“Cleanliness Is Half Of Faith”: Prophetic Sayings For Healthcare
By Dr. M.I.H. Farooqi, New Age Islam
25 April 2025
Health has been counted among the great blessings of Allah Almighty. Special emphasis has been placed on health and cleanliness. It is obligatory for every individual to take care of their health. Islamic teachings provide guiding principles in this regard. These teachings also include advice to be cautious in matters of food and medicine in daily life. Seeking treatment is encouraged as a religious duty.
The fasts of Ramadan are also considered an essential part of public health, and modern science confirms that fasting promotes human health and aligns physical well-being with acts of worship. In this context, the commandments of the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are of great importance. Allah Almighty states in the Holy Quran: “Eat and drink, but do not be excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.” (Surah Al-A'raf 7:31)
Similarly, while highlighting the importance of cleanliness, it is said: “Indeed, Allah loves those who repent and those who purify themselves.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:222)
This purity includes not only physical cleanliness but also mental and spiritual aspects. For peace of heart, it is stated: “Be aware! It is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts find rest.” (Surah Ar-Ra'd 13:28)
The real reason for the Muslim world’s deep interest and significant progress in medical science lies in the prophetic guidance based on Quranic instructions, which the Prophet of Islam gave to common Muslims, and which the entire Ummah sincerely followed. Had this not been the case, why would Muslims have placed such importance on medicine—moving away from the customary treatments like incantations and sorcery practiced before the 7th century—and why would the foundations of the world’s best hospitals were laid in cities like Baghdad, Damascus, Cairo, Granada, Cordoba, and Seville? Why would the significance of Islamic medicine, based on Greek foundations, be acknowledged worldwide? And why would the works of Muslim physicians such as Al-Qanun (The Canon) and Al-Hawