MEDICINE IN THE QUR’AN AND SUNNAH An Intellectual Reappraisal of the Legacy and Future of Islamic Medicine and its Representation in the Language of Science and Modernity MEDICINE IN THE QUR’AN AND SUNNAH An Intellectual Reappraisal of the Legacy and Future of Islamic Medicine and its Representation in the Language of Science and Modernity Umar Faruk Adamu Safari Books Ltd Ibadan Published by Safari Books Ltd Ile Ori Detu 1 Shell Close Onireke Ibadan. Email: [email protected] © Umar Faruk Adamu Publisher: Chief Joop Berkhout, OON Deputy Publisher: George Berkhout Published 2006 New edition, 2012 All rights reserved. This book is copyright and so no part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. ISBN: 978-978-8431-14-5 DEDICATION TO THE ALMIGHTY ALLAH THE MOST MERCIFUL, THE MUNFICENT, THE OMNIPRESENT THE GIVER OF LIFE, HEALTH AND WISDOM v Contents Dedication v Foreword I xiii Foreword II xvi Preface xix Acknowledgements xxv List of Reviewers and Editorial Advisers xxvii List of Definitions and Abbreviations xxix Introduction 1 Chapter One Seeking for Knowledge 13 1.1 The Concept of Knowledge 13 1.2 The Importance of Knowledge 15 1.3 The Diversification of Knowledge 22 1.4 The Promotion of Medical Education and Health Services 25 Chapter Two Preventive Medicine 33 2.0 Introduction 33 2.1 Personal and Environmental Hygiene 33 2.2 Oral Hygiene 35 2.3 Circumcision 36 2.4 Other Forms of Personal Hygiene 39 2.5 Drinking Clean and Pure Water 39 2.6 Manners of Eating 42 2.7 Diet 45 vii 2.8 Physical Health – Sport, Amusement and Recreation 47 2.9 Social Health 50 2.10 Mental Health 54 2.11 The Control of Communicable Diseases and Epidemics 57 2.12 Passing Urine in Stagnant Water 59 2.13 Medical Benefits of Ablution and Salat 60 Chapter Three Curative Medicine 63 3.0 Introduction 63 3.1 Treatment with Honey 65 3.2 Fever, Sore Throat and Tonsilitis 72 3.3 The Control of Bleeding and Treatment of Wounds 74 3.4 Cupping and Cauterisation 75 3.5 Remedy With Dates 78 3.6 Remedy with Nigella Seed (Habba-tus-Sawda) 80 3.7 Diseases of and Antidotes to the Housefly 82 3.8 Remedy with Milk 83 3.9 The Treatment of Pain and Malaise 84 3.10 The Management of the Unconscious Patient 85 3.11 The Management of Burns and Dehydration 88 3.12 Nutritional Rehabilitation in Patients’ Care 89 3.13 The Treatment of Mental Illnesses and Other Diseases 90 3.14 The Treatment of lnsomnia or Sleep Disorder 92 3.15 Medical and Genetic Counselling 93 viii 3.16 Psychotherapy 95 3. 17 Conclusion 103 Chapter Four Health Policies 107 4.1 Family Health and Breast Feeding 107 4.2 The Provision of Adequate and Potable Water 109 4.3 Legislation on Foods, Drinks, Recreation and Sex 111 4.4 The Wisdom in the Prohibition of Eating Pigs and Dogs 112 4.5 Noise as Pollution 121 4.6 The Promotion of Medical Ethics 121 4.7 Magic, Witchcraft, Enchantments and Charms 123 4.8 Euthanasia (Mercy Killing) 124 4.9 Suicide 125 4.10 Healthcare Delivery and Administration 126 4.11 The Promotion of Health Services 126 4.12 The Rehabilitation of the Sick and the Needy 127 4.13 The Promotion of International Health 128 Chapter Five Research and Development 131 5.0 Introduction 131 5.1 The Source of Human Creation 134 5.2 Embryonic and Fetal Development 137 5.3 Sex Differentiation and Determination 141 5.4 The Acquisition of the Soul 143 5.5 The Completion of Creation, Labour and Delivery146 ix 5.6 Conclusion 146 5.7 Reflection 149 Chapter Six Spiritual Health 151 6.0 Introduction 151 6.1 The Existence of Jinn, Their Nature and Effect on the Human Body 156 6.2 Possession 157 6.3 Exorcism 161 6.4 Healing through Miracles 171 6.5 The Use of Washed Qur’anic Verses on Slates as a Medicinal Remedy 177 6.6 The Use of Amulets and Charms 179 6.7 Omens and Superstitions 181 6.8 Magic and Soothsaying 183 Chapter Seven Public Health Issues 185 7.0 Introduction 185 7.1 Artificial Insemination in the Treatment of Infertility 186 7.2 Abortion 194 7.3 Family Planning 197 7.4 HIV Infection and AIDS 207 7.5 Immunisation and Prophylaxis 214 x Chapter Eight Necessity Dictates Exception 217 8.1 Doctors Examining Patients of the Opposite Sex 217 8.2 Females in Medical Practice 220 8.3 Seeking Health Services from Non-Muslims 222 8.4 The Use of Cadavers (Dead Bodies) for Medical Training 223 8.5 Treating Illnesses with Prohibited Substances or Means 227 8.6 Medication and Instrumentation for the Fasting Patients 228 Chapter Nine Muslims and the Practice of Medicine 233 9.1 Historical Background 233 9.2 The Challenges of Modem Medicine to Muslims 247 9.3 The Principles and Approaches of “Is1amic Medicine” 253 9.4 The