Part 6

Prophetic medicine is only suitable for good and pure bodies, just as the Qura'an is only suitable for

—— The Prophetic Medicine

righteous souls and feeling hearts. Therefore, when the people ignore Prophetic medicine, it is like ignoring the help and guidance of the Qura'an, which is the most effective medicine. Again, when the medicine (the Qura'an and the Prophetic medicine) do not work, it is due to the negativity in the body and soul that are not suitable for accepting the medicine, not because the medicine does not work. All success comes from Allah, Wherein is healing for men

There is a conflict of opinion concerning what Allah said:

AS TOLEST ES) OL (Ui tlin a3 Bi Ge wd gage’

"There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying color wherein is healing for men." (16:69)

The disagreement revolves around the words "wherein is healing for men" if they refer to the drink or the Qura'an?. There are two opinions on this matter, the closest to the truth is what Ibn Mas'ud, Ibn Ab'ass, AIHasan, Qatadah, and the majority of the scholars stated, that these words refer to the drink. The Ayah, (Verse) is

talking about the drink and not the Qura'an. Adding to this fact, the Prophet b said in the previous Hadith, "Allah has said the truth," as it is clear in determining that the verse is referring to the drink. Allah knows best.

The Prophet b commanded Muslims not to enter a plague-infested area

In the Sahihan it is narrated that Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas asked Usamah bin Zayd about what he heard the Prophet :ge say concerning the plague. Usamah said that the Messenger of Allah b said:

"The plague is a punishment that was sent down on some of the Children of Israel and on those who were before your time. So if you hear that it has struck a land do not enter that land. and if it breaks out in a land that you are residing in, do not go out of that area escaping from it."

Furthermore, in the Sahihan it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah b said:

"The plague is a martyrdom for every Muslim."

Linguistically, Taoon, the plague, is a type of disease. In medical terms, the plague is a fatal, vicious tumor that causes a very strong and painful infection, quickly turning the infected area into black, green or

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brown color. Soon afterwards, ulcers start to appear around the infected area. The plague usually strikes three areas, under the arms, behind the ear and the tip of the nose, and / or, the soft (flaccid) tissues of the body. A'esha narrated that she asked the Prophet b about the plague, and he said:

"A gland ihat is similar to the camel's gland and which appears in the tender parts of the abdomen and under the arms."

Doctors say that when a septic infection occurs in the soft flesh, such as under the arms or behind the ears, it is called the plague. The plague is caused by spoiled, septic blood ‘finfected by a bug that carried the disease ffrom infected rodents]. The infected blood spoils the part of tthe body that it strikes, sometimes causing blood hemorrhaging and pus. In this case, the inflicted organ sends the infected blood to the heart, thus causing vomit, unconsciousness and rapid heartbeat. Although the plague describes every infection that sends septic blood to the “heart, becoming fatal sometimes, it particularity describes the infection that attacks the soft tissues of the body. Since the infected blood is septic, the various organs reject the blood, exept those that have become weak. The worst types of the plague are those that strike behind ears and under the arms, because they are closer to the essential organs of the body. There is little chance to be

cured from the black plague, while the red plague then the yellow plagues are the least dangerous. Since the plague breaks out in polluted areas, it is called a plague, although this word describes every epidemic, as we have stated, and as AI-Khalil has concurred.

The word epidemic is more general than the plague. Every plague is an epidemic while not every epidemic is a plague.

The plagues cause infections, ulcers and malignant growths in the areas of the body we described. It is my judgment that these are only the symptoms of the plague, since this is what doctors visibly observe, thus prompting the doctors to call them symptoms of the plague.

There are three meanings for the word plague. First: the symptoms of the disease that the doctors observe and record.

Second, the death that occurs to those inflicted by the plague, as the Prophet b said:

The plague is a martyrdom for every Muslim."

Third, the reason behind the outbreak of the plague, which is mentioned in the Hadith,

"The plague is the remnant of a punishment that was sent on the Children of Israel."

