رَبَّنَا لاَ تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ

Prophet’s Guidance on seeking the best doctors

فَصْلٌ فِي هَدْيِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْإِرْشَادِ إِلَى مُعَالَجَةِ أَحْذَقِ الطَّبِيبَيْنِ

Chapter on the Guidance of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم in Seeking the Most Skilled Physicians

ذكر مالك فى "موطئه": عن زيد بن أسلمَ، أنَّ رجلاً فى زمان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أصابه جُرْحٌ، فاحتَقَن الجُرْحُ الدَّم. وأن الرجلَ دعا رجُلَيْن من بنى أنمار، فنَظَرا إليه فزعما أنَّ رسولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال لهما: "أَيُّكما أطَبُّ"؟ فقال: أوَ فى الطِّبِّ خيرٌ يا رسولَ الله ؟ فقال: "أنزلَ الدواءَ الذى أنزلَ الداء

Ibn al-Qayyam wrote : Malik narrated in his Muwatta’ from Zayd ibn Aslam that a man during the time of the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم suffered an injury that caused blood to accumulate. The man called upon two individuals from the tribe of Banu Anmaar to examine it. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم then asked them, “Which of you is more skilled in medicine?” They replied, “Is there any good in medicine, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “The One who has sent down the disease has also sent down the cure.”

This Hadith shows that one should seek help in any field from the most skilled individuals, as they are closest to achieving the correct outcome.

Similarly, anyone seeking a religious ruling (Fatwa) should seek out the most knowledgeable person, as they are more likely to provide the correct answer. Likewise, a person who is uncertain about the direction of the Qiblah should rely on the most knowledgeable person available. Allah has naturally inclined His servants to seek guidance from the most experienced, as a traveler on land or sea trusts and relies on the most skilled and knowledgeable guide. This is in harmony with the teachings of the Shariah, common sense, and natural instincts.

The statement of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, “The One who has sent down the disease has also sent down the cure,” is reported in various Ahadith. One such narration is from Amr ibn Dinar, who reported that Hilaal ibn Yasaaf said,

رواه عمرو بن دِينارٍ عن هِلال بن يِسَافٍ، قال: "دخلَ رسولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على مريض يَعودُه، فقال: "أرسِلُوا إلى طَبيبٍ"، فقال قائلٌ: وأنتَ تقولُ ذلك يا رسولَ الله ؟ قال: "نعمْ، إنَّ الله عَزَّ وجَلَّ لم يُنْزِلْ داءً إلاَّ أنزَلَ له دَواءً (من كتاب زاد المعاد لابن القيم)

"The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم entered upon a sick person to visit him and said, 'Send him to a physician.' Someone then asked, 'Even you say this, O Messenger of Allah?' He replied, 'Yes, for Allah has not sent down a disease without also sending down a cure for it.'"

وفى "الصحيحين من حديث أبى هريرةَ يَرفعُه: "ما أنزلَ اللهُ من داءٍ إلا أنزلَ له شفاء"،

In the Sahihayn (Bukhari and Muslim), it is also narrated from Abu Hurairah Radi Allaho Anh that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم  said, “Allah has not sent down any disease except that He has also sent down a cure for it.”

There has been a difference of opinion regarding the meaning of "sent down the disease and cure." Some say it means Allah informed His servants of them, but this interpretation is weak, as Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم  spoke of the general sending down of each disease and its cure, while most people remain unaware of this.

Another interpretation held by some is that “sending down” the diseases and cures means creating and placing them on earth, as in the other Hadith: تَدَاوَوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَمْ يَضَعْ دَاءً

“Allah has not placed a disease without also placing a cure for it.” (Sunan Abi Dawud 3855)

Another group suggests that “sending them down” is facilitated by angels who are entrusted with matters related to creation, including diseases, cures, and other such affairs. Angels are assigned to oversee the matters of this world and humankind from the moment of conception until death, so the “sending down” of disease and cure occurs through their agency. This view is considered stronger than the previous two.

A further interpretation by some holds that the majority of diseases and remedies are facilitated by rainfall from the heavens, which leads to the growth of food, nutrition, medicines, and ailments, along with the tools, means, and complementary aspects related to them. Those minerals that come from high places are brought down from mountains, while those from valleys, rivers, and fruits are covered by the term “sending down” in a generalized way. This view is preferable to the previous interpretations, and Allah knows best.

