Medicine and Spells - Mishkat al-Masabih 4515

"There is a medicine for every disease, and when the medicine is applied to the disease it is cured by God's permission." Muslim transmitted it.

Commentary on the Hadith

This noble hadith establishes the fundamental Islamic principle that for every ailment that afflicts humanity, Allah in His infinite wisdom and mercy has created a cure. This encompasses both physical diseases of the body and spiritual maladies of the heart.

The phrase "by God's permission" (bi-idhni Allah) is of paramount importance, reminding believers that while we seek treatment, ultimate healing comes only through divine decree. This prevents the error of attributing cure solely to material causes while maintaining the proper understanding of tawhid (divine unity).

Scholars explain that this hadith encourages the Muslim community to pursue medical knowledge and research, as the discovery of cures is part of fulfilling the trust of stewardship over creation. The prohibition against despair is implicit in this teaching, as is the obligation to seek permissible treatments while maintaining reliance upon Allah.

Legal and Theological Implications

This narration establishes the religious legitimacy of medical treatment, countering any misconception that Muslims should rely solely on prayer without taking appropriate means (asbab). The pursuit of medicine becomes an act of worship when accompanied by proper intention.

The comprehensive nature of "every disease" includes both known and yet-to-be-discovered illnesses, encouraging continuous scientific inquiry within Islamic ethical boundaries. This aligns with the Prophetic tradition: "O servants of Allah, seek treatment, for Allah did not create a disease without creating its cure, except for one disease: old age."