From prophetic, scientific perspective: Spotlight on Black Seed (I)

Prophetic medicine takes serious cognisance of preventive medicine and cleanliness; “O you who believe when you prepare for prayer, wash your falls, hands, heads, feet up to the ankles. If you are defiled purify yourselves. Allah does not wish to place you in a difficulty but to make you clean and to complete his favour […]

Prophetic medicine takes serious cognisance of preventive medicine and cleanliness; “O you who believe when you prepare for prayer, wash your falls, hands, heads, feet up to the ankles. If you are defiled purify yourselves. Allah does not wish to place you in a difficulty but to make you clean and to complete his favour to you’’.(Quran 5:6). Cleanliness is part of faith, the Prophet says. The promotion of personal hygiene, healthy surroundings and proper feeding are directly proportional to the health stability of an individual or community.
The Quran encourages the intake of proper and adequate diet for the maintenance and promotion of health; “You shall have therein abundance of fruits from which you shall eat” (Quran 43:73)
“Eat and drink, but not excessively (Q7:30). Ali bn Abi Talib (RA) said minds get tired as bodies do, so treat them with humour and refresh your minds from time to time, for a tired mind becomes blind.
WHO defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being; not merely the absence of disease and infirmity. The most important guidance on the mental health is the belief in Allah (SWHT) The lack of recognition of Allah as source of sustenance, relief, protection, support and guidance can lead to anxiety, depression etc. Patience is the key to relief from stresses of life and Indication of Imani.
We shall certainly test you with a certain amount of fear and hunger and loss of wealth and life and fruits. But give glad tidings to the steadfast, who say when afflicted with calamity: To Allah we belong and Him is our return (Q2:155-156).
The Prophet (SWA) said: “No disease Allah has created, apart from old age and death, but that he created treatment. ‘’ Abubakar (RA) in Sahih Muslim saying: “Every disease has a cure. Knowing the right medicine will cure the disease by God’s grace. The Messenger of Allah said, “Allah has not sent down a disease except that He has also sent down its cure.’’
 The Prophet said this Rugya (Islamic prayer formulas) to the Bedouins, medicines and preventive measures are all part of Allah’s appointed destiny. Therefore nothing escapes Allah’s destiny, except by Allah’s destiny.
 Moreover, the Prophet (SWA) used 3 types of remedies for various ailments, NATURAL, DIVINE and a Combination of both Natural and Divine.
My attempt is to bring out the importance of Natural medicine as tradition during the time of the Prophet or Islamic medicines conforms with modifications, scientific researches and usage in modern medicine.
Prophetic or Islamic medicine could be seen as a form of Natural Medicine, but one must also recognize its unique role as spiritual or divine medicine. A quick look at Natural Medicine in modern science could be summarized as follows:
Natural or Naturopathic medicine, which is a system of medicine that focuses on prevention of illness and use of non-toxic, natural therapies, based on the following principles:
· First do no harm (Primum no nocre)
· Nature has healing powers.
· Identify and treat the cause.
· Treat the whole person.
· The physician is a teacher.
· Prevention is the best cure.
· Establish health and wellness.
The above has led to the adoption of various healing methods or systems to achieve highest possible health e.g Africa (Traditional medicine), India (Ayuverde), China (Taoism), Greece (Hippocrates) and Prophetic or Islamic medicine. The Natural medicines or Naturopathic Physician emphasizes more on adopting healthy attitude and lifestyle, diet, exercise and good mental attitude. The range of therapies in which naturopathic physicians are trained include, clinical nutrition, Traditional Chinese Medicine, hydrotherapy, botanical medicine, Homeopathy, physical medicine (e.g physiotherapy), aromatherapy, yoga, meditation just to mention few, and are commonly known as Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM). Natural medicine re-affirms the WHO definition of Health and four corner stones of good health, namely; health-promoting diet and supplementary measures.  This is an ultimate confirmation of the similarity between the Prophetic/Islamic medicine and modern medicines.
Black Seed: Origin and Cultivation
 (Nigella Sativa, Black Cumin, Indian Cumin, Habbat Al-Barak, Kalonji, Shuneez, Habbatus Sauda)
Black seed is an herb cultivated for food and grows by itself among other plants in a parasitic manner. It is cultivated in Western Asia, as far as India and most especially in Egypt. It is used in Indian Systems of Medicines (Ayuverde and Unani). Transferred to other parts of Africa like Nigeria and Ethiopia, it is now grown in Syria, Palestine and Southern Europe. The leaves are bluish-green and feathery with small thread-like leaves. The flowers are large and sky blue. The ripe fruit has three follicles, and seeds are ragged, black in colour and egg shaped. The seeds are strongly aromatic when crushed, with slightly bitter taste at first, then spicy and pungent.
(Concluded next week)