Sunan Ibn Majah
Chapters on Medicine
كتاب الطب
Chapter 1
مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ دَاءً إِلاَّ أَنْزَلَ لَهُ شِفَاءً
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Usāmah ibn Sharīk reported: I was present when Bedouins asked the Prophet ﷺ, ‘Are we at fault in this matter? Are we at fault in that matter?’ He said to them, ‘Servants of Allah, Allah has removed hardship, except for one who takes something from his brother’s honor; that is where the fault lies.’
They asked, ‘Messenger of Allah, are we at fault if we seek medical treatment?’ He said, ‘Seek treatment, servants of Allah, for Allah has not placed a disease without placing a cure with it, except old age.’ They asked, ‘What is the best thing a servant is given?’ He said, ‘Good character.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Bedouins’ questions are left general as ‘this matter’ and ‘that matter’; the source does not name what they asked about.
The phrase about taking something from one’s brother’s honor is rendered literally; it refers to violating or speaking against another’s reputation.
The report says Allah placed a cure with each disease, except old age; no qualification is added.
قَالَ شَهِدْتُ الأَعْرَابَ يَسْأَلُونَ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَعَلَيْنَا حَرَجٌ فِي كَذَا أَعَلَيْنَا حَرَجٌ فِي كَذَا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ " عِبَادَ اللَّهِ وَضَعَ اللَّهُ الْحَرَجَ إِلاَّ مَنِ اقْتَرَضَ مِنْ عِرْضِ أَخِيهِ شَيْئًا فَذَاكَ الَّذِي حَرَجٌ " .
The phrase about taking something from a brother’s honor is figurative and does not specify a particular act, though it suggests violating another’s reputation.
Does this phrase refer broadly to defaming or backbiting one’s brother?
فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ عَلَيْنَا جُنَاحٌ أَنْ نَتَدَاوَى قَالَ " تَدَاوَوْا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ لَمْ يَضَعْ دَاءً إِلاَّ وَضَعَ مَعَهُ شِفَاءً إِلاَّ الْهَرَمَ " .
The report names al-haram (old age) as the exception to the statement that every disease has a cure; it does not further explain this exception.
Does al-haram refer specifically to old age or to the weakness associated with it?
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abū Khuzāmah reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, ‘What do you think of medicines that we use for treatment, ruqyahs that we seek, and precautions that we take—do they avert anything from Allah’s decree?’ He replied, ‘They are part of Allah’s decree.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Ruqyahs are recitations or supplications used in seeking healing; the Arabic does not specify their wording here.
The question uses three means—medicines, ruqyahs, and protective precautions—and the answer says they are themselves part of Allah’s decree.
قَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَرَأَيْتَ أَدْوِيَةً نَتَدَاوَى بِهَا وَرُقًى نَسْتَرْقِي بِهَا وَتُقًى نَتَّقِيهَا هَلْ تَرُدُّ مِنْ قَدَرِ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا قَالَ " هِيَ مِنْ قَدَرِ اللَّهِ " .
Ruqā (plural of ruqyah) refers to recitations or supplications used in seeking healing; no specific form is identified in the report.
Should ruqyahs be rendered as healing recitations or left as the technical term ruqyahs?
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Allah has not sent down any disease without also sending down its remedy.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The statement is general and does not name any disease or remedy.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abū Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Allah has not sent down any disease without sending down a cure for it.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
This report uses the word ‘cure’ (shifāʾ) for what is provided for each disease.
Chapter 2
الْمَرِيضِ يَشْتَهِي الشَّىْءَ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ibn ʿAbbās reported: The Prophet ﷺ visited a man and asked him, ‘What do you desire?’ He replied, ‘I desire wheat bread.’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Whoever has wheat bread should send some to his brother.’ Then the Prophet ﷺ said, ‘If a sick person among you desires something, let him be given it to eat.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The first statement refers to the sick man the Prophet ﷺ was visiting; the closing instruction generalizes to a sick person among the listeners.
The bread is specifically made from wheat (burr), not barley.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Anas ibn Mālik reported: The Prophet ﷺ visited a sick man and asked, ‘Do you desire anything? Do you desire kaʿk?’ He said, ‘Yes,’ so they sought some for him.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Kaʿk is a baked food, often rendered as cake or a kind of biscuit; the report does not describe its shape or ingredients.
قَالَ دَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ عَلَى مَرِيضٍ يَعُودُهُ قَالَ " أَتَشْتَهِي شَيْئًا أَتَشْتَهِي كَعْكًا " .
Kaʿk is a baked food whose exact form is not specified in this report.
What kind of baked food is meant by kaʿk here?
Chapter 3
الْحِمْيَةِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Umm al-Mundhir bint Qays al-Anṣāriyyah reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us with ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib, who was recovering from an illness. We had clusters of dates hanging, and the Prophet ﷺ was eating from them. ʿAlī reached out to eat some, but the Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Stop, ʿAlī—you are recovering from illness.’
She said: I prepared beet greens and barley for the Prophet ﷺ. He said, ‘ʿAlī, eat some of this, for it is more beneficial for you.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The word dawālī refers to clusters or bunches of dates hanging for eating.
Silq is a leafy vegetable commonly rendered as beet greens or chard; the report does not specify its variety.
The Prophet ﷺ first tells ʿAlī not to eat from the hanging dates while convalescing, then directs him to eat the prepared greens and barley as more beneficial.
قَالَتْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَمَعَهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَعَلِيٌّ نَاقِهٌ مِنْ مَرَضٍ وَلَنَا دَوَالِي مُعَلَّقَةٌ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهَا فَتَنَاوَلَ عَلِيٌّ لِيَأْكُلَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " مَهْ يَا عَلِيُّ إِنَّكَ نَاقِهٌ " .
Dawālī refers to hanging clusters of dates; the report does not describe their variety or ripeness.
What kind or stage of dates is intended by dawālī here?
قَالَتْ فَصَنَعْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ سِلْقًا وَشَعِيرًا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " يَا عَلِيُّ مِنْ هَذَا فَأَصِبْ فَإِنَّهُ أَنْفَعُ لَكَ " .
Silq is a leafy vegetable, often identified as beet greens or chard, but the report does not specify the exact variety.
Which leafy vegetable is meant by silq in this report?
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ṣuhayb reported: I came to the Prophet ﷺ while bread and dates were before him. The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Come closer and eat.’ I began eating dates, and he said, ‘You are eating dates while you have ophthalmia?’ I replied, ‘I chew on the other side.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ smiled.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Ramad refers to an eye ailment or inflammation; ‘ophthalmia’ preserves the medical term without specifying its cause.
The reply ‘I chew on the other side’ is left as stated; the report does not explain further.
فَأَخَذْتُ آكُلُ مِنَ التَّمْرِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " تَأْكُلُ تَمْرًا وَبِكَ رَمَدٌ " .
Ramad names an eye condition, but the report does not specify its symptoms or cause.
What specific eye ailment is meant by ramad in this report?
Chapter 4
لاَ تُكْرِهُوا الْمَرِيضَ عَلَى الطَّعَامِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir al-Juhanī reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Do not force your sick to eat or drink, for Allah feeds them and gives them drink.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The final clause is rendered directly as stated; no further explanation of how Allah provides for the sick is added.
قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لاَ تُكْرِهُوا مَرْضَاكُمْ عَلَى الطَّعَامِ وَالشَّرَابِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُطْعِمُهُمْ وَيَسْقِيهِمْ " .
The report says that Allah feeds and gives drink to the sick, without explaining whether this is figurative nourishment or another sense.
Should ‘Allah feeds them and gives them drink’ be understood figuratively or literally?
Chapter 5
التَّلْبِينَةِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
ʿĀʾishah reported: When illness or fever afflicted the Messenger of Allah’s ﷺ family, he would order soup. She said he used to say, ‘It strengthens the grieving heart and relieves the sick heart, just as water washes dirt from one of your faces.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic names ḥasāʾ, a soup or broth, without specifying its ingredients.
The comparison describes relief to the sick heart as like washing dirt from the face with water.
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ،
Waʿk refers to an illness or feverish ailment, but the report does not specify its symptoms.
What specific illness is meant by waʿk here?
قَالَتْ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ " إِنَّهُ لَيَرْتُو فُؤَادَ الْحَزِينِ وَيَسْرُو عَنْ فُؤَادِ السَّقِيمِ كَمَا تَسْرُو إِحْدَاكُنَّ الْوَسَخَ عَنْ وَجْهِهَا بِالْمَاءِ " .
The verbs describe strengthening the grieving heart and relieving the sick heart; the exact nuance may include soothing or cleansing distress.
Should the effect on the grieving and sick heart be rendered as strengthening and relieving, or more literally as mending and clearing?
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
ʿĀʾishah reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Take up the unappealing yet beneficial talbīnah.’ The report explains that this means soup. She said: Whenever someone in his family fell ill, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ kept the cooking pot on the fire until one of two outcomes came: the person recovered or died.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Talbīnah is explained in the report as soup; the exact ingredients are not given here.
The phrase literally describes the talbīnah as disliked or unappealing yet beneficial.
The final explanation explicitly identifies the two outcomes as recovery or death.
