Part 11

with the last two chapters of the Qura'an [113 and 114].

In general, no one can deny the type of epilepsy that is caused by negative forces except those who have little knowledge and comprehension. We should In addition state that the majority of those afflicted by the touch of evil spirits are themselves in error due to weak Faith and hearts and tongues that don't remember Allah, they fail to seek refuge with Him and they fail to use Prophetic guidance, (supplications and remedies). The evil spirits find the people that are vulnerable and take advantage of them.

If the truth was uncovered, we would discover that the majority of menkind is under the influence of negative forces which guides the people according to their evil wishes. The people are unable to set themselves free from this control or even oppose it. Most people suffer from this common type of possession (epilepsy), from which the afflicted person cannot wake up. And unless the veil that obstructs their sight is removed, they will not realize that it is they who are actually afflicted by epilepsy. We seek Allah Alone for His help.

Curing (epilepsy) possession that results from the touch of evil requires the cooperation of a sound mind and sincere faith in what has been sent down to the Prophets b Then one would act as if both Heaven and Hell are right in front of his eyes and heart. They would remember that

—— The Prophetic Medicine

the people of this earthly life suffer calamities and trials that come down on their homes just as the rain does, all the while being unaware of what is going on around them.

The epilepsy that evil causes is truly severe, but since it touches so many people and is so common, the people are no lorger surprised by it. Since they are so many, it is strange to see someone who is not touched by it.

When Allah wills that a certain slave should acquire what is good for him, that slave will wake up from these fits of epilepsy and will realize tat the children of this life are suffering from epilepsy. He vill discover that some of them have surrendered to insanity and that some of them might briefly recover from a bout to fall back into another bout soon after. Some of them would be awake from a bout and would act like sane people, but when he falls into another bout, he would act confused. [This is the state of those who do not have the correct Faith.]

The epilepsy that results from physical causes

This type 2% epilepsy alters the constitution and is accompanied by spasms that prevent the limbs from functioning normally or from normal movements. The physical or constitution related epilepsy occurs due to the accumulation of thick, viscous substances near the brain

— The Prophetic Medicine —-~-

that partially obstructs the cerebral cavities. In this case, the area of the brain responsible for the senses and the various movements are impeded, and accordingly, the organs (including limbs) of the body suffer from the same condition. There are other causes for this type of epilepsy, such as the accumulation of thick flatulence that impedes the soul in some manner, or a viscous vapor accumuiates in an organ of the body and ascends to the brain, or from an acute ailment. The brain suffers from spasms due to fighting the harmful substances that are affecting the brain, and accordingly, the various organs of the body suffer from spasms. The person will not be able to stand up straight for very long he or she will fall down and foam accumulates in and around the mouth.

This type of epilepsy causes intense pain during seizures. It is In addition a chronic illness that is hard to cure and that remains for many years, especially if the person afflicted by it is more than twenty-five years old, who repeatedly falls into epileptic fits. Hippocrates said that epilepsy remains with such people until they die.

As for the woman mentioned in the Hadith who suffered from epilepsy and who used to take off her clothes because of epileptic fits, she might have been suffering from the physical type of epilepsy. That is why the Prophet promised her Paradise if she observes patience, or otherwise, the Prophet would have asked

—— The Prophetic Medicine

Allah to cure her without guaranteeing her that she will be cured. She chose Paradise, but the Prophet asked Allah on her behalf not to take off" her clothes during these fits.

The Hadith indicates that it is allowed for Muslims to forgo the use of a remedy. Furthermore, the Hadith indicates that the cure of the soul is exclusively tied to invoking Allah and turning to Him sincerely and that this type of medicine aas such profound effects on the human body that no regular medicine prepared by any doctor could ever compare to it. We have tried this medicine on numerous occasions [and witnessed its success].

The best medical authorities confirm the fact the psyche has an effective role in curing disease. The medical profession suffers from some ignorant, heretic doctors who do not do service to their profession.

As we have stated, it appears that the woman mentioned in the Hadith suffered from the epilepsy that is caused by a physical condition (chemical imbalances). Yet, she might have been suffering from the type that is caused by evil negative forces. We stated that the Messenger of Allah gave her the choice to observe patience and then acquire Paradise or that he would invoke Allah to cure her. She chose the first option but asked to be relieved from discarding her clothes because of the epileptic fits.

