The book of medicine (kitab al-tibb)‎ of sahihal-bukhari prevention of illness and preservation of health perspectives : Part Two

Abstract EN

Preservation of health (hifz al-sihhah) is one of the most important branches of Islamic medicine.

It is primarily concerned with the prevention of illness rather than with cure.

This article highlights some preventive measures against disease as viewed in al-Tibb al-Nabawi (Medicine of the Prophet).

Among the most important preventive measures which have been taken by the Prophet (s.

a.

w) and his companions is the isolation of a person who has been exposed to a contagious or infectious disease in order to prevent the possible spread of that disease.

The Prophet (s.

a.

w) advised his companions to dip the whole of a fly into the liquid and then throw it away, for on one of its wings there is a disease and on the other is a healing.

The study of the prevention of disease in al-tibb al-nabawi is important for many reasons.

First, it throws light on the conditions of Muslims during the time of the Prophet (s.

a.

w) and how they prevented and preserved their health.

Second, it shows certain psychological mechanisms for the promotion and preservation of health.

Third, most of al-tibb al-nabawi is preventive medicine (al-tibb al-wiqa`i) rather than therapeutic medicine (al-tibb al-`ilaji).

Its method of prevention was considered advance, given the level of scientific knowledge that existed at the time.