قَالَتْ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْبَغِيضِ النَّافِعِ التَّلْبِينَةِ " .
The paired description means something like ‘unappealing yet beneficial’; the report does not clarify whether the first adjective refers to its taste or its general desirability.
Does the first adjective describe the taste of talbīnah or that people dislike taking it?
Chapter 6
الْحَبَّةِ السَّوْدَاءِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abū Hurayrah reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, ‘In the black seed there is a cure for every disease except death.’ The report explains: al-sām means death, and the black seed is shūnīz.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The report itself glosses al-sām as death and identifies the black seed as shūnīz.
The statement is rendered as a general claim, with the stated exception of death.
وَالْحَبَّةُ السَّوْدَاءُ الشُّونِيزُ .
The report identifies the black seed as shūnīz but does not provide a botanical description beyond that name.
Which precise seed or plant is intended by shūnīz?
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Sālim ibn ʿAbd Allāh reported from his father that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Use this black seed, for in it there is a cure for every disease except death.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
This report repeats the general statement about the black seed and gives the instruction ‘use this.’ It does not name a preparation method.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Khālid ibn Saʿd reported: We set out with Ghālib ibn Abjar, and he fell ill on the road. We reached Medina while he was still ill. Ibn Abī ʿAtīq visited him and said to us, ‘Use this black seed. Take five or seven of them, crush them, then put drops of them in his nose, together with drops of oil, on this side and on this side. ʿĀʾishah told them that she had heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “This black seed is a cure for every disease, except when the disease is death.”’ I asked, ‘What is al-sām?’ He replied, ‘Death.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The dosage is given as ‘five or seven’ seeds; the report does not specify units or explain the alternative number.
The remedy instructions mention crushed black seed and oil drops administered in the nose, on both sides.
The report explicitly explains al-sām as death.
قَالَ خَرَجْنَا وَمَعَنَا غَالِبُ بْنُ أَبْجَرَ فَمَرِضَ فِي الطَّرِيقِ فَقَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ وَهُوَ مَرِيضٌ فَعَادَهُ ابْنُ أَبِي عَتِيقٍ وَقَالَ لَنَا عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذِهِ الْحَبَّةِ السَّوْدَاءِ فَخُذُوا مِنْهَا خَمْسًا أَوْ سَبْعًا فَاسْحَقُوهَا ثُمَّ اقْطُرُوهَا فِي أَنْفِهِ بِقَطَرَاتِ زَيْتٍ فِي هَذَا الْجَانِبِ وَفِي هَذَا الْجَانِبِ فَإِنَّ عَائِشَةَ حَدَّثَتْهُمْ أَنَّهَا سَمِعَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ " إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْحَبَّةَ السَّوْدَاءَ شِفَاءٌ مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ السَّامُ " .
The instruction says to take five or seven seeds but does not state a unit of measure or why either number is given.
Are five and seven alternative counts of seeds, or do they refer to another measure?
قَالَ خَرَجْنَا وَمَعَنَا غَالِبُ بْنُ أَبْجَرَ فَمَرِضَ فِي الطَّرِيقِ فَقَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ وَهُوَ مَرِيضٌ فَعَادَهُ ابْنُ أَبِي عَتِيقٍ وَقَالَ لَنَا عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذِهِ الْحَبَّةِ السَّوْدَاءِ فَخُذُوا مِنْهَا خَمْسًا أَوْ سَبْعًا فَاسْحَقُوهَا ثُمَّ اقْطُرُوهَا فِي أَنْفِهِ بِقَطَرَاتِ زَيْتٍ فِي هَذَا الْجَانِبِ وَفِي هَذَا الْجَانِبِ فَإِنَّ عَائِشَةَ حَدَّثَتْهُمْ أَنَّهَا سَمِعَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ " إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْحَبَّةَ السَّوْدَاءَ شِفَاءٌ مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ السَّامُ " .
The wording mentions drops of crushed seed and drops of oil for the two sides of the nose, but the exact mixture and sequence are not detailed.
Are the seed and oil drops mixed together before being placed in each nostril?
Chapter 7
الْعَسَلِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abū Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Whoever licks honey three mornings each month will not be struck by a grave calamity.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The report specifies three mornings in each month and says no great calamity will befall the person; it does not name a particular kind of calamity.
قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " مَنْ لَعِقَ الْعَسَلَ ثَلاَثَ غَدَوَاتٍ كُلَّ شَهْرٍ لَمْ يُصِبْهُ عَظِيمٌ مِنَ الْبَلاَءِ " .
The report promises protection from a great calamity in general terms and does not specify its kind or scope.
What kinds of grave calamity are included in this general statement?