Islamisation of the Medical Sciences 262 Chapter Ten Conclusion 267 Appendix 275 References 281 Index 297 xi Foreword l In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, it is indeed my honour and privilege to write a foreword to this important book, Medicine in the Qur’an and Sunnah, written by one of our younger colleagues, Dr Umar Faruk Adamu. Over the years, a lot has been written about Muslims’ contribution to knowledge in the field of the natural sciences and medicine. It is an undeniable fact that for over one thousand years, Islamic thoughts and ideas have held sway throughout the world and the legacy of that noble era was a prerequisite to modem scientific and technological progress. Dr Adamu has made a sincere attempt to tap into this rich Muslim history and bring into focus the unquantifiable contributions of Muslims to human development and advancement in medicine and other bodies of knowledge. The opening chapter of the book was rightly devoted to the search for knowledge as the background and foundation of any meaningful human endeavour. It is shown that the Qur’an and Sunnah, the two fundamental sources of Islam, provide abundant evidence of the relevance of knowledge and the high regard that they attract from those who seek and disseminate them in the sight of Allah. The Qur’anic basis of preventive medicine is very well treated in Chapter Two. Aspects of a good diet, mental and social health and the strategy for the control and prevention of communicable diseases and epidemics are explained and brought into focus. The third chapter deals purely with Tibbi Nabawi (Prophetic medicine) in which the therapeutic or curative effects of certain natural substances such as honey, habba-tus-sawda, certain herbs and seedlings are given a great deal of attention. xiii In Chapter Four, the scientific basis of Islamic legislation with regards to the preservation of health is highlighted. In Chapter Five, the author deals with human creation and development in the light of modem knowledge and current research. This chapter specifically brings to view what the Qur’an has described 14 centuries ago which had only been “discovered” by modem scientists in the last century. In Chapter Six (spiritual health), issues such as possession, exorcism, miraculous healing, the use of amulets and the washing of Qur’anic writing off slates as a medicinal remedy, though controversial in some aspects, are presented intellectually. The next two chapters deal with modern topics such as artificial insemination, family planning, abortion, immunisation, HIV/AIDS and so on. A lot has been written about these topics from the Islamic perspective, hence further reading and research is recommended to readers. The exigencies involved in some contemporary issues like the use of cadaver (dead body) for medical training, doctors examining patients of the opposite sex and the use of prohibited substances for medication are properly analysed. I find these topics very refreshing since they provide every Muslim with the challenge to possess an average knowledge of science apart from a basic knowledge in Islamic theology. In the last chapter, the author traces the rich history of Islamic intellectual culture, without unnecessarily dwelling at greater length on self-glorification for past achievements. He also charges the leaders and scholars of the present Ummah to fashion out a course for the recovery and subsequent development of this legacy which has been lamentably lost. This book, as an extension of other works, provides another avenue on the Islamisation of knowledge in the pure and applied sciences which need to be explored. I highly xiv recommend it as a primer to those interested in the Islamic perspective of modern science and medical practice. DR IBRAHIM MU’UTASIM, MBBS, FMC (Paed) (Nig). Consultant Paediatrician and Chief Medical Director, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. xv Foreword II I have gone through this book, Medicine in the Qur’ an and Sunnah written by Dr Umar Faruk Adamu and find it to be an important step in the right direction. He has used his advantage as a medical doctor to scientifically examine certain aspects of the holy Qur’ an and the traditions of the Prophet (SAW) related to the field of medicine, and has presented them in an organised and very informative form. Since Islam is the last divine religion to be revealed for the guidance of mankind, far from being a mere accomplice in this modem age, the so-called 21st century, it is capable of supplying antidotes to the failings and ailments of the present world.