Is this a reliable narration?
In Kanzul ‘Ummal quoting from Bayhaqi, a narration mentions that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) suggests that the best of all medicines are hijama, laxative and leeches.
Answer
This narration is recorded in Al Marasil of Imam Abu Dawud, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah and As Sunanul Kubra of Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah), mursalan.
(Al Marasil,Hadith: 477, edition of Darul Jinan/Muassassah Al Kutub Ath Taqafiyyah, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 23899 and As Sunanul Kubra, vol. 9 pg. 346)
Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (hafizahullah) has stated that the narrators are reliable (مرسل رجاله ثقات. ومراسيل الشعبي صحيحة)
(Footnotes on Musannaf, Hadith: 23899)
A similar narration without the mention of ‘leeches’ is also recorded in Sunan Tirmidhi, (Hadith: 2047-2048, 2053). Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has declared these narrations sound (hasanun gharib).
The complete Hadith in question is as follows:
عن الشعبي قال: كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: خير الدواء اللدود والسعوط والمشيّ والحجامة والعلق
Sha’bi (rahimahullah) relates, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would say, “The best treatments/medicines are:
اللدود- Medicines given to orally to a patient, administering it through one side of the mouth
السعوط- Medicine administered through the nose of the patient, while the patient is made to lie on his back, together with placing something between his shoulders so that his head drops thereby allowing the medicine to reach the brain. This assists to clear sinuses etc.
المشيّ- Food/medicine consumed to loosen the bowels, i.e. a laxative
الحجامة- Cupping
العلق- Using leeches to draw blood.”
(Tuhfatul Ahwadhi, Hadith: 2047)
Also see here
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar