيَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَعَثَ فَأَخَذُوهُمْ فَأُتِيَ بِهِمْ فَقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ وَسَمَّرَ أَعْيُنَهُمْ وَنَبَذَهُمْ فِي الشَّمْسِ حَتَّى مَاتُوا .)^[71]
A Sahih Hadith found in Sahih Muslim says - Anas reported: Eight men of the tribe of 'Ukl came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and swore allegiance to him on Islam, but found the climate of that land uncogenial to their health and thus they became sick, and they made complaint of that to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), and he said: Why don't you go to (the fold) of our camels along with our shepherd, and make use of their milk and urine. They said: Yes. They set out and drank their (camels') milk and urine and regained their health. They killed the shepherd and drove away the camels. This (news) reached Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and he sent them on their track and they were caught and brought to him (the Holy Prophet). He commanded about them, and (thus) their hands and feet were cut off and their eyes were gouged and then they were thrown in the sun, until they died. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn al-Sabbah with a slight variation of words. (حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، عَنْ حَجَّاجِ بْنِ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو رَجَاءٍ، مَوْلَى أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي أَنَسٌ، أَنَّ نَفَرًا، مِنْ عُكْلٍ ثَمَانِيَةً قَدِمُوا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَايَعُوهُ عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ فَاسْتَوْخَمُوا الأَرْضَ وَسَقُمَتْ أَجْسَامُهُمْ فَشَكَوْا ذَلِكَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . فَقَالَ " أَلاَ تَخْرُجُونَ مَعَ رَاعِينَا فِي إِبِلِهِ فَتُصِيبُونَ مِنْ أَبْوَالِهَا وَأَلْبَانِهَا " . فَقَالُوا بَلَى . فَخَرَجُوا فَشَرِبُوا مِنْ أَبْوَالِهَا وَأَلْبَانِهَا فَصَحُّوا فَقَتَلُوا الرَّاعِيَ وَطَرَدُوا الإِبِلَ فَبَلغَ ذَلِكَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَعَثَ فِي آثَارِهِمْ فَأُدْرِكُوا فَجِيءَ بِهِمْ فَأَمَرَ بِهِمْ فَقُطِعَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُمْ وَسُمِرَ أَعْيُنُهُمْ ثُمَّ نُبِذُوا فِي الشَّمْسِ حَتَّى مَاتُوا . وَقَالَ ابْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ وَاطَّرَدُوا النَّعَمَ . وَقَالَ وَسُمِّرَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ .)^[72]
A Sahih Hadith found in Sahih Muslim says - Anas b. Malik reported that some people belonging (to the tribe) of 'Uraina came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) at Medina, but they found its climate uncogenial. So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to them: If you so like, you may go to the camels of Sadaqa and drink their milk and urine. They did so and were all right. They then fell upon the shepherds and killed them and turned apostates from Islam and drove off the camels of the Prophet (ﷺ). This news reached Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and he sent (people) on their track and they were (brought) and handed over to him. He (the Holy Prophet) got their hands cut off, and their feet, and put out their eyes, and threw them on the stony ground until they died. (وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى التَّمِيمِيُّ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ هُشَيْمٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِيَحْيَى - قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ صُهَيْبٍ، وَحُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ نَاسًا، مِنْ عُرَيْنَةَ قَدِمُوا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ فَاجْتَوَوْهَا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنْ شِئْتُمْ أَنْ تَخْرُجُوا إِلَى إِبِلِ الصَّدَقَةِ فَتَشْرَبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا " . فَفَعَلُوا فَصَحُّوا ثُمَّ مَالُوا عَلَى الرِّعَاءِ فَقَتَلُوهُمْ وَارْتَدُّوا عَنِ الإِسْلاَمِ وَسَاقُوا ذَوْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَعَثَ فِي أَثْرِهِمْ فَأُتِيَ بِهِمْ فَقَطَعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ وَسَمَلَ أَعْيُنَهُمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي الْحَرَّةِ حَتَّى مَاتُوا.)^[73]
A Sahih Hadith found in Sunan Ibn Majah says - It was narrated from Anas that some people from ‘Urainah came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) but they were averse to the climate of Al- Madinah. He (ﷺ) said: "Why don’t you go out to a flock of camels of ours, and drink their milk and urine." And they did that. (حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَهْضَمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدٌ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ نَاسًا، مِنْ عُرَيْنَةَ قَدِمُوا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَاجْتَوَوُا الْمَدِينَةَ فَقَالَ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لَوْ خَرَجْتُمْ إِلَى ذَوْدٍ لَنَا فَشَرِبْتُمْ مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا " . فَفَعَلُوا .)^[74]
A Sahih Hadith found in Jami` at-Tirmidhi says - Anas narrated: "Some people from Urainah arrived in Al-Madinah, and they were uncomfortable (and ill from the climate). So Allah's Messenger sent them some camels from charity. He told them: "Drink from their milk and urine." So they killed the camel driver that Allah's Messenger sent, and they violently drove off the camels, and apostatized from Islam. So the Prophet came to them, he cut off their hands and feet on opposite side, and branded their eyes, and threw them in Al-Harrah." Anas said, "So I saw one of them working over the ground with his mouth, until they died." (حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الزَّعْفَرَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدٌ، وَقَتَادَةُ، وَثَابِتٌ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ نَاسًا، مِنْ عُرَيْنَةَ قَدِمُوا الْمَدِينَةَ فَاجْتَوَوْهَا فَبَعَثَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي إِبِلِ الصَّدَقَةِ وَقَالَ " اشْرَبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا " . فَقَتَلُوا رَاعِيَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَاسْتَاقُوا الإِبِلَ وَارْتَدُّوا عَنِ الإِسْلاَمِ فَأُتِيَ بِهِمُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَطَعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ مِنْ خِلاَفٍ وَسَمَرَ أَعْيُنَهُمْ وَأَلْقَاهُمْ بِالْحَرَّةِ . قَالَ أَنَسٌ فَكُنْتُ أَرَى أَحَدَهُمْ يَكُدُّ الأَرْضَ بِفِيهِ حَتَّى مَاتُوا . وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ حَمَّادٌ يَكْدُمُ الأَرْضَ بِفِيهِ حَتَّى مَاتُوا . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَقَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنْ أَنَسٍ . وَهُوَ قَوْلُ أَكْثَرِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ قَالُوا لاَ بَأْسَ بِبَوْلِ مَا يُؤْكَلُ لَحْمُهُ .)^[75]

