Part 5

The Prophet's statement, ‘Cool it off with water might entail all types of water, and this is the correct opinion. Another opinion states that the water here means Zamzam water. Supporters of this opinion used as evidence what Al-Bokhary narrated in his Sahih that Abu Jamrah, Nasr bin 'Imran Adh-Dhuba'i said, "I used to be in the presence of Ibn Ab'ass in Mecca until one day, | was struck by fever. He said to, 'Cool it off with Zamzam water, for the Messenger of Allah said:

"Fever is a breath of Hell's fire." therefore, cool it with water, or said with Zamzam water.”

The narrator of the Hadith was in doubt as to the

—— The Prophetic Medicine

exact words of the Prophet b . Otherwise, it would be established that the Prophet meant Zamzam water for the people of Mecca, because it is available. All others can use whatever water is available to them.

There is a difference of opinion concerning if the Prophet * meant by this Hadith to encourage giving away some water as a charity, or to actually use it. The correct opinion is that the Hadith means using it. I believe that those who thought the Hadith means giving away some water as a charity did not understand the goal behind using cold water for fever. Yet, there is a good explanation for the Prophet's statement, for the reward is of a type compa able to the deed. Since thirsty people drink cold water to quench their thirst, Allah dissipates the fever with cold water, as well. Yet, this is an implication of the Hadith, as for the ruling contained in it, it simply means to use the water (not give it away in charity).

Abu Nu'aym said, Anas narrated that the Prophet said:

"If any of you comes down with fever, let him sprinkle cold water on himself for three consecutive nights before daybreak."

Tbn Majah narrated that Abu Hurayrah related from the Prophet b that he said:

"Fever is a bellow of Hell's heat. So remove it from you with cold water."

It is In addition narrated in the Sunon that Abu Hurayrah said:

"Fever w.x mentioned in the presence of the Messenger of Allah b and a man cursed it. The Messenger of Allah said:

‘Do not curse it, for it removes the sins, just as fire removes the impurity of the iron," [In addition refer to Sahib Muslim].

Fever is usually followed by a diet avoiding improper foods and requires consuming beneficial foods and medicines. The sick person's body will be cleansed from all impurities and septic elements and materials, having a similar purifying effect as the fire has when it removes the impurity of the iron. The benefits that fever has are already known to the medical authorities.

As for cleansing the heart from its ills and impurities, only doctors of the heart (this does not refer to cardiologists-Editor) have access to this type of knowledge. Such experts will find that whatever the Prophet s* stated in this regard is the plain truth. However, when the heart's ills become chronic, hope diminishes that it will ever be cured!

Fever thus helps the body and the heart. Therefore, cursing such a beneficial matter would be an act of injustice and transgression.

"No ailment that I might suffer from is dearer to me than fever, because it enters every organ of my body, and Allah gives each organ its due share of-the reward."

Therefore, using cold water to relieve fever during summer and in hot areas is beneficial, because the water would be the furthest from the rays of the sun just before daybreak (at its coolest). In addition, just before daybreak the body is at its strongest, for the ailing person would have taken his due share of sleep and relaxation In addition they would have less polluted air to breathe. The strength of the body will be added to the strength of the medicine - water in this case - and they will both relieve the fever that is noi a result of malignant tumors or septic substances or conditions. Allah will then extinguish the heat of the fever by His will.

The Prophet's guidance on curing diarrhea

It is narrated in the Sahihan that Abu Sa'id AlKhudri said:

“A man came to the Prophet s& and said, 'My

brother is complaining about stomach, or he is complaining about diarrhea.’ The Prophet b said, ‘Give him some honey.' The man went and came back later, saying, 'I have given him some honey, but it did not help,’ or he said, 'It made his diarrhea worse.' He repeated this twice or three times, all the while the Prophet b continued saying to him, 'Give him some honey.' In the third or fourth time, the Prophet “ said, 'Allah has said the truth while your brother's stomach has lied.”

Honey has tremendous medicinal value, because it washes away the harmful substances that might be collected in the veins and the intestines. Honey In addition dissolves excess moisture, is beneficial as a drink and as an ointment, it is of great value for the elderly, and those suffering from phlegm and cold moods or condition (chills). Honey is nutritious, softens one's bowel movement and is a good preserving agent. In addition, honey reduces the bitter taste of other medicines, cleanses the liver and the chest, aids in producing urine, and dissolves the phlegm that is accompanied by coughing. When honey is consumed hot and mixed with rose oil, it cures animal bites and the effects of opium. Taking honey mixed with water helps against the bite of a rabid dog and the effects of eating poisonous mushrooms. If fresh meat is kept in honey, it preserves its freshness for three months. Likewise if gourds, cucumbers and eggplants are kept in honey, they too will be preserved.

