Part 26

—— The Prophetic Medicine

have stated, this matter has a lot to de with evil spirits, which will be stopped from producing harm if washed by water. In addition, it might be that washing with water serves to cool the heart and thus cures the person who was about to touch others with the evil eye. Sometimes, when a poisonous insect bites someone and then the insect is killed, the bitten person feels a little relief afterwards. This might occur because the bitten person feels joy that the insect was killed and this feeling of elation helps to cure the poison faster. In short, when the person who touches others with the evil eye is washed, the evil that he thought of or felt will be washed away with the water.

If someons asks, “If washing with the water helps the aggressor, then what about the victim of the evil eye?"

We say that pouring the water on victims of the evil eye In addition helps cool the effect of the evil eye on the victim just as it extinguished the veiled thoughts from the aggressor's heart. Water, which is used to cool burning iron rods, is In addition often used as a medicine with which the doctors would concur. It is natural that the same water used to extinguish the evil eye is used to rid the victim of the evil eye of its effect.

Therefore, comparing the Prophetic medicine to regular medicine that doctors use is just like comparing the doctor's medicine to folk medicines. Rather, the comparison is even less appropriate, for the difference

between the Prophets and the doctors is profoundly greater than the difference between the doctors and those who are not qualified to practice medicine. You should have discovered by now the brotherly relation between religion and wisdom, and that they never contradict each other. Allah guides whom He wills to the straight path and opens the doors of success to those who knock on such doors. He Alone is the Source of all bounties and irrefutable proofs. Fighting the evil eye is more likely to be successful if one conceals his blessings from the people.

For instance, AlI-Baghawi narrated that once Uthman saw a handsome boy and commanded, "Blacken his cleft chin so that the evil eye does not touch him."

Al-Khattabi In addition narrated in Gharib AIHadith, "It was narrated that Uthman once saw a handsome boy and that he said, 'Hide his cleft chin with black color." Uthman wanted to hide the cleft chin of the handsome boy using black color so that he was not touched by the evil eye.

Another Islamic prayer formula that helps ward off the evil eye was related by Abu ‘Abdullah Al-Tayya‘hi he was once traveling for Hajj or Jihad using a good animal. There was a man in the caravan who would never look at something but would bring it to its demise. Abu ‘Abdullah was then told, ‘Preserve your camel from this

—— The Prophetic Medicine

man's eye.’ He said, 'My camel cannot be touched by harm.’ The person who touched with the evil eye was informed of Abu 'Abdullah's response and he waited for a chance when Abu ‘Abdullah was not present and looked at the camel which soon fell on its feet! When Abu ‘Abdullah came and was told that the person had touched it with the evil eye and that his camel was suffering, as was evident, he said, ‘Show me the man.' When he came by him he said, 'In the Name of Allah a restraint that restrains, a hard rock and a blazing star: I ask that the evil eye returns to the person who started it and on the most dear people to him (meaning the envious person himself)"

LD (*) € 5 poled oe SF Ua ped! ae 5b opts Allah said:

Then look again: "Can you see any rifts?” Then look again and yet again, your sight will return to you in a state of humiliation and worn out." (67:3,4)

Then, the person known for the evil eye lost his sight and the camel was cured.*

The Prophet's guidance on treating sickness in general with Islamic prayer formulas Muslim narrated

that Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri said that Jibril came to the Prophet b and said to him:

"O Muhammad ! Are you complaining from an illness?" He said,

"Yes." jibril then said, "In the Name of Allah I say Islamic prayer formulas for your benefit, from every illness that might harm you and from the evil of every evil soul or envious evil eye. Allah will cure you, in the Name of Allah I say Islamic prayer formulas for your benefit."

If someone asks, "What do you say about the Hadith that Abu Dawood narrated:

"There is no Islamic prayer formula except for an evil eye or fever."

"There is no Islamic prayer formula (that works

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better) than in the cases of evil eye and the fever."

In addition, the various Ahadeeth in general allow Islamic prayer formulas. For instance, Muslim narrated that the Prophet a& allowed using Islamic prayer formulas in the cases of the evil eye, fever and Namlah (ant's bite or sores).