Some Shia criticized Wahhabis for camel urine treatment.^[76][77][78] Shia scholars also recommend the medicinal use of camel urine.^[79][80] Shia Hadith on Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq reported that shortness of breath (asthma) was treated with camel urine.^[81][82][83] Shia Marja Ayatollah Sistani said that for medicinal purposes only, sheep, cow, and camel urine can be drunk.^[84]

Shia Ahadith on drinking camel urine 

المفضّل: سَأَلتُ أبا عَبدِ اللّهِ(ع) قُلتُ: یَابنَ رَسولِ اللّهِ، إنَّهُ یُصیبُنی رَبوٌ شَدیدٌ إذا مَشَیتُ، حَتّى لَرُبَّما جَلَستُ فی مَسافَةٍ ما بَینَ داری ودارِکَ فی مَوضِعَینِ.

Works

While the prominent works focused on treatment of the hadith related to health date from several centuries A.H., Sahih al-Bukhari and other earlier collections included these as well. 'Abd Allah b. Bustâm al-Nîsâbûrî’s Tlbb al-a'imma, aggregating a legacy of several Shi’ite Imams, is widely considered to be the first known treatise on Prophetic medicine, although it is rooted in a somewhat different cosmology.^[2] The canonical al-Bukhari corpus, divided into 97 books with 3450 chapters, includes over a 100 traditions in its book 76 loosely related to medicine, covering topics ranging from precautions against leprosy and epidemics to the forbidding of alcohol and suicide. The most notable works that still survive^[85] are attributed to religious scholars and largely not to Galenic physicians, although the latter are occasionally referenced.

Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya in the 1300s produced one of the most influential works about prophetic medicine in his 277-chapter book, Al-Tibb al-Nabawiyy. Al-Jawziyya deals with a diversity of treatments as recommended by Muhammad but also engages with ethical concerns, discussing malpractice and the hallmarks of the competent doctor.^[86] Ethics of medical practice continue to be an important marker of Islamic medicine for some.^[87] Al-Jawziyya also elaborates on the relationship between medicine and religion.^[1]

A theologian renowned for his exegetical endeavors, Al-Suyuti also composed two works on prophetic medicine, one of which was on sexual relations as ordered by Muhammad.^[86] Al-Suyuti's other manuscript divides medicine into 3 types: traditional, spiritual and preventive (e.g. dietary regimen and exercise). Along with Al-Jawziyya, Al-Suyuti also included commentary that spoke to dealing with contagion and thus was relevant to the Black Death in the Islamic world.

Both of the works above also address bioethical issues of abortion and conception, issues that, like the idea of Islamic medical heritage as being holistic, continue to be important in constructions of modern Islamic identity.^[88] Other notable works include those of Ibn Tulun (d. AD 1546) and Al-Dhahabi (d. AD 1348).

References

1. Muzaffar Iqbal, Science and Islam (Westport, CT: Greenwood press,2007),59
2. Ahmed Ragab. Journal of the American Oriental Society 132.4 (2012). 657-673.
3. Stearns, Justin (1 December 2011). "Writing the History of the Natural Sciences in the Pre-modern Muslim World: Historiography, Religion, and the Importance of the Early Modern Period". History Compass 9 (12): 923–951. doi:10.1111/j.1478-0542.2011.00810.x.
4. ":: Tibb-e-Nabawi, Healing by ISLAM". Tibbenabawi.org. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
5. "Lifestyle & Wellbeing According to the Quran & Sunna". Prophetic Medicine. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
6. Rosenthal, Franz; Marmorstein, Jenny (1975). The classical heritage in Islam. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 182. ISBN 0-520-01997-0.
7. Deuraseh Nurdeen. "Ahadith of the Prophet on Healing in Three Things (al-Shifa' fi Thalatha): An Interpretational". Journal of the International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine 2003 (4): 14–20.
8. Quran 16:69
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10. Sunan Abu Dawood, 28:3846
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Further reading

• Ghaly, Mohammed, Prophetic Medicine, in Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God (2 vols.), Edited by C. Fitzpatrick and A. Walker, Santa Barbara, ABC-CLIO, 2014, Vol. II, pp. 502–506. ISBN 1610691776

External links

• U.S. National Library of Medicine: Prophetic Medicine
• International Institute of Islamic Medicine