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh reported: Honey was presented to the Prophet ﷺ, and he distributed a taste to each of us. I took my share, then said, ‘Messenger of Allah, may I have another?’ He said, ‘Yes.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic says he gave each person a luqʿah, literally a lick or small taste; the report does not specify a spoon or other utensil.
قَالَ أُهْدِيَ لِلنَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ عَسَلٌ فَقَسَمَ بَيْنَنَا لُعْقَةً لُعْقَةً فَأَخَذْتُ لُعْقَتِي ثُمَّ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَزْدَادُ أُخْرَى قَالَ " نَعَمْ " .
Luqʿah is a small lick or taste of honey; the report does not specify its size or how it was served.
Should the portion be rendered literally as a ‘lick’ or more naturally as a small taste?
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
ʿAbd Allāh reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Take to the two remedies: honey and the Qur’an.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic calls honey and the Qur’an ‘the two cures’ and uses an imperative encouraging people to take them as remedies.
قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " عَلَيْكُمْ بِالشِّفَاءَيْنِ الْعَسَلِ وَالْقُرْآنِ " .
The report calls honey and the Qur’an the two cures without specifying the distinct way each is used as a remedy.
Should ‘the two remedies’ be understood broadly, with no further distinction supplied by the report?
Chapter 8
الْكَمْأَةِ وَالْعَجْوَةِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abū Saʿīd and Jābir reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘The desert truffle is among the manna, and its water is a cure for the eye. The ʿajwah date is from Paradise, and it is a cure from Paradise.’
A second chain, through Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī, transmits the same report.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic explicitly adds a second chain and says it carries the same report; this is kept separately from the matn.
ʿAjwah is a named variety of date. The report says it is from Paradise and a cure from Paradise, without specifying a particular ailment.
‘Its water’ refers to the liquid of the desert truffle; the report does not describe how it is obtained.
قَالاَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " الْكَمْأَةُ مِنَ الْمَنِّ وَمَاؤُهَا شِفَاءٌ لِلْعَيْنِ وَالْعَجْوَةُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَهِي شِفَاءٌ مِنَ الْجَنَّةَ " .
Al-kamʾah is a desert truffle or similar underground fungus; the report does not give a more precise species.
Which precise kind of desert truffle is meant by al-kamʾah?
قَالاَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " الْكَمْأَةُ مِنَ الْمَنِّ وَمَاؤُهَا شِفَاءٌ لِلْعَيْنِ وَالْعَجْوَةُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَهِي شِفَاءٌ مِنَ الْجَنَّةَ " .
The report calls the ʿajwah date a cure from Paradise but does not specify the illness or manner of use.
What does the report mean by describing ʿajwah as a cure from Paradise?
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Saʿīd ibn Zayd ibn ʿAmr ibn Nufayl reported from the Prophet ﷺ that he said, ‘The desert truffle is among the manna that Allah sent down to the Children of Israel, and its water is a cure for the eye.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The report links the desert truffle to the manna sent down to the Children of Israel and states that its water is a cure for the eye.
No method for obtaining or applying the truffle’s water is specified.
يُحَدِّثُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنَّ " الْكَمْأَةُ مِنَ الْمَنِّ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَمَاؤُهَا شِفَاءٌ لِلْعَيْنِ " .
Al-kamʾah is a desert truffle or similar underground fungus; the report does not specify a precise species.
Which precise kind of desert truffle is meant by al-kamʾah?
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abū Hurayrah reported: We were talking in the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and mentioned the desert truffle. People said, ‘It is the earth’s pox.’ The report of this conversation reached the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he said, ‘The desert truffle is among the manna, and the ʿajwah date is from Paradise and is a cure for poison.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The phrase ‘the earth’s pox’ is a literal description of the truffle as a growth on the earth; the report does not explain the comparison further.
The pronoun ‘it’ in the closing clause refers to the ʿajwah date, which is the immediately preceding feminine noun.
قَالَ كُنَّا نَتَحَدَّثُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَذَكَرْنَا الْكَمْأَةَ فَقَالُوا هِيَ جُدَرِيُّ الأَرْضِ .
The speakers describe the truffle as ‘the earth’s pox’; this comparison is not further explained.
Is ‘the earth’s pox’ a figurative description of the truffle’s appearance?
فَنُمِيَ الْحَدِيثُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ " الْكَمْأَةُ مِنَ الْمَنِّ وَالْعَجْوَةُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَهِيَ شِفَاءٌ مِنَ السَّمِّ " .
The closing feminine pronoun most directly refers to ʿajwah, the feminine noun immediately before it; the report does not name the referent again.
Does the phrase ‘a cure for poison’ refer to the ʿajwah date?