23. Medicine and Spells

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَوَى أَسْعَدَ بْنَ زُرَارَةَ مِنَ الشَّوْكَةِ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيث غَرِيب

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.

وَعَن زيد بن أَرقم قَالَ: أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ نَتَدَاوَى مِنْ ذَاتِ الْجَنْبِ بِالْقُسْطِ البحريِّ وَالزَّيْت. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

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

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَنْعَتُ الزَّيْتَ وَالْوَرْسَ مِنْ ذَاتِ الْجَنْبِ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

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

وَعَن أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ عُمَيْسٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَأَلَهَا: «بمَ تستَمشِينَ؟» قَالَت: بالشُّبْرمِ قَالَ: «حارٌّ حارٌّ» . قَالَتْ: ثُمَّ اسْتَمْشَيْتُ بِالسَّنَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَوْ أَنَّ شَيْئًا كَانَ فِيهِ الشِّفَاءُ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ لَكَانَ فِي السَّنَا» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيث حسن غَرِيب

“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.

وشطره الأول (صَحِيحٌ) وَعَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَنْزَلَ الدَّاءَ وَالدَّوَاءَ وَجَعَلَ لِكُلِّ دَاءٍ دَوَاءً فَتَدَاوُوا وَلَا تداوَوْا بحرامٍ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

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.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الدَّوَاءِ الْخَبِيثِ. رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

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

وَعَنْ سَلْمَى خَادِمَةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ: مَا كَانَ أَحَدٌ يَشْتَكِي إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَجَعًا فِي رَأْسِهِ إِلَّا قَالَ: «احْتَجِمْ» وَلَا وَجَعًا فِي رِجْلَيْهِ إِلَّا قَالَ: «اخْتَضِبْهُمَا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

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.

وعنها قَالَت: مَا كَانَ يَكُونَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قُرْحَةٌ وَلَا نَكْبَةٌ إِلَّا أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَضَعَ عَلَيْهَا الْحِنَّاء. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

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.

وَعَن أبي كَبْشَة الْأَنْمَارِيِّ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يحتجم على هامته وَبَين كفيه وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ أَهْرَاقَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الدِّمَاءِ فَلَا يَضُرُّهُ أَنْ لَا يَتَدَاوَى بِشَيْءٍ لِشَيْءٍ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَابْن مَاجَه

“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.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٌ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ احْتَجَمَ عَلَى وَرِكِهِ مِنْ وَثْءٍ كَانَ بِهِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

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

وَعَن ابنِ مَسْعُود قَالَ: حَدَّثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ علن لَيْلَةَ أُسَرِيَ بِهِ: أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَمُرَّ عَلَى مَلَأٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ إِلَّا أَمَرُوهُ: «مُرْ أُمَّتَكَ بِالْحِجَامَةِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيث حسن غَرِيب

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.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ: إِنَّ طَبِيبًا سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ ضِفْدَعٍ يَجْعَلُهَا فِي دَوَاءٍ فَنَهَاهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ قَتْلِهَا. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘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.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَحْتَجِمُ فِي الْأَخْدَعَيْنِ وَالْكَاهِلِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَزَادَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ: وَكَانَ يحتجمُ سبعَ عشرَة وتسع عشرَة وَإِحْدَى وَعشْرين

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.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَسْتَحِبُّ الْحِجَامَةَ لِسَبْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَتِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَإِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ. رَوَاهُ فِي شرح السّنة

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

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَنِ احْتَجَمَ لِسَبْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَتِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَإِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ كَانَ شِفَاءً لَهُ مِنْ كُلِّ دَاء» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

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.

وَعَن كبشةَ بنت أبي بكرةَ: أَنَّ أَبَاهَا كَانَ يُنْهِي أَهْلَهُ عَنِ الْحِجَامَةِ يَوْمَ الثُّلَاثَاءِ وَيَزْعُمُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَنَّ يَوْمَ الثُّلَاثَاءِ يَوْمُ الدَّمِ وَفِيهِ سَاعَةٌ لَا يَرْقَأُ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

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.

وَعَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ مُرْسَلًا عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مِنْ احْتَجَمَ يَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ أَوْ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ فَأَصَابَهُ وَضَحٌ فَلَا يَلُومَنَّ إِلَّا نَفْسَهُ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَقَالَ: وَقَدْ أسْند وَلَا يَصح

“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;

وَعَنْهُ مُرْسَلًا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنِ احْتَجَمَ أَوِ اطَّلَى يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ أَوِ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ فَلَا يَلُومَنَّ إِلَّا نَفْسَهُ فِي الوَضَحِ» . رَوَاهُ فِي شرح السّنة

“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.

وَعَنْ زَيْنَبَ امْرَأَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ رَأَى فِي عُنُقِي خَيْطًا فَقَالَ: مَا هَذَا؟ فَقُلْتُ: خَيْطٌ رُقِيَ لِي فِيهِ قَالَتْ: فَأَخَذَهُ فَقَطَعَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَنْتُمْ آلَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لَأَغْنِيَاءٌ عَنِ الشِّرْكِ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُول: «إِنَّ الرُّقَى وَالتَّمَائِمَ وَالتِّوَلَةَ شِرْكٌ» فَقُلْتُ: لِمَ تَقُولُ هَكَذَا؟ لَقَدْ كَانَتْ عَيْنِي تُقْذَفُ وَكُنْتُ أَخْتَلِفُ إِلَى فُلَانٍ الْيَهُودِيِّ فَإِذَا رَقَاهَا سَكَنَتْ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ: إِنَّمَا ذَلِكِ عَمَلُ الشَّيْطَانِ كَانَ يَنْخَسُهَا بِيَدِهِ فَإِذَا رُقِيَ كُفَّ عَنْهَا إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَكْفِيكِ أَنْ تَقُولِي كَمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «أَذْهِبِ الْبَاسَ رَبَّ النَّاسِ وَاشْفِ أَنْتَ الشَّافِي لَا شِفَاءَ إِلَّا شِفَاؤُكَ شِفَاءٌ لَا يُغَادِرُ سقما» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

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.

وَعَن جَابر قَالَ: سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ النُّشْرَةِ فَقَالَ: «هُوَ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

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.