Part 14

We were told that a man once complained from fissuring in his fingers and that he offered monetary

rewards to whoever could cure him, but to no avail. Later on, a woman prescribed for him a drink of Henna for ten days but he could not stand the idea of drinking it. Later on, he soaked Henna leaves in water and drank the water and his fingers were healed and regained their beauty.

Henna is In addition used as an ointment for the fingers, as it polishes and strengthens them. Henna is In addition useful when blended with butter and then used as a bandage for the hot tumors that drain yellow residue. Henna a so benefits against chronic mange, helps the hair grow, makes it stronger and In addition strengthens the head. Finally, Henna helps against the blisters and the pustules that appear on the legs and feet and the rest of the body in general.

The Prophet's guidance concerning feeding the sick

with what they like and not forcing them to eat_or drink

At-Termezey and Ibn Majah narrated that the Prophet “ said:

"Do not force your patients to consume food or drink, for Allah, the Exalted and Most High, feeds them and gives them drink."

Some doctors commented, "How beneficial and true is this statement by the Prophet b that contains divine

wisdom, especially for the doctors who treat patients. When the patient does not feel like eating or drinking, it is because the body is busy fighting the illness, or because the instinctive heat (or the appetite) becomes weaker. Either way, it is not allowed to give the patients food in this case."

The feeling of hunger results from the body's appetite for food so that it refuels itself with the needed energy replacing that which the body has spent. The various organs of the body will spend the available energy until it runs low on supply, the -stomach will alert the person, who would then feel hungry. Food will then be distributed from the stomach to the rest of the organs of the body starting with the closest ones. When one is ill, the body will be busy maturating and getting rid of the alien, septic substances and does not require food or drink. When the sick person is forced to eat some food, the body's energy will be divided between digesting the food and concentrating on fending off the invading septic substances that caused the ailment. The patient will be harmed in this case, especially when one is suffering from acute ailments or tessening in the instinctive heat, as these conditions will only add strength to the ailment and bring about harm. The patient should only eat what is required to sustain his strength and should avoid what can aggravate his condition. The patient should consume light food and juices like nenuphar {similar to carrot), apples

and tender rosewater drinks, etc. As for the types of food: the patient should consume, they should include aromati: chicken soup. In addition, the patient should refresh hi: body with good scents and listen to good news.

The doctor is the servant of nature not one whc hinders it or obstructs its path.

We should state that fresh, healthy blood provides nutrition to the body. We should In addition know that phlegm is a type of blood that has not properly matured. Therefore, when the patient's body has excess phlegm on an empty stomach, the body will lead the phlegmy blood to maturity and then turn it into fresh blood that will supply energy to the organs of the body. The nature of the human body is the engine and vehicle that Allah has entrusted with preserving the body and its health and guarding it throughout its term.

Sometimes, compelling the patient to eat and drink becomes warranted when the ailments involve sanity.

The Hadith indicates that the patient could live without nourishment for longer than a hvalthy person could.

The Prophet's statement: "For Allah provides food and drink for them," entails more far-reaching implications than the doctors think. Only thcse who are

—— The Prophetic Medicine

experienced in knowledge of the heart and soul and in their effects on the nature of the body and vise versa will be able to uncover the implications of the Prophet's statement.

It is a fact that when the heart is busy with such feelings as joy, sadness or fear, it will be busy attending to these feelings, thus ignoring the need to eat or drink. In this condition, one does not feel hunger or thirst or even the cold or the heat. Rather, the body in this case will be busy attending whatever made it concerned and whatever caused it pain. Every person experiences such moods and thus would agree that when the heart is busy attending to a concern, it will not feel the need for food.

When the concern is a matter that brings joy, the feeling of elation will be a substitute for the food. Jubilation will fill the body and will energize it and the blood will be pumped to the various organs until it appears under the skin. In this case, the face will radiate with delight and life. Indeed, happy feelings relax the heart and fill the veins with blood. The organs do not require food in this case because they are busy dealing with what is even better for their nature than food. When human nature acquires what it likes, then it will disregard what is less favoratle or important.