The Prophet's guidance on curing sciatica

Tbn Majah narrated in his Sunan (collection of Hadith) that Anas bin Malik said, I heard the Messenger of Allah b saying:

"Curing sciatica is accomplished by melting the fat from the tail of a nomad's ewe. Then, the fat is divided into three parts and one part per day is drunk on an empty stomach."

Sciatica is an ailment that starts from the hip's joint, then descends to the thigh from the backside of the body. Sometimes, sciatica reaches the ankles and the longer the ailment remains, the lower it descends and the weaker the legs and thighs become.

There are two beneficial understandings in the Hadith mentioned. medical and linguistic.

Linguistically, the Hadith proves that we are allowed to call this ailment a 'Irq (nerve) Nasa (sciatic nerve), to the contrary of the opinion of some people. They said that the Noso is the nerve itself and thus the two words together are redundant.

Answering this claim takes two forms. First, the word ‘Irq (nerve) is more general than the word Noso (sciatic nerve). Hence the term ‘Iraq An-Nasa gives the

——~ The Prophetic Medicine

general and the specific meanings desired. Second, the Nasa is an ailment that attacks the nerve and thus the word Nasa should be included in the name given to the ailment [as it specifies the area where the nerve is causing pain]. It was reported that the name ‘Irq Nasa is called as such because it makes the people forget (Nasa) any other pain. The sciatic nerve starts from the hips until the bottom of the foot from behind the ankles.

The Messenger of Allah “, as we have noticed in previous Ahadeet!., may use two types of meanings in his expressions. One meaning may be general, for all conditions and people, while the other specific, its meaning and indications are specifically directed at some particular people or don. The Hadith in this section is the specific type, it - ted at Arabs and the people of

Hijaz in particular, |. - ding the Bedouins of those areas. The remedy mention... <1 the Hadith is the best cure for the people of those :s 'lrq An-Nasa is caused by dryness or thick, sepi: .cumulations. The best treatment

for this ailment is : Jaxative. The fat on the ewe's

tail has two qualities: i:ringing the septic substances to maturity and softening (the siool in this case), both are required to cure 'Irq An-Nasa.

In addition, the nomad's ewe has several qualities, such as being small in size, producing lesser excrements and having a sott essence. The nomad's ewe In addition

grazes on beneficial wild piants, such as wormwood and lavender cotton, and so forth. When the ewe feeds on these wild plants, they will mix with and soften the ewe's flesh, especially the fatty tail. Although the ewe's miik carries in it the effective ingredients of the wild plants, the tail has two qualities that the miik does not have, being a laxative and leading the septic substances to maturity {making them ready to be extracted from the body].

We mentioned before that the regular medicines and remedies of different nations and peoples is based on the type of diet that the people are used to. Indians and Bedouins have a simple diet therefore the do not use complex medicines. As for the Romans and the Greek, they use compound medicines. They all agree, however, that the best treatment for an ailment is a specific diet. Otherwise, the doctors will first prescribe simple and then compound medications, when necessary.

If the diet is simple, simple medications are suitable for the simple ailments. The compound ailments, on the other hand, usually occur due to a complex diet and this is why compound medicines are suitable in those cases. Allah knows best.

The Prophet's guidance on treating constipation

At-Termezey and Ibn Majah narrated that the Messenger of Allah b asked Asma bint ‘Umais,

—~— The Prophetic Medicine

"How do you deal with constipation?" She said, "By using Shubrum (euphorbia piteous)." The Prophet b said, it is hot and to strong laxative." She then said. "I In addition use Senna," and the Prophet replied, "If there is a cure that prevents death, it would be Senna."

Further, Ibn Majah narrated that Abudlilah ibn Umm Haram said that he heard the Messenger of Allah b

"Use Senno and Sanoot (cumin), because they cure every disease, except Saam." He was asked, "What is Saam?" He said, 'Death'. "

The Prophet m, asked the woman about what she uses to treat constipation, meaning what cure she uses to help soften the stool, so that the body is able to get rid of its harmful waste.

In another narration of the Hadith, the Prophet “* asked Asma’ about what she uses to cure constipation, and she mentioned the Shubrum (euphorb piteous), which is the bark of the root of the euphoric tree and which is dry and hot in the forth degree. The best type of Shubrum is the one reddish in color, which is soft and feels like wrapped skin.