Introduction to Ṭibb al-Nabawī

202 Pages·2015·2.39 MB·English

Medicine of the Prophet
Tibb al-Nabawī
Your guide to healthy living
Prof Rashid Bhikha and Ml Dr Ashraf Dockrat
A PRODUCT OF THE IBN SINA INSTITUTE OF TIBB
The Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb, a non-profit organization operating as a trust
(waqf), was established in 1997 to promote the practice and training of
Tibb medicine in South Africa. The Institute is academically supported by
Hamdard University (Pakistan) as well as Jamia Hamdard University and
Aligarh University, from India.

Copyright © 2015 Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published by: Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb
1137 Anvil Road, Robertville, Roodepoort, 1724
South Africa
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.tibb.co.za
ISBN: 978-0-620-65358-9
First Edition: April 2015
Design & Layout
Valley Media
Dedication:
To all the narrators of the Prophetic Traditions. May Allah  bless and
reward them for preserving the Sunnah of Prophet Muḥammad .
Contents
Foreword 11-13
Symbols, glossary of terms used, tables and charts 14-19
Chapter 1: Introduction to Ṭibb al-Nabawī 20
1. What is Prophetic Medicine – Ṭibb al-Nabawī? 20
2. Impact of the Prophet Muḥammad  on the
development of medicine 21
3. The development of conventional medicine 26
4. Seeking knowledge about Prophetic Medicine 30
5. Relevance of Ṭibb al-Nabawī today 31
6. Conclusion 32
Chapter 2: Pursuit of good health –
with faith in the Decree of Allah  34
1. Introduction 34
2. Pursuing good health 35
3. Ṭibb al-Nabawī perspective on illness conditions 36
4. Faith in the decree of the Almighty 37
5. Conclusion 39
Chapter 3: Types of illnesses 40
1. Introduction 40
2. Sicknesses of the heart 42
3. Conclusion 43
Chapter 4: Healing comes from Allah  45
1. Introduction 45
2. Concept of Physis 46
3. How are the workings of Physis recognised? 47
4. Is Physis the same as the immune system? 49
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5. Why is recognizing Physis important
in health promotion? 49
6. Conclusion 50
Chapter 5: Temperament 51
1. Introduction 51
2. Qualities associated with temperament 54
3. Temperament in human beings 54
4. The importance of temperament in health 57
5. Identifying temperament 58
6. Additional guidelines to complete the table: 59
7. Qualities associated with a
temperamental combination 62
8. Conclusion 63
Chapter 6: Principles of health promotion and treatment 65
1. Introduction 65
2. Description of Humours 66
3. Relationship between physis, temperament,
humours and lifestyle factors 67
4. Conclusion 69
Chapter 7: Lifestyle factors –
the person/environment interaction 70
1. Introduction 70
2. The person/environment interaction 71
3. Lifestyle Factors 72
4. Homeostasis: maintaining the balance of heat
and moistness 73
5. Conclusion 74

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Chapter 8: Air, seasons and breathing 76
1. Introduction 76
2. Air pollution - the threat to health 77
3. Negative effects of different seasons 78
4. Effect of seasons on different temperaments 79
5. Domestic air and breathing 80
6. Benefits of good breathing practice 80
7. Practical breathing techniques 81
8. Conclusion 83

Chapter 9: Food and drink 85
1. Introduction 85
2. Eating in moderation –
a Ṭibb al-Nabawī perspective 85
3. Consuming ḥalāl foods 86
4. Spiritual effect of foods 87
5. Prophetic advice on diet 89
6. Benefits of fasting 89
7. Guidelines for healthy eating 91
8. Conclusion 97
Chapter 10: Physical exercise and rest 100
1. Introduction 100
2. Exercise in the context of Ṭibb al-Nabawī 101
3. Moderation in exercise 102
4. Exercise for different temperaments 103
5. Benefits of exercise 104
6. Importance of rest 105
7. Exercise for the soul 106
8. Conclusion 106
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Chapter 11: Sleep and Wakefulness 108
1. Introduction 108
2. Sleep according to Ṭibb al-Nabawī 108
3. Sleep and Temperament 109
4. Benefits of sleep 110
4. Guidelines for sleep hygiene 111
5. Conclusion 112
Chapter 12: Emotions and Feelings 114
1. Introduction 114
2. Emotions in Ṭibb al-Nabawī 114
3. Qualities of emotions 115
4. Emotions and temperament 116
5. Importance of managing emotions 117
6. Emotions and the immune system 119
7. Exercise to manage emotions 120
8. Conclusion 121
Chapter 13: Elimination of toxins 123
1. Introduction 123
2. Why Elimination is vital 123
3. Eliminative Routes 124
4. Elimination: The Ṭibb al-Nabawī perspective 126
5. Temperament and waste elimination 127
6. Guidelines for healthy elimination 127
7. Conclusion 129
Chapter 14: Cupping 131
1. Introduction 131
2. What is Cupping? 132
3. Different types of cupping 132
4. Benefits of cupping 133
5. Sunnah of cupping 134
6. Conclusion 136
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Chapter 15: Healthy practices 138
1. Introduction 138
2. Importance of personal hygiene 139
3. The cleansing practice of wuḍūʾ and ghusl 139
4. Ṭibb al-Nabawī on oral hygiene 141
5. Caring for the eyes 142
6. The Use of ʿIṭar (Essential Oils) 143
7. ʿIṭar and temperament 144
8. General hygiene practices 145
9. Conclusion 146
Chapter 16: Medication 148
1. Introduction 148
2. Where did the knowledge of medicinal
plants come from? 149
3. History of herbal/natural medication 151
4. Development of current conventional drugs 151
5. Safety of natural vs conventional medication 152
6. Prescribing medication – Ṭibb al-Nabawī perspective 154
7. Conclusion 155
Chapter 17: Ethics within the context
of Ṭibb al-Nabawī 157
1. Introduction 157
2. Medical ethics 158
3. The Hippocratic Oath 158
4. The physician-patient relationship 159
5. Ṭibb al-Nabawī and ethics 160
6. Conclusion 162
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Chapter 18: Afflictions from the unseen 164
1. Introduction 164
2. Humans, Angels and Jinn 165
3. The Unseen World - health and sickness 166
4. Witchcraft (Siḥr) 166
5. The Evil Eye (Al-‘ayn) 167
6. Protection and cure from the evil eye and siḥr 168
7. The use of amulets (taʿwīdh) 169
8. Conclusion 170
Chapter 19: Spiritual Healing 171
1. Introduction 171
2. What is spiritual healing? 172
3. The value of spiritual healing 172
4. Physis and spiritual healing 172
5. The power of prayer 173
6. Spiritual healing in Islam 174
7. Supplication (Duʿā) 175
8. Conclusion 176
Chapter 20: Healthy living guidelines for different
temperamental types 177
1. Introduction 177
2. Dominant Bilious with sub-dominant
Melancholic Temperament 178
3. Dominant Bilious with sub-dominant
Sanguinous Temperament 180
4. Dominant Sanguinous with sub-dominant
Bilious Temperament 183
5. Dominant Sanguinous with sub-dominant
Phlegmatic Temperament 185
6. Dominant Phlegmatic with sub-dominant
Sanguinous Temperament 188
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