The Prophet's guidance on treating one bitten (by an animal) by reciting AI-Fatihah

In the Sahihain [In addition At-Termezey, Ibn Mdjah and Ahmad] it is narrated that Abu Sa'id AIKhudri said, "Some of the Companions of the Prophet “ went on a journey till they reached some of the Arab tribes (at night). They asked the latter to treat them as their guests but they refused. The chief of that tribe was then bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and they tried their best to cure him but in vain. Some of them said (to the others), ‘Nothing has benefited him, will you go to the people who resided here at night, it may be that some of them might possess something (as treatment),' They went to the group of the companions (of the Prophet b) and said, 'Our chief has been bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and we have tried everything but he has not benefited. Have you got anything (useful)?' One of them replied, "Yes, by Allah! I can recite an Islamic prayer formula, but as you have refused to accept us as your guests, I will not recite the Islamic prayer formula

The Prophetic Medicine ———

for you unless you fix for us some wages for it.’ They agreed to pay them a flock of sheep. One of them then recited (The chapter Al-Fatihah): 'All the praises are for the Lord of the Worlds’ and puffed over the chief who became alright as if he was released from a chain, and got up and started walking, showing no signs of sickness. They paid them what they agreed to pay. Some of them (i.e., the Companions) then suggested to divide their earnings among themselves, but the one who performed the recitation said, 'Do not divide them till we go to the Prophet sg and narrate the whole story to him, and wait for his order.’ So, they went to Allah's Messenger b and narrated the story. Allah's Messenger asked:

"How did you come to know that the chapter AIFatihah could be recited as an Islamic prayer formula?"

"You have done the right thing. Divide (what you have earned) and assign a share for me as well."

It is a well-known fact that certain types of speech have a profound effect and benefit that experience testifies to. So how about the Words of the Lord of the Worlds that are as preferred to the ereation's speech as Allah is preferred above His creation? Allah's Words contain the ultimate cure, the perfect immunity, correct guidance and an encompassing mercy, that if it was

——— The Prophetic Medicine

revealed to a mountain, it would tum to dust in appreciation of Allah's Glory. Allah said:

"And We send down of the Qura'an that which is a healing and a meicy to those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism )

"Allah has promised those among them who believe (i.e., all those who follow Islamic Monotheism, the religion of Prophet Muhammad b till the Day of Resurrection) and do righteous good deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward (i.e.. Paradise)." s

What could one think of the opening of the Qura'an (AI-Fatihah, the first chapter) that is not comparable to any Verse or chapter revealed in the Qura'an, the Torah, the Gospel or the Zabur (that was revealed to Prophet Dawood b). The AI-Fatihah contains the general meaning of all the Divine Books sent down by Allah. It contains Allah's Names and Attributes, such as Allah, the Robb (Lord), Ar-Rahman (Most Merciful) and Ar-RahIm (Most Beneficent). It In addition affirms Resurrection, Allah's Oneness in Lordship. It In addition mentions the creation's dependence on Allah's help and guidance and that He Alone grants such bounties. It In addition contains the best and most beneficial supplication that the creation needs:

being guided to the Straight Path that entails 218

acquiring knowledge of His Names and Attributes, worshipping Him alone, obeying His Commands, refraining from His prohibitions and staying firm on this path until death. It In addition contains the kinds of creation that are divided into those who have acquired the bounty of knowing the Truth, and who prefer and implement its implications. On the other hand, there are those who have earned Allah's Anger by avoiding the truth after knowing it and there are those who are led astray from the True Path. These are the camps that the creation is divided into. In addition, the AI-Fatihah affirms Predestination and the Commandments of the religion, Allah's Names and Attributes, Resurrection and Prophethood. It In addition purifies the heart and mentions Allah's Justice and Generosity. It In addition refutes all types of innovations and evil methods. We mentioned all these virtues for the Al-Fatihah in our book that explains it, Madariju As-Salikin. Certainly, a chapter that contains all these virtues and benefits deserves to be used as a cure for disease, as well as an antidote for poisonous stings.

Indeed, Al-Fatihah is the best cure because it contains sincere servitude to Allah, praising Him, relating all bounties to Him, seeking His help and support, and invoking Him for all types of advantages, such as the correct guidance that brings about benefit and fends off torment.