Just as Allah, in His wisdom and complete Lordship, has tested His servants with ailments, He has also helped them by making available to them the cures. Similarly, just as He tested them with sins, He helped them by providing repentance, good deeds that erase sins, and afflictions that serve as reminders. And just as He tested them with harmful spirits (like the Shayateen/devils), He aided them by providing noble spirits (the angels). Likewise, He tested them with desires, but aided them in fulfilling those desires in lawful and beneficial ways through what He made permissible both in terms of divine law and decree. Therefore, whatever He has tested His servants with, He has also provided them with the means to overcome it, the tools to resist it, and the knowledge to alleviate it. The difference among individuals lies in their understanding of these resources, their knowledge of how to obtain them, and their ability to use them. And Allah’s help is sought.

فَصْلٌ فِي هَدْيِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي تَضْمِينِ مَنْ طَبَّ النَّاسَ، وَهُوَ جَاهِلٌ بِالطِّبِّ

Prophet’s Guidance Regarding Those Who Treat Others Without Knowledge

روى أبو داود، والنسائىُّ، وابن ماجه، من حديث عمرو ابن شعيب، عن أبيه، عن جده، قال: قال رسول ُالله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "مَنْ تطبَّبَ ولم يُعْلَم مِنْهُ الطِّبُّ قَبْلَ ذلك، فهو ضَامِن

Abu Dawood, An-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah narrated from Amr ibn Shu’ayb, from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever practices medicine but is not knowledgeable in this profession is responsible for his actions.”

The Hadith indicates the imposition of liability on an ignorant physician. If someone engages in medical practice without prior knowledge, they have recklessly endangered lives, proceeding without knowledge. This is an act of negligence toward the patient, and thus liability is due upon the practitioner for any harm caused. This is a consensus among scholars.

Al-Khattabi stated, “I know of no disagreement that if a practitioner causes harm by overstepping, they are liable. A person who practices a field or skill they do not know is liable if harm results, and they must pay compensation (Diyah) rather than face retributive justice, as they acted with the patient’s consent.

In the Hadith, the term physician (Tabib) encompasses anyone who practices medicine through his knowledge and advice. This term also includes various other practitioners:

• Kahhal: the eye specialist,
• Jarrah: the surgeon, who uses scalpels and ointments,
• Khatin: the circumciser, using a blade,
• Fasid (فاصد): the bloodletter, using a lancet or feather,
• Hajjam (حجام): the cupping practitioner, with cupping cups and blades,
• Mujabbir: the bonesetter, dealing with fractures, bandaging, and alignment,
• Kawwa’: the cauterizer, using heated tools,
• Haqin: the enema specialist.

Qualities & wisdom of a good Doctor: A skilled physician considers twenty factors in treatment:

1. Type of sickness: Determining what kind of illness it is.
2. Cause of the sickness: Identifying what triggered it and the immediate reason for its onset.
3. Patient’s strength: Assessing whether the patient’s strength is resilient enough to resist the illness or weaker. If the patient’s strength can overcome the disease, then it may be best to leave it alone without intervention.
4. Natural Constitution: Understanding the patient’s normal bodily state.
5. Current Abnormal Condition: Assessing any abnormality that deviates from the natural state.
6. Patient’s age: Considering the age of the patient.
7. Patient’s habits: Understanding the patient’s usual lifestyle and habits.
8. Season: Determining the current season and what treatments will suit the best.
9. Patient’s location and environment: Factoring in the patient’s geographical location and soil type.
10. Air quality at the time of illness: Considering the air quality when the illness developed.
11. Antidote: Identifying the remedy that counteracts the illness.
12. Strength of the remedy: Balancing the remedy’s strength with the patient’s condition.
13. Avoiding harm: Not focusing solely on removing the illness but ensuring that its removal does not cause a more severe condition. If removing the illness risks a more serious one, it’s best to manage it rather than eradicate it.  

