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PROPHETIC MEDICINE SCINTEFIC MEDICINE vs
WRITTTEN BY : Bibi Sawia Ali
First let us examine the origins of both sources ; Prophetic medicine is based on wisdom from the Creator Himself passed down to Prophet Muhammad ( SAW ) through revelation ( Qur ’ an ) and / or divine inspiration ( Sunnah practices ), while Scientific Medicine has been derived through trial and error , laboratory experiments , assumptions and speculation .
Prophetic Medicine is unique in its holistic approach , addressing the well-being of patients on both a physical and spiritual level , while scientific medicine focuses solely on physical treatments .
Understanding Prophetic Medicine and its application .
As-Suyuti mentions three classes of Prophetic medicine : 1 . Preventative . Such as moderation in food , exercise , hygiene etc . 2 . Traditional . To treat illnesses with honey , olive oil , black seed , cupping etc . 3 . Spiritual . Through Ruqyah using verses of Qur ’ an and supplications .
Prophetic Medicine provides the foundation for Islamic medicine . It is important to note the difference between the two ; one gives the guidelines and the other provides additional details and support .
For example , Prophetic Medicine teaches us that there is a cure in black seed for everything except death , while Islamic medicine gives us the directions of use ( dosage etc .) relevant to each ailment .
The Prophet ( SAW ) gave us a comprehensive system to follow rather than a catalogue of remedies and prescriptions . Some remedies were given directly , while others took some effort to identify .
The Prophet ( SAW ) said , “ Allah has not created any disease without sending a cure for it .” ( Bukhaari )
Surely we still have a lot to learn and are encouraged to keep researching on Islamic medicine from this hadith , using the principles taught to us through Prophetic Medicine .
So what are some of the Benefits of Prophetic Medicine over Scientific Medicine ?
1 . It re-enforces our Tawakkul ( trust or reliance ) in Allah as the One who heals ( ash shafii ’) and better safeguards us from shirk ( associating attributes of Allah ). While using conventional medicine we can mistakenly give credit of the cure to the pills we used or the doctor we visited , instead of giving thanks to The One who provided the knowledge and means for the cure to be administered to us .
2 . When the Prophet ( SAW ) recommended it , there is no need to question it . Allah ( SWT ) says in Surah Al Ahzaab verse 21 “ Indeed in the messenger of Allah you have an excellent example to follow for he who hopes in ( the meeting with ) Allah and the Last day and remembers Allah much .”
3 . Humans were created from earth , therefore naturally , the vitamins and minerals found in the earth and what it produces will best nourish , treat and protect our bodies . Most Prophetic medicines are natural and safe while modern medicine have harmful side effects due to the unnatural chemicals used in their making , which are foreign to our bodies .
4 . The natural ingredients used in Prophetic medicine can be easily acquired and are more affordable compared to the cost and availability of prescription medication and doctor visits .
5 . Prophetic medicine is timeless while scientific medicine is always becoming outdated and changing based on new discoveries .
6 . Sometimes diagnosis and treatment of an ailment differ based on the practitioner . Each individual may present a different diagnosis and prescription based on their knowledge and experience in the field , while the Prophet ( SAW ) only spoke the truth and His source of knowledge came from the Creator Himself . Who can know us better than the One who created us ?
7 . vvLastly and most importantly we can benefit from good health in this life and earn rewards for reviving a Sunnah in the hereafter .
Here are some examples of Prophetic Medicine as indicated over 1400 years ago that were only proven by Science in recent years .
26 | Ihsaan | Issue 3