—— The Prophetic Medicine

Further, honey will keep some types of fruit fresh for six months. It preserves dead corpses, thus deserving to be called, "The true preserver." When honey is applied to someone that is infected with lice, it will kill both the lice and the eggs. Honey will In addition add softness and beauty to the hair while allowing it to grow longer. When honey is applied to the eye as a Kuhl, it will strengthen weak eyesight. Honey In addition whitens the teeth, preserves their health and the health of the gums, opens the orifice of the veins along with causing the flow of menstruation. Furthermore, licking honey on an empty stomach will help the body get rid of mucus and phlegm. It cleanses the stomach and rids it of harmful substances or mixtures, heats the stomach mildly and opens up the pores. Honey has similar effects on the kidneys, the prostate and the liver. Furthermore, honey is the least harmful sweet substance for congesting the liver and kidneys.

Adding to all these benefits that we mentioned, honey does not have any side effects, nor harm except for those suffering from bile and who should take it with vinegar to neutralize its harm.

Honey is In addition a food, a drink, a sweet, a remedy, a type of refreshment and an ointment, along with its numerous medicinal values. Therefore, there is no other substance that is more beneficial than honey or that

even rivals its value. This is why the people of old relied on honey, for most of the books of old do not mention sugar, as this was discovered in modern times.

The Prophet b used to drink some honey mixed with water on an empty stomach. There is a wonderful secret behind this practice regarding preserving the health. Only those who enjoy sound comprehension will be able to recognize such a secret. We will mention this subject again when we explain the Prophet's guidance regarding persevering good health.

A Hadith [narrated by Ibn Majah and others] stated that the Prophet b said:

"Make use of the two cures: honey and the Qura'an."”

This Hadith joins the material and the divine cures, the medicine of the body and the soul, the earthly medicine and the heavenly cure.

Understanding these facts, let us go back to the man to whom the Prophet had prescribed honzy to cure his diarrhea, which was caused by overeating. The Prophet “ prescribed honey for him to rid his stomach and intestines from accumulating harmful substances or excretions that prevents the food in the stomach from being digested, because honey has a cleansing effect. The

harmful, viscid substances were adhering to the stomach walls, which is similar to the material of a towel, polluting both the stomach and the food. Honey removes these substances that engulf the stomach, and it is the best cure for this condition. Honey is a potent cleanser and is effective in treating cases of diarrhea, especially when the honey is mixed with warm water.

The Prophet b repeated his command to the man to give some honey to his sick brother for a good reason. The prescribed medicine should be in sufficient doses; otherwise, the ailment will not be fully cured. When the prescribed medicine is in a larger than necessary dose, it will weaken the body and cause side effects. When the Prophet * first ordered the man to give his brother honey, he did not give him a sufficient amount to cure his condition. When the man said that his brother was not cured, the Prophet s& knew that the dose was not sufficient, so he told the man several times to give his brother more honey, so that the dose would reach a sufficient amount. When the sick person has several doses of honey in a suficient amount to fight the disease, the cure occurs by Allah's permission. Giving the correct dose of the proper medicine is a major part of the science of medicine.

When the Prophet b said to the man:

"Allah has said the truth and your brother's

This indicates the sure effectiveness of the honey. It In addition indicates that the illness remained not because the prescribed medicine was not effective, but because the stomach had a large amount of spoiled substances in it. Therefore, the Prophet b . ordered the man to take more medicine because his stomach contained excessive amounts of spoiled substances.

Prophetic medicine is not similar to that offered by doctors and physicians. Prophetic medicine is indeed the effective treatment and cure provided by the revelation and the guidance of the Prophet b that is coupled with a sound and perfect mind. In comparison, the majority of remedies prescribed by other than a Prophet b are built on hypothesis, observation and experimentation.

It is a fact that many people do not benefit from Prophetic medicine, because it will help only those who acknowledge and have faith in it. Thus, they believe that it will help them and they then submit to it. If the Qura'an, which is a cure for whatever the heart conceals, is not acknowledged and accepted with faith, it will not provide a cure for the heart. In fact, the Qura’an will only add more evil and disease to the hearts of the hypocrites.