رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

Prophet's Guidance on curing Sciatica

فَصْلٌ فِي هَدْيِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي عِلَاجِ عِرْقِ النَّسَا

Guidance of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم for Treating Sciatica

رَوَى ابْنُ مَاجَهْ فِي سُنَنِهِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «دَوَاءُ عِرْقِ النَّسَا أَلْيَةُ شَاةٍ أَعْرَابِيَّةٍ تُذَابُ، ثُمُّ تُجَزَّأُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَجْزَاءٍ، ثُمَّ يُشْرَبُ عَلَى الرِّيقِ  فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ جُزْءٌ (أخرجه ابن ماجه في الطب)

Ibn al-Qayyim wrote : Ibn Majah narrated in his *Sunan* from Muhammad bin Sirin, from Anas bin Malik Radi Allaho Anh, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم say, “The remedy for sciatica is the fat from the tail of a desert sheep, which should be melted and divided into three parts. Then one part should be drunk on an empty stomach each day.”

Sciatica (Irq il-Nasa) is a pain that starts from the hip joint and descends along the thigh, and sometimes down to the ankle. The longer it lasts, the more it spreads, weakening the leg and thigh along with it.

This Hadith has both linguistic and medical meanings:

1. Linguistic Meaning: It provides evidence for the permissibility of referring to this illness as *‘Irq il-Nasa’*, contrary to the view of those who object to this naming. They argue that "Nasa" is the vein itself, so naming it in this way would be a case of attributing something to itself, which is linguistically incorrect.

The response to this view has two explanations:

Firstly, the term “vein” (*IRQ*) is broader in scope than *NASA*, so the naming is a case of attributing the general to the specific, similar to saying "all the coins" or "some of them."

Secondly, *NASA* refers to the illness affecting the vein, making the naming a case of attributing something to its location or affected area. It is said that it’s called *‘ Irq il-Nasa’* because the pain it causes overshadows all other pain.

2. Medical Meaning: As previously mentioned, the sayings of the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم have two meanings: one that is general and applies to different times, places, individuals, and situations, and another that is specific to certain conditions.

Guidance of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم provides insight into effective treatments based on context and condition, as seen in his recommendation for sciatica relief using sheep fat. The second type of prophetic guidance is specific, depending on certain factors, and this Hadith falls under this category. This instruction was directed at the Arabs, particularly the people of the Hejaaz region and nearby areas, especially the Bedouins. For them, this remedy was highly beneficial, as sciatica typically arises due to dryness or a buildup of thick, sticky matter, which can be treated with purging.

The fat from a desert sheep (*Alyah*) has two main properties: ripening and softening. It helps to ripen and expel the harmful material, both of which are necessary in treating sciatica {bringing the septic substances to maturity and softening (the stool in this case); both are required to cure Irq An-Nasa}. The choice of a desert sheep is significant due to its minimal fat, small size, and the gentle nature of its substance. Additionally, the sheep graze on the naturally hot desert plants, such as wormwood and Artemisia, which infuse the meat with their properties. When the animal consumes these plants, their qualities transfer to its flesh, creating a suitable remedy for those in need of such treatment.

This diet imparts to the sheep’s fat a gentler temperament than the plants themselves, especially noticeable in the tail fat. The effects of these plants can also be seen in the milk of the animals that consume them. As mentioned earlier, most medicines among the nations and Bedouins are single-ingredient remedies.

In contrast, the Romans and Greeks focus on compound medicines. All physicians agree that it is the quality of a skilled doctor to first try treatment through diet; if that fails, then with simple medicines; and if that is insufficient, then with the least complex compound medicines.

As previously mentioned, the simple lifestyle and diets of the Arabs and Bedouins generally result in simple illnesses, which are best suited to simple remedies. In contrast, complex illnesses tend to arise from diverse and varied diets, which is why complex medicines are preferred for treating them. And Allah Almighty knows best.