14. Treat with the least aggressive option first: Begin with the simplest treatment before moving on to more intense interventions. Do not use medication if dietary adjustments can suffice, and avoid complex medications when simple ones can achieve the desired outcome. An expert physician prioritizes treatment through nutrition before resorting to medications, and uses simple remedies before complex ones.
15. Evaluate treatability of the condition: Assess whether the illness can be treated. If it cannot, maintain the integrity of the profession by refraining from unnecessary treatments that offer no real benefit. If treatment is possible, determine if the condition can be fully resolved or only managed to reduce its impact. If it cannot be eliminated, the physician should focus on limiting its severity and preventing further complications.
16. Allow conditions to nature: Avoid attempting to expel impurities from the body before they are fully formed. Instead, let the body reach the point of readiness and then proceed with necessary treatments to expel them.
17. Understand emotional and spiritual health: Have a deep understanding of mental and spiritual ailments and their treatments, as these aspects are essential to physical healing. The state of the mind and heart directly affects the body. A physician who can address mental and spiritual issues is a complete healer, whereas one without this knowledge is only half a physician. True healing includes encouraging positive actions, charity, spiritual devotion, and connection with Allah and the Hereafter. Good deeds, prayer, and supplication play a significant role in recovery, often surpassing the effects of physical medicines, provided the patient has the right mindset and belief in their efficacy.
18. Be gentle with the patient: Treat patients with kindness and compassion, especially children, fostering a supportive and comforting environment.
19. Use all types of treatments, including psychological and spiritual methods: Employ both natural and divine remedies, medicinal and spiritual cures including his imagination, which skilled physicians use effectively to achieve remarkable outcomes that medication alone cannot achieve. A proficient physician draws upon every available resource to assist in the healing process.

Twentieth principle (the core of the physician's practice): A skilled physician bases his treatment on five fundamental pillars:

1. Preserving existing health: Prioritize maintaining the patient’s current state of health.
2. Restoring lost health: Attempt to recover health that has been lost, as far as possible.
3. Removing or minimizing the illness: Aim to eliminate or, if that’s not applicable, reduce the impact of the illness as much as possible.
4. Choosing the lesser harm: When faced with two potential harms, choose the one that is less damaging to alleviate the greater one.
5. Prioritizing the greater benefit: When benefits conflict, forgo the lesser one to achieve the greater.

These principles form the basis of all effective treatment. Any physician who doesn’t adopt these guidelines is not a true healer.

Since illness progresses through four stages—onset, progression, peak, and decline—the physician must carefully adapt the treatment to each phase and choose appropriate methods accordingly.

Onset of illness: If it is in the initial stage and the body needs help to stimulate and expel impurities, the physician should act promptly. If the onset phase is missed due to obstacles such as a lack of strength or season-related limitations, it is crucial to avoid any intervention during the progression of the illness, as this could weaken the body further by diverting it from resisting the illness. This is akin to distracting a soldier engaged in battle by involving him in another task. The best approach here is to support the body’s natural ability to preserve its strength.

When illness reaches stability: If the illness stabilizes and calms, the physician should work on purging it and eliminating its causes. If the illness begins to decline, this is the best time to complete its removal. At this stage, the illness is akin to a retreating enemy whose strength is waning and who is easier to overcome. The intensity of illness, much like that of an enemy, is strongest at the beginning, requiring a deliberate and measured approach to treatment.

A skilled physician should always choose the simplest approach when it is sufficient, rather than opting for more complex treatments. They should progress from weaker to stronger methods, only using the strongest methods immediately if the patient’s strength is at risk and cannot afford delay.

The physician should not rely on a single treatment approach for an extended period, as the body may become accustomed to it, reducing its effectiveness. Moreover, they should avoid strong medications during harsh seasons.

If food can serve as a cure, they should refrain from using medicine. If unsure whether an illness is due to heat or cold, they should avoid treatments that might have adverse effects until certain. Experimentation is acceptable as long as it does not have harmful consequences.

When multiple illnesses are present, treatment should begin with the condition that meets one of the following three criteria:

Dependency: If healing one condition depends on treating another, such as a tumor and an ulcer, the tumor should be addressed first. 

Causation: If one illness causes another, such as an obstruction causing fever, treating the obstruction first is essential. 

Severity: If one illness is more severe than another, like acute versus chronic conditions, priority is given to the acute condition, although the other illness should not be ignored.

When both the illness and its symptoms are present, treatment should target the illness unless a symptom, such as severe colic, is more intense. In such cases, pain is relieved first before addressing the underlying obstruction.

If it is possible to avoid purging treatments by using fasting, abstinence, or rest, then purging should be avoided.

For maintaining health, the physician should use elements similar to or resembling the body’s natural state. If improvement to a better condition is desired, the opposite approach is adopted.