Illness & Healing

كَانَ لِيَ ابْنٌ وَ كَانَ تُصِيبُهُ الْحَصَاةُ فَقِيلَ لِي لَيْسَ لَهُ عِلَاجٌ إِلَّا أَنْ تَبُطَّهُ فَبَطَطْتُهُ‌[1] فَمَاتَ فَقَالَتِ الشِّيعَةُ شَرِكْتَ فِي دَمِ ابْنِكَ قَالَ فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْعَسْكَرِيِّ ع فَوَقَّعَ ع يَا أَحْمَدُ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ فِيمَا فَعَلْتَ شَيْ‌ءٌ إِنَّمَا الْتَمَسْتَ الدَّوَاءَ وَ كَانَ أَجَلُهُ فِيمَا فَعَلْتَ.

‘O Ahmad, you are not responsible for what you have done. You tried to cure him and his death (the appointed time) was in what you did.”’

قَالَ لِي عُمَرُ بْنُ شِهَابٍ الْعَبْدِيُّ مِنْ أَيْنَ زَعَمَ أَصْحَابُكَ أَنَّ مَنْ طَلَّقَ ثَلَاثاً لَمْ يَقَعِ الطَّلَاقُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ زَعَمُوا أَنَّ الطَّلَاقَ لِلْكِتَابِ وَ السُّنَّةِ فَمَنْ خَالَفَهُمَا رُدَّ إِلَيْهِمَا قَالَ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِيمَنْ طَلَّقَ عَلَى الْكِتَابِ وَ السُّنَّةِ فَخَرَجَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ أَوْ أَخْرَجَهَا فَاعْتَدَّتْ فِي غَيْرِ بَيْتِهَا تَجُوزُ عَلَيْهَا الْعِدَّةُ أَوْ يَرُدُّهَا إِلَى

On what basis your people say that divorce pronounced three times does not make it three divorces?’ I said to him, ‘They believe that divorce is based on the book and al -Sunnah and whatever is against them is returned to them.’ He then asked, ‘What do you say about one who has divorced according to the book and Sunnah

سُئِلَ عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ يَمُوتُ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا أَ يَصْلُحُ لَهَا أَنْ تَحُجَّ أَوْ تَعُودَ مَرِيضاً قَالَ نَعَمْ تَخْرُجُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ لَا تَكْتَحِلُ وَ لَا تَطَيَّبُ.

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a woman whose husband dies; if it is proper for her to perform al-Hajj and visit the sick people. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, she can do so for the sake of Allah, but must not use kohl and perfume.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ يُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا وَ تَكُونُ فِي عِدَّتِهَا أَ تَخْرُجُ فِي حَقٍّ فَقَالَ إِنَّ بَعْضَ نِسَاءِ النَّبِيِّ ص سَأَلَتْهُ فَقَالَتْ إِنَّ فُلَانَةَ تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا فَتَخْرُجُ فِي حَقٍّ يَنُوبُهَا[1] فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أُفٍّ لَكُنَّ قَدْ كُنْتُنَّ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ أُبْعَثَ فِيكُنَّ وَ أَنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ مِنْكُنَّ إِذَا تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا أَخَذَتْ بَع

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman whose husband dies; if she during her waiting period can go out for a right. He (the Imam) said, ‘Certain ones of the wives of the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, asked saying, ‘Hu

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْمَرِيضِ أَ لَهُ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ فِي تِلْكَ الْحَالِ قَالَ لَا وَ لَكِنْ لَهُ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ إِنْ شَاءَ فَإِنْ دَخَلَ بِهَا وَرِثَتْهُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ بِهَا فَنِكَاحُهُ بَاطِلٌ‌[1].

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is ill; if he can divorce his wife in such condition. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he cannot divorce, however, he can marry if he wants and if he goes to bed with her, she inherits his legacy but if he did not go to bed with her his marriage is invalid.’”