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In addition, the plague was described in another Hadith that:

"It is a result of the Jinn's touch.” Further, the Prophet b said that the plague is:

The doctors cannot refute the reasons we have mentioned explaining why the plague breaks out, although they feel that there is no physical proof that supports them. The Messengers informed us of matters of the Unseen, while the doctors’ expertise deals with the physical symptoms of the plague. However, the symptoms of the plague that doctors are familiar with do not provide them with any material evidence that the plague does not engage the soul in some manner, for there is a tremendous connection between the soul and what the body suffers due to disease and ultimately death. Only the most ignorant people will deny the effects of the soul on the body and on human nature as a whole. Allah gives the soul certain powers over the body of the sons of Adam, at such times when an epidemic breaks out or when the air is unhealthy. In addition, the soul has certain effects on the body when it experiences the ailments that are caused by septic substances, especially when blood, semen or black bile is irritated. Evil forces take control of the body when it experiences such emotions and ailments, unless the person repels it with an even stronger power, such as

remembering Allah, supplicating to Him, invoking and pleading to Him. giving in charity and reciting the Qura'an. In this case, angels will descend and will defeat and neutralize the evil effects of the devilish souls (evil forces), We have successfully tried this method many times, that which only Allah is Able to count, and we witnessed the wonderful effects of such positive forces (good souls) in strengthening one's resolve and ridding him of bad elements when in the early stages. This method almost never fails. When one feels that evil is close-by him, he should turn to good deeds as we have explained, so that they deter and fend off the evil forces (souls). This is the best medicine in such cases for those whom Allah leads to success. But when Allah decides that His appointed destiny takes over, He draws the slave's heart away from knowing and intending to perform these good deeds. In this case, the slave does not decide or intend to perform these good deeds, so that what Allah has decided takes over,

Allah willing, we will elaborate further on this subject when we discuss the divine remedies of Islamic prayer formulas (Ruqya literally: incantations), the Prophet's supplications, the various types of D"O"AA (supplications and prayers), specific forms of remembering Allah and performing righteously good deeds. We will In addition affirm that comparing Prophetic medicine to regular medicine is just like

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comparing folk medicine to that provided by doctors, as some of the best doctors have conceded. We will In addition elaborate on the fact that bodies are more affected by the soul and that Islamic prayer formulas and supplications are better and more powerful than the most powerful medicines, that they can even neutralize the effect of deadly poisons.

We must reemphasize the fact that unhealthy air plays a major role in causing the plague. Air becomes unhealthy when it becomes polluted because of septic materials or pollutants, no matter what time of year, although it usually happens in the latter part of the summer and in the autumn. This is because during these times of the year (and when the air is most polluted), acute bilious excretions will accumulate during the summer, yet would not have maturated by the end of the season. In autumn, the air is usually cold and. thus the immature excretions that accumulated in the summer will heat up and start to get spoiled and decayed, thus causing putrid illnesses. This is especially the case when the body is ready to accept such ailments, being inactive and having abundant septic materials, both of which rarely spare the body from ailments.

We should state that the best season of the year is spring especially regarding the air. Hippocrates said, “Autumn carries the worst types of ailments and deadly

sicknesses. Spring, on the other hand, is the best season and has the least occurrences of death," Pharmacists and those who prepare dead bodies for burial usually borrow money during spring and summer, rather than autumn. This is because to them, autumn is their spring that they are eager for its coming and feel happy when it starts (due to the increased number of deaths in the autumn).

It was reported in Hadith that:

"When the Najm (literally: star) appears, every epidemic is removed from every land."

The Najm is said to mean the star, or the plants that appear in spring.

"And the herbs (or stars) and the trees both prostrate themselves (to Allah)." (55:6)

Meaning during spring, because it is the season when the trees are at their prime and thus the epidemics are removed.

As for the Najm (North Star in this case), ailments intensify when it rises and then sets just about dawn. AtTamimi said in his book, 'The Secret of the Existence’, "The worst two times of the year and the most harmful for the body are: when the North star sets just before dawn, and when it appears from the east before the sun rises on

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the world. This is the time when spring is about to end. Yet, the harm that occurs when it appears is less than the harm caused by its setting." Further, Abu Muhammad bin Qutaibah said:

"Whenever the Pleiades (in astronomy, the star cluster was named by the ancient Greeks after the "Seven Sisters" of mythology, the Arabs called it Atharaiya) rises or sets, it brings about an epidemic for people and camels. Yet, its setting is worse than when it is rising.”