Part 16

Combining the foods or medicines with their antidotes or opposites makes the product milder and rids it of any harmful side effects. Consequently, the body will preserve its health, strength and wellbeing.

'A'esha Vi AI *.3 once said, "They tried to make me fatter using every type of food, but I did not get fatter.

But when they fed me ripe dates and cucumbers, I became fatter."

In short, neutralizing the effect of the hot substance with the cold, the cold with the hot, the dry with the wet and the wet with the dry produces a milder substance that is considered among the best remedies and preventive measures. We mentioned before the Prophet's guidance concerning blending Senna and Sanoot (honey and butter) and stated that this method will make the Senno milder. May Allah bestow His peace and blessings on he who was sent with all that brings life to the hearts and bodies and what brings about their benefit in this life and the Hereafter.

The Prophet's guidance on observing a diet as part of

All types of cures and medicines contain either a certain diet or preventive measures. When one feels ill, he will need to rid the body from harmful substances and bodily wastes. These three elements are what medicine is all about.

There are two types of diet, a diet from what might bring an illness and a diet from what might intensify the illness. The first type of dict is for the healthy and the second type is for those with an illness. When the patient observes a certain diet, the illness will

—— The Prophetic Medicine

not progress and thus the powers contained in the body will cooperate and collaborate towards ridding the body of the ailment.

The most basic element regarding the diet is what Allah said:

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"And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (by sexual relations) and you find no water, perform Tayammum with clean

Allah has saved the sick person from using water when there is a chance that it might harm him.

Ton Majah narrated that Umm Al-Munthir bint 128

Qays said, "The Messenger of Allah b came along with Ali * Al *3 who was then recovering from an illness. At that time, we had some hanging clusters of dates. The Messenger of Allah a& started eating from them and then ‘Ali * AI “3 joined him. The Messenger of Allah kept saying to Ali Ai *.3 &: You are still recovering, ‘until Ali * -mi *.3 Stopped eating.’ I then made some barley and chard (similar to spinach) and brought it to them. The Prophet s& said, to Ali, 'Eat from this food, it is more beneficial for you." In another narration, the Prophet * said, "Eat from this food for it is more suitable in your condition.” [Abu Dawood, Ahmod and AI-Hakim].

In addition, Ibn Majah narrated that Suhayb said, "I came by the Messenger of Allah ag and found that there were some dates and bread in front of him. The Prophet b said, ‘Come closer and eat.' I picked up some dates and started eating from’ them. Then the Prophet ste said, 'Do you eat dates’ while you are suffering from conjunctivitis (an inflammation of the covering membrane of the eye)?" I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, 1 am chewing on the other side.’ The Messenger of Allah then smiled." [At-Termezey and A]-Hoki'mJ.

In another Hadith, the Prophet s& said:

"When Allah loves a slave. He helps him observe a diet from the life of this world, just as one of you puts bis patient on a diet from food and drink. Allah puts His

—— The Prophetic Medicine

believing slave on a diet from the life of this world.”

The famous statement that: "Diet is the top medicine; and the stomach is the home of disease; give each person what he is used to [of food and medicine]," this is not a Hadith, according to the scholars of Hadith. Rather, it is the words of AI-Harith bin Kaladah, the renowned Arab doctor.

Al-Harith stated that, "Diet is the head of medicine." To doctors, observing a diet by healthy people is as harmful as unhealthy eating habits for patients. Consequently, the best type of diet is that observed by those recovering from an illness, because until then, their body organs would not have regained their normal strength and wellbeing. In this condition, the digestion process would not be at its normal efficiency while the various organs of the body would still be prone to sickness. At this time unhealthy eating habits might cause the disease to come back stronger than it was before.

Know that the Prophet's disallowing Ali from eating the hanging clusters of dates while still recuperating from an illness is one of the best preventive measures. Fruits are not beneficial for sick or recovering patients as they get digested quickly at a time when the body is still fighting the ailment and is not strong enough to deal with an excess amount of food. Ripe dates in particular are heavy on the stomach at a time when the

body is still resisting the ailment and removing its effects. Whatever part of the ailment that remains would either dissipate or re-intensify, depending on the condition of the body.

Therefore, when cooked barley and chard were brought to the Prophet b he ordered Ali to eat from it. Cooked barley and chard represent one of the best types of foods for the recovering patients and those with weak stomachs. It does not produce any harmful substances or bodily wastes. The water of cooked barley is cool and nourishing, along with its other qualities of soothing, relaxing the bowels and strengthening the body in general, especially when it is cooked with chard.

Zaid bin Aslam once said, "Umar once made a patient observe such a strict diet that he used to suck on date stones." In short, diet is one of the most beneficial preventive measures before and after the disease strikes, in which case diet will prevent the disease from spreading or progressing.

We should know that when healthy, recovering or sick people have a taste for a type of food or drink, it would not harm if one consumes little amounts of it. Rather, the food might even help and benefit the body, as the stomach will accept and easily digest the food, more so than when one takes a medicine that it detests. This is why the Prophet b allowed Suhaib to eat a few dates

—— The Prophetic Medicine

when he was suffering from conjunctivitis, since it was just a little and would not harm him.

It was reported that Alt said that he once came by the Prophet b, when he, (Ali), was complaining from conjunctivitis, and found the Prophet b eating dates. The Prophet * asked him, "O Ali, do you have a taste for dates?" He then threw a date and then another date to Ali, until he threw seven. The Prophet “ then said, "That is enough, O Ali." [Abu Na'im in his book on the Prophetic medicine].

In addition, Ibn Majah narrated that Ibn Ab‘ass said:

"Once, the Prophet b ate visited a sick person and asked him, "What do you have a taste for?" The man said, "} have a taste for wheat bread, or I have a taste for a cake." The Prophet * then said: "Whoever has wheat bread, let him send some to his

brother." He In addition said, "When yours sick have a taste for something, give them some of it."

The last Hadith contains a secret, because when the sick person eats what he has a taste for while In addition hungry, it will be less harmful than what he does not have a taste for. If what he has a taste for is not beneficial in his condition, then his preference for it will

prevent its harm. In addition, eating what one does not like will cause harm to the patient even if the substance is beneficial itself. In general, the type of food that is tasty and that the person likes will be accepted by the body and will be digested in the best way, especially when the appetite for it is strong.

The Prophet's guidance on treating conjunctivitis with rest and observing a special diet

We mentioned that the Prophet b required Suhaib to observe a diet from eating dates when he was suffering from conjunctivitis, and did the same with 'Ali_ when he was suffering from the same condition. Furthermore, Abu Na‘im narrated in his book, the Prophetic Medicine, "Whenever any ox ‘he Prophet's wives would come down with conjunctivitis, he would not touch her until her eyes were cured."

Conjunctivitis is an infection that attacks the conjunctiva, that is the white part of the eye. The disease is caused by one of the four conditions [hotness, coldness, dryness and wetness], or by the accumulation of hot flatulence in the head and body, that later reaches the eye and cause conjunctivitis. In addition, when the eye receives a hit, the blood and the soul will rush to the aid of the affected eye, which then becomes swollen.

We should know that there are two types of 133

~~ The Prophetic Medicine

moistures that ascend to the air. One is hot and dry and the other hot and wet. These moistures form the clouds that shade the sky from our eyes. Likewise, gaseous substances and moistures ascend from the stomach to the upper parts of the body and cause many ailments, such as conjunctivitis. When the body's resistance is strong, it will push these gaseous substances to the nose and cause a congestion that usually accompanies colds. When these substances are pushed up through the uvula and the nostrils, they cause angina. When these moistures are pushed towards the side, they cause causes pleurisy, and when they reach the chest they causes pneumonia. When the moistures reach the heart they cause rapid pulse, and when they reach the eyes they cause conjunctivitis. When they reach the intestinal cavity, they cause diarrhea and when they reach the brain they cause forgetfulness. If the brain receives excessive amounts of these gaseous moistures, they might cause heavy sleeping. This is why sleep is wet while being awake is dry. When the septic gases unsuccessfully seek to depart from the body through the head, they will cause headaches and less sleep. When these gases attack one side of the brain, they cause migraines. If these gases reach the cerebral divider and cause it coldness, hotness or wetness, it will cause sneezing. If the gases cause the accumulation of phlegm in the cerebral divider, so that its hot nature becomes weak, they cause unconsciousness and stroke. If the gases excite the black bile, they will cause obsession, and if