إِذَا طَلَّقَ الرَّجُلُ امْرَأَتَهُ تَطْلِيقَةً فِي مَرَضِهِ ثُمَّ مَكَثَتْ فِي مَرَضِهِ حَتَّى انْقَضَتْ عِدَّتُهَا فَإِنَّهَا تَرِثُهُ مَا لَمْ تَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنْ كَانَتْ تَزَوَّجَتْ بَعْدَ انْقِضَاءِ الْعِدَّةِ فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَرِثُهُ.

“About the case of a man who divorces his wife once during his illness and waits until her waiting period ends she inherits him as long as she does not marry; but if she marries after her waiting period she then does not inherit his legacy.’”

إِنْ مَاتَ فِي مَرَضِهِ وَ لَمْ تَتَزَوَّجْ وَرِثَتْهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ قَدْ تَزَوَّجَتْ فَقَدْ رَضِيَتْ بِالَّذِي صَنَعَ لَا مِيرَاثَ لَهَا.

“About the case of a man who divorces his wife during his illness, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If he dies from his illness and she has not married, she inherits his legacy. If she has married then she has agreed with what she has done, thus, she does have the right to inherit.’”

لَا يَجُوزُ طَلَاقُ الْمَرِيضِ وَ يَجُوزُ نِكَاحُهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One’s divorcing during his illness is not permissible, however, his marriage is permissible.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَ هُوَ مَرِيضٌ حَتَّى مَضَى لِذَلِكَ سَنَةٌ قَالَ تَرِثُهُ إِذَا كَانَ فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي طَلَّقَهَا وَ لَمْ يَصِحَّ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who divorces his wife during his illness and one year passes. He (the Imam) said, ‘She inherits if it is during his illness in which he divorced her, but not in between (she does not inherit if divorce takes place between two illnesses).”’

قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَ هُوَ مَرِيضٌ تَطْلِيقَةً وَ قَدْ كَانَ طَلَّقَهَا قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ تَطْلِيقَتَيْنِ قَالَ فَإِنَّهَا تَرِثُهُ إِذَا كَانَ فِي مَرَضِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا حَدُّ الْمَرَضِ قَالَ لَا يَزَالُ مَرِيضاً حَتَّى يَمُوتَ وَ إِنْ طَالَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى السَّنَةِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who divorces his wife once when he is ill and he had divorced her twice before. He (the Imam) said, ‘She inherits his legacy if it was during his illness.’ I then asked, ‘What is the limit of illness?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The illness which continues until he

إِذَا طَلَّقَ الرَّجُلُ الْمَرْأَةَ فِي مَرَضِهِ وَرِثَتْهُ مَا دَامَ فِي مَرَضِهِ ذَلِكَ وَ إِنِ انْقَضَتْ عِدَّتُهَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَصِحَّ مِنْهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ طَالَ بِهِ الْمَرَضُ قَالَ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ سَنَةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a man divorces his wife during his illness she inherits his legacy as long as it is in his illness even if her waiting period ends unless he gets well from that illness.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if the illness prolongs?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is up to one year.’”

لَيْسَ لِلْمَرِيضِ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَ وَ لَهُ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One cannot divorce his wife in his illness but his marriage is permissible.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَ هُوَ مَرِيضٌ قَالَ تَرِثُهُ مَا دَامَتْ فِي عِدَّتِهَا وَ إِنْ طَلَّقَهَا فِي حَالِ إِضْرَارٍ[1] فَهِيَ تَرِثُهُ إِلَى سَنَةٍ فَإِنْ زَادَ عَلَى السَّنَةِ يَوْماً وَاحِداً لَمْ تَرِثْهُ وَ تَعْتَدُّ مِنْهُ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَ عَشْراً عِدَّةَ الْمُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا[1].