When the concern entails sadness, anguish or fear, the body will be busy attending to such concerns and will

ignore seeking food in this case, because it is busy conducting its own war. When the body wins the war against such feelings, the feelings of joy will re-ignite the body's strength and will become a substitute for theregular energy through food and drink. When the war against these concerns is lost, the body will feel as low and weak as the size of defeat it suffered. If the war against such concerns is sometimes won and sometimes lost the body will feel energetic at times and weak at other times. Certainly, this type of war resembles the actual war between two enemies, where the upper hand belongs to the victorious, while defeat entails suffering casualties, dead, wounded or captured.

The sick person receives supplies from Allah that provide nutrition for him, in addition to the nutrition that he receives through the blood which the doctors contirm. This divine help varies in amount according to the amount of submission and meekness that one shows before his Lord and which will earn him closeness to Him. The closest the slave will be to his Lord is when his heart submits to Allah and in return Allah's mercy will draw closer to the slave. When the slave is one of Allah's, loyal supporters, his heart will receive sufficient support and aid that will nourish his body and strength more than the nourishment that his body receives through material nourishment. The stronger the slave's love, happiness, certainty, eagerness and contentment with Allah becomes,

——— The Prophetic Medicine

the more divine strength he will feei. This cannot be described with words, nor can any doctor explain or attain knowledge of it on his own.

Those who do not have sound comprehension and thus are unable to understand the aforementioned facts, let them observe the miserable condition of whoever covets a part of the material existence, whether a picture, a position, money or knowledge. Many people have discovered amazing facts concerning their own selves and other people by deep observation.

In the Sahih it has been stated that the Prophet b used to continue fasting for days at a time, yet he would prohibit his Companions from imitating him, saying:

"I am not like any of you, my Lord provides me with food and drink."

The food and drink mentioned in the Hadith is not the type that people eat with the mouth. Otherwise, the Prophet “e would not have been continuing the Fast. Rather, the Prophet sjg said: "My lord provides me with food and drink,” thus drawing a difference between him and the Companions in that he is able to bear what they cannot bear. If the Prophet as were talking about the regular food and drink, he would not have said:

"I am not iixe any of you." Those who understand

regular food and drink from this Hadith do not have a significant supply from the true nutrition that the heart and soul require. Nor do they have knowledge of this divine nutrition's effect on the strength and revival of the body, along with providing it with the true sustenance that is much more powerful and sustaining than the material food.

The Prophet's guidance on treating tonsillitis and administering the medication orally

In the Sahihan it is narrated that the Prophet b said:

"Cupping and marine costus are among your best remedies; and do not torture your children by pressing their uvula to cure tonsillitis.”

In addition in the Sunon and the Musnad (by Imam Ahmad) it is narrated that Jabir said, "The Messenger of All:h came to 'A’esha and saw a boy with a bleeding nose and said, What is this?" They said, "He is suffering from tonsillitis, or a headache.’ He said:

"Woe unto you! Do not kill your children. Let the mother whose child is suffering from tonsillitis or headache scrub Indian costus (aloes) with water and then administer it to the child through the nose.'

—— The Prophetic Medicine

When 'A'esha_ ordered that the prescription be followed, the boy was cured." [Ahmad, Al Hakim, Abu Ya'la and AJ-Kazzar].

Abu 'Ubaidah said, "Tonsillitis, according to Abu 'Ubaidah, is a blood related throat irntation." It was In addition said that tonsillitis is an ulcer that appears between the ear and the throat that especially afflicts young boys.

Administering scrubbed aloes through the nose helps against tonsillitis, which is essentially composed of blood related phlegm that accumulates in the bodies of young boys. Costus or Aloes tighten the uvula and pulls it up to its proper place. Aloes In addition help against other hot ailments. The author of AJ-Qanoon stated that costus, Yemeni alum and marjoram seeds help against tonsillitis.

The marine costus mentioned in the Hadith is the Indian aloes, particularly the one whitish in color, and it is sweet and has many benefits. Before, the people used to treat their children who suffered from tonsillitis by pressing the uvula and sometimes affixing an object to the uvula. The Prophet * disallowed this practice and guided the people to what is better, more beneficial and easier for the afflicted children.

Administering the medicine through the nose involves either simple or compound remedies that are