MEDICINE SECTION · 10 – SEEKING TREATMENT USING THERIAC
3869 – ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) say: “If I were to drink theriac (tiryāq, a compound antidote), or wear an amulet (muska), or recite poetry from my own mind, (then I would no longer care whether what I do conforms to Islamic standards or not, since I would have stepped outside of Islamic norms).” Abū Dāwūd said: This prohibition is specific to the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). A group has permitted the use of theriac.
EXPLANATION
Theriac (tiryāq) is a kind of paste with antidotal effects, made by mixing various substances. There are several types; it is not permissible to consume theriac that contains snake meat or alcohol. There is no harm in using the type that does not contain such prohibited substances. Temīma: This refers to objects like wood or beads worn to ward off the evil eye. Since there is no one who can grant healing other than Allah, this is a sign of ignorance and misguidance. Of course, seeking healing through the Qur'an and hadith is not considered among the temīma. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) did not recite poetry so that it would not be confused with verses (āyāt). (Maʿālim al-Sunan, vol. 5, p. 354)
3870 – It is narrated from Abū Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the use of bad medicine. [482]
EXPLANATION
If a medicine contains the meat of animals whose flesh is not lawful to eat, animal filth, or alcohol, then that medicine is impure. It is not permissible to use such medicines when other alternatives are available. The only exception is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted the people of ʿUrayna to be treated with camel urine.
3871 – It is narrated from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿUthmān (may Allah be pleased with him) that a physician asked the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) about the ruling on using a frog in medicines he prepared. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade that physician from killing the frog. [483]
3872 – It is narrated from Abū Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever consumes poison and kills himself with it, he will be continually trying to swallow that poison in the Fire of Hell, abiding therein forever.” [484]
EXPLANATION
Whoever kills himself by drinking poison has committed suicide. If a person commits suicide considering it lawful, he leaves the fold of iman (faith), and it is certain that he will abide in the Fire forever. If, however, he committed suicide because he could not bear pain, he will remain in Hell for a long time; and whoever killed himself with something in this world will come (on the Day of Judgment) with the instrument of his crime.
3873 – It is narrated from Suwayd ibn Ṭāriq (may Allah be pleased with him) that he asked the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) about using alcohol as medicine. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade him from using alcohol as medicine. Then he asked again, and the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) again forbade him. He said: O Prophet of Allah, alcohol is a remedy. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “No, it is not a remedy, rather it is a disease.” [485]
3874 – It is narrated from Abū al-Dardāʾ (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Indeed, Allah has created both the disease and the cure, and He has created a remedy for every illness. Seek treatment, but do not seek treatment with what is unlawful.”