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who divorces his wife when he is ill. He (the Imam) said that she inherits his legacy. She inherits him as long as she is in her waiting period. If he has divorced her in a condition that harms her, she inherits him up to one year; and if it is more than one

فِي رَجُلٍ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ تَطْلِيقَتَيْنِ فِي صِحَّةٍ ثُمَّ طَلَّقَ التَّطْلِيقَةَ الثَّالِثَةَ وَ هُوَ مَرِيضٌ إِنَّهَا تَرِثُهُ مَا دَامَ فِي مَرَضِهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ إِلَى سَنَةٍ.

“About the case of a man who divorces his wife twice when he is not ill and the third divorce is in his illness, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘She inherits him as long as he is ill even if it prolongs for one year.’”

نَعَمْ وَ إِنْ مَاتَ وَرِثَتْهُ وَ إِنْ مَاتَتْ لَمْ يَرِثْهَا.

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who is about to die, and he divorces his wife; if such divorce is permissible. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is permissible and if he dies she inherits his legacy but if she dies he does not inherit her legacy.’”

لَيْسَ لِلْمَرِيضِ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَ وَ لَهُ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ فَإِنْ هُوَ تَزَوَّجَ وَ دَخَلَ بِهَا فَهُوَ جَائِزٌ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ بِهَا حَتَّى مَاتَ فِي مَرَضِهِ فَنِكَاحُهُ بَاطِلٌ وَ لَا مَهْرَ لَهَا وَ لَا مِيرَاثَ.

“One of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘A man in his illness must not divorce his wife; but he can marry a woman. If he marries and goes to bed with her, it is permissible; and if he did not go to bed with her until he dies from that illness, his marriage is invalid and she d

لَا يُضَارَّ الرَّجُلُ امْرَأَتَهُ إِذَا طَلَّقَهَا فَيُضَيِّقَ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى تَنْتَقِلَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْقَضِيَ عِدَّتُهَا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَدْ نَهَى عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ‌ وَ لا تُضآرُّوهُنَ‌ لِتُضَيِّقُوا عَلَيْهِنَ‌[4]. - مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مِثْلَهُ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘A man must not harm his wife when he divorces her to make it difficult for her so she is forced to move away before the end of her waiting period. Al

كُلُّ طَلَاقٍ جَائِزٌ إِلَّا طَلَاقَ الْمَعْتُوهِ أَوِ الصَّبِيِّ أَوْ مُبَرْسَمٍ أَوْ مَجْنُونٍ أَوْ مَكْرُوهٍ‌[1].

‘Divorce is permissible except divorce by a man with mental condition, a child or Mubarsam, (suffering from a disease of diaphragm), an insane or a coerced one.”’

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُعْتِقُ غُلَاماً صَغِيراً أَوْ شَيْخاً كَبِيراً أَوْ مَنْ بِهِ زَمَانَةٌ وَ مَنْ لَا حِيلَةَ لَهُ فَقَالَ مَنْ أَعْتَقَ مَمْلُوكاً لَا حِيلَةَ لَهُ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَعُولَهُ حَتَّى يَسْتَغْنِيَ عَنْهُ وَ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَفْعَلُ إِذَا أَعْتَقَ الصِّغَارَ وَ مَنْ لَا حِيلَةَ لَهُ.

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Mahboub who said, ‘I wrote to Abu Al-Hassan Al-Reza asws and asked him asws about the man who emancipated a young boy, or an old Sheykh, one with chronic illness, and the one for whom there is no dodge for him. So he asws said: ‘The one who emancipates an owned slav

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمُدَبَّرِ أَ هُوَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ وَ لِلْمُوصِي أَنْ يَرْجِعَ فِي صِحَّةٍ كَانَتْ وَصِيَّتُهُ أَوْ مَرَضٍ‌[1].

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Fazzal, from Ibn Bukeyr, from Zurara, (It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah asws , said, ‘I asked him asws about the (slave of) arranged (emancipation), is he from the third (of the bequest)?’ So he asws said: ‘Yes, and it is for the bequeather that he retracts d

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَخْبِرْنِي جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لِمَ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى الْخَمْرَ وَ الْمَيْتَةَ وَ الدَّمَ وَ لَحْمَ الْخِنْزِيرِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى لَمْ يُحَرِّمْ ذَلِكَ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ وَ أَحَلَّ لَهُمْ سِوَاهُ رَغْبَةً مِنْهُ فِيمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ لَا زُهْداً فِيمَا أَحَلَّ لَهُمْ وَ لَكِنَّهُ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ وَ عَلِمَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَا تَقُومُ ب

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, why has Allah, most Blessed, most High, made wine, dead animals, blood and the flesh of pigs unlawful?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah, who is free of all defects, the most High has not made such things unlawful for His

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الطِّينُ حَرَامٌ كُلُّهُ كَلَحْمِ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَ مَنْ أَكَلَهُ ثُمَّ مَاتَ فِيهِ لَمْ أُصَلِّ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا طِينَ الْقَبْرِ[2] فَإِنَّ فِيهِ شِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ وَ مَنْ أَكَلَهُ لِشَهْوَةٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ.

’Eating clay is unlawful in its entirety, like the flesh of pork. If one eats it and dies, I will not perform Salat (prayer) for him except the clay from the grave (of al-Husayn (a.s.) ) in which there is cure for all kinds of illnesses but if one eats it because of strong desire, then there is no cure in it.’”

إِنَّ التَّمَنِّيَ‌[1] عَمَلُ الْوَسْوَسَةِ وَ أَكْثَرُ مَصَايِدِ الشَّيْطَانِ أَكْلُ الطِّينِ وَ هُوَ يُورِثُ السُّقْمَ فِي الْجِسْمِ وَ يُهَيِّجُ الدَّاءَ وَ مَنْ أَكَلَ طِيناً فَضَعُفَ عَنْ قُوَّتِهِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْكُلَهُ وَ ضَعُفَ عَنِ الْعَمَلِ الَّذِي كَانَ يَعْمَلُهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْكُلَهُ حُوسِبَ عَلَى مَا بَيْنَ قُوَّتِهِ وَ ضَعْفِهِ وَ عُذِّبَ عَلَيْهِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Wishing and longing is an act of Satan. Eating clay is of the greater part of the hunting devices of Satan. It causes illness in the body and accelerates pain. If one because of eating clay loses his power that he had before eating clay and fails to work as he did before eating clay he wi

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنِ الطِّينِ فَقَالَ أَكْلُ الطِّينِ حَرَامٌ مِثْلُ الْمَيْتَةِ وَ الدَّمِ وَ لَحْمِ الْخِنْزِيرِ إِلَّا طِينَ قَبْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌[3] فَإِنَّ فِيهِ شِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ وَ أَمْناً مِنْ كُلِّ خَوْفٍ.

It is unlawful like dead animals, blood, flesh of pigs except the clay from the grave of al-Husayn (a.s.), in which there is cure for all kinds of illness and security from all kinds of fear.”’

كُلُّ دَاءٍ مِنَ التُّخَمَةِ مَا خَلَا الْحُمَّى فَإِنَّهَا تَرِدُ وُرُوداً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Every illness is because of overeating except, fever (infection) which enters the body.’”

الْوُضُوءُ قَبْلَ الطَّعَامِ يَبْدَأُ صَاحِبُ الْبَيْتِ لِئَلَّا يَحْتَشِمَ أَحَدٌ- فَإِذَا فَرَغَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ بَدَأَ بِمَنْ عَنْ يَمِينِ صَاحِبِ الْبَيْتِ حُرّاً كَانَ أَوْ عَبْداً قَالَ وَ فِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ يَغْسِلُ أَوَّلًا رَبُّ الْبَيْتِ يَدَهُ ثُمَّ يَبْدَأُ بِمَنْ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ وَ إِذَا رُفِعَ الطَّعَامُ بَدَأَ بِمَنْ عَلَى يَسَارِ صَاحِبِ الْمَنْزِلِ وَ يَكُونُ آخِرُ مَنْ يَغْسِلُ يَدَهُ صَاحِبَ الْمَنْ

‘The host must begin wudu so that no one feels shy. After eating food the person on the right of the host begins it, regardless of being a free or a slave . 5 He (the narrator) has said that in another Hadith it says, ‘The first before food and the last after food to wash should be the owner of the house, because he ca

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ كُلُوا مَا يَسْقُطُ مِنَ الْخِوَانِ فَإِنَّهُ شِفَاءٌ مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَسْتَشْفِيَ بِهِ.

’Eat what falls off of food, because in it is cure for all kinds of illness by the permission of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, for those who seek cures.’”

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ هُوَ يَأْكُلُ فَرَأَيْتُهُ يَتَتَبَّعُ مِثْلَ السِّمْسِمِ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ مَا سَقَطَ مِنَ الْخِوَانِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ تَتَبَّعُ هَذَا فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ هَذَا رِزْقُكَ فَلَا تَدَعْهُ أَمَا إِنَّ فِيهِ شِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ.

“Once I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he was eating. I saw him searching for pieces of food fallen on the table-spread of the size of sesame seed. I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, are you looking for such pieces?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O ‘Abd Allah, it is your sustenance; do

فَضْلُ خُبْزِ الشَّعِيرِ عَلَى الْبُرِّ كَفَضْلِنَا عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ مَا مِنْ نَبِيٍّ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ دَعَا لِأَكْلِ الشَّعِيرِ وَ بَارَكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ مَا دَخَلَ جَوْفاً إِلَّا وَ أَخْرَجَ كُلَّ دَاءٍ فِيهِ وَ هُوَ قُوتُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ طَعَامُ الْأَبْرَارِ أَبَى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنْ يَجْعَلَ قُوتَ أَنْبِيَائِهِ إِلَّا شَعِيراً.

The excellence of barley bread over wheat bread is like our excellence over the people. There had not been any Prophet, who did not ask to eat barley bread and blessed it. In whichever stomach it enters, it removes every illness thereof. It is the sustenance of the Prophets and the food of the virtuous ones. Allah, mos

السَّوِيقُ يَجْرُدُ الْمِرَّةَ[2] وَ الْبَلْغَمَ مِنَ الْمَعِدَةِ جَرْداً وَ يَدْفَعُ سَبْعِينَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْبَلَاءِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, sawiq removes bitterness (bile) and phlegm from the stomach and dispels seventy kinds of illness.’”

مَرِضَ بَعْضُ رُفَقَائِنَا بِمَكَّةَ وَ بُرْسِمَ‌[1] فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأَعْلَمْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِي اسْقِهِ سَوِيقَ الشَّعِيرِ فَإِنَّهُ يُعَافَى إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَ هُوَ غِذَاءٌ فِي جَوْفِ الْمَرِيضِ قَالَ فَمَا سَقَيْنَاهُ السَّوِيقَ إِلَّا يَوْمَيْنِ أَوْ قَالَ مَرَّتَيْنِ حَتَّى عُوفِيَ صَاحِبُنَا.

“One of our friends became ill in Makkah and began to hallucinate. I went to see abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and informed him (the Imam) about him. He (the Imam) said, ‘Make him drink sawiq of barley; it will cure him by the will of Allah and it is the food for the stomach of patients.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘We made

سَوِيقُ الْعَدَسِ يَقْطَعُ الْعَطَشَ وَ يُقَوِّي الْمَعِدَةَ وَ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ دَاءً وَ يُطْفِئُ الصَّفْرَاءَ وَ يُبَرِّدُ الْجَوْفَ وَ كَانَ إِذَا سَافَرَ ع لَا يُفَارِقُهُ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ ع إِذَا هَاجَ الدَّمُ بِأَحَدٍ مِنْ حَشَمِهِ‌[2] قَالَ لَهُ اشْرَبْ مِنْ سَوِيقِ الْعَدَسِ فَإِنَّهُ يُسَكِّنُ هَيَجَانَ الدَّمِ وَ يُطْفِئُ الْحَرَارَةَ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, sawiq of lintels calms down thirst, makes the stomach strong and there is cure for seventy illnesses in it. It abolishes yellowish fluid and gives coolness to the stomach. He (the Imam) would not travel without it. He (the Imam) said that when blood becomes excited with any of one’s a

إِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ شَكَوْا إِلَى مُوسَى ع مَا يَلْقَوْنَ مِنَ الْبَيَاضِ فَشَكَا ذَلِكَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ مُرْهُمْ يَأْكُلُوا لَحْمَ الْبَقَرِ بِالسِّلْقِ‌[2].

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that the Israelites complained before Musa (a.s.), against illness of whiteness (albinism) and he (Moses) complained before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent him revelation that said, ’Command them to eat cow meat with (white) beets.”’

مَرَقُ لَحْمِ الْبَقَرِ يَذْهَبُ بِالْبَيَاضِ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Yahya ibn al-Mubarak saw it to be from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jabalah from abu al-Sabbah al-Kinaniy who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Broth of cow meat expels whiteness (Albinism) illness.’”

أَلْبَانُ الْبَقَرِ دَوَاءٌ وَ سُمُونُهَا شِفَاءٌ وَ لُحُومُهَا دَاءٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Cow milk and ghee (or fat) are cures but their meat is illness.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ اللَّحْمُ يُنْبِتُ اللَّحْمَ وَ مَنْ أَدْخَلَ فِي جَوْفِهِ لُقْمَةَ شَحْمٍ أَخْرَجَتْ مِثْلَهَا مِنَ الدَّاءِ.

“I once heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, ‘Meat grows meat, but if one sends a morsel of shahm (fat) inside it expels the same amount of illness out.’”

مَنْ أَكَلَ لُقْمَةَ شَحْمٍ أَخْرَجَتْ مِثْلَهَا مِنَ الدَّاءِ.

‘If one eats a morsel of shahm (fat) it expels the same amount of illness out.’”

السَّوِيقُ وَ مَرَقُ لَحْمِ الْبَقَرِ يَذْهَبَانِ بِالْوَضَحِ‌[1].

sawiq and broth of cow meat remove al-Bars (Albinism) illness.’”

أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ‌ الْقَدِيدُ لَحْمُ سَوْءٍ لِأَنَّهُ يَسْتَرْخِي فِي الْمَعِدَةِ وَ يُهَيِّجُ كُلَّ دَاءٍ وَ لَا يَنْفَعُ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ بَلْ يَضُرُّهُ.

‘Al-Qadid (dried up meat) is a bad kind of meat because it softens in the stomach and induces every kind of illness and it does not benefit anything, instead it harms.’”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ شِوَاءٌ فَقَالَ لِي ادْنُ فَكُلْ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ هَذَا لِي ضَارٌّ فَقَالَ لِي ادْنُ أُعَلِّمُكَ كَلِمَاتٍ لَا يَضُرُّكَ مَعَهُنَّ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِمَّا تَخَافُ قُلْ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ خَيْرِ الْأَسْمَاءِ مِلْ‌ءَ الْأَرْضِ وَ السَّمَاءِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ لَا دَاءٌ تَغَدَّ مَعَنَا.

‘In the name of Allah, the best of names, to the fill of the earth and sky, the Beneficent, the Merciful, the one with whose name not even one thing and illness harms.’ Now you can have lunch with us.’”

إِنَّ فِي الْمِلْحِ شِفَاءً مِنْ سَبْعِينَ دَاءً أَوْ قَالَ سَبْعِينَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْأَوْجَاعِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي الْمِلْحِ مَا تَدَاوَوْا إِلَّا بِهِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘In salt there is cure for seventy kinds of pains.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Had people known that which is in salt they would not seek treatment for an illness with anything other than salt.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ ادَّهِنُوا بِالزَّيْتِ وَ أْتَدِمُوا بِهِ فَإِنَّهُ دُهْنَةُ الْأَخْيَارِ وَ إِدَامُ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ مُسِحَتْ بِالْقُدْسِ مَرَّتَيْنِ بُورِكَتْ مُقْبِلَةً وَ بُورِكَتْ مُدْبِرَةً لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَهَا دَاءٌ.

“’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Use olives for rubbing and as sauce; it is the rubbing oil of the virtuous people and the sauce of the chosen ones. It was touched with holiness twice and it was blessed when coming and returning (plentiful or scarce) and with it illness does not harm.”’

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَعْقُ الْعَسَلِ شِفَاءٌ مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بُطُونِها شَرابٌ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوانُهُ فِيهِ شِفاءٌ لِلنَّاسِ‌ وَ هُوَ مَعَ قِرَاءَةِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ مَضْغِ اللُّبَانِ يُذِيبُ الْبَلْغَمَ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Licking honey is cure for all illnesses. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, “From its belly, drink of many colors come out. In it there is cure for people.” Honey with reading Quran and chewing frankincense dissolves phlegm.’”

مَا اسْتَشْفَى مَرِيضٌ بِمِثْلِ الْعَسَلِ.

“A patient does not receive a cure as he can with honey.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِأَبِي يَا بَشِيرُ بِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ تُدَاوُونَ مَرْضَاكُمْ فَقَالَ بِهَذِهِ الْأَدْوِيَةِ الْمِرَارِ فَقَالَ لَهُ لَا إِذَا مَرِضَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَخُذِ السُّكَّرَ الْأَبْيَضَ فَدُقَّهُ وَ صُبَّ عَلَيْهِ الْمَاءَ الْبَارِدَ وَ اسْقِهِ إِيَّاهُ فَإِنَّ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الشِّفَاءَ فِي الْمَرَارَةِ قَادِرٌ أَنْ يَجْعَلَهُ فِي الْحَلَاوَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to my father, ‘O Bashir, with what do you treat your people for illnesses?’ he replied, ‘It is those bitter medicines.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When any of you becomes ill take white sugar, make it into powder, pour cold water on it and make him drink it. The One who has made cure in bitt

حُمَّ بَعْضُ أَهْلِنَا فَوَصَفَ لَهُ الْمُتَطَبِّبُونَ الْغَافِثَ‌[1] فَسَقَيْنَاهُ فَلَمْ يَنْتَفِعْ بِهِ فَشَكَوْتُ ذَلِكَ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ مَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الْمُرِّ شِفَاءً خُذْ سُكَّرَةً[2] وَ نِصْفاً فَصَيِّرْهَا فِي إِنَاءٍ وَ صُبَّ عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ حَتَّى يَغْمُرَهَا وَ ضَعْ عَلَيْهَا حَدِيدَةً وَ نَجِّمْهَا مِنْ أَوَّلِ اللَّيْلِ فَإِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَأَمْرِسْهَا بِيَدِ

“Someone in our family had a fever and physicians had prescribed al-ghafith (a certain herb) and we made the patient to drink it, but it did not benefit him I then complained against it before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he (the Imam) said, ‘Allah has not placed cure in anything which is bitter (only). Take one or one a

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ سُمُونُ الْبَقَرِ شِفَاءٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘In ghee from cows there is a cure. 5 ”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ السَّمْنُ دَوَاءٌ وَ هُوَ فِي الصَّيْفِ خَيْرٌ مِنْهُ فِي الشِّتَاءِ وَ مَا دَخَلَ جَوْفاً مِثْلُهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘In ghee there is a cure. It is better in summer than it is in winter and no other thing like it enters inside (the stomach).’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ أَلْبَانُ الْبَقَرِ دَوَاءٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ’Milk products from cows are medicine.”’

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع يَقُولُ‌ أَبْوَالُ الْإِبِلِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَ يَجْعَلُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الشِّفَاءَ فِي أَلْبَانِهَا.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Ja‘fariy who has said the following: “I once heard abu al-Hassan, Musa, ‘Alayhi al Salam, saying, ‘Urine of camels is better than their milk, and Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has placed cure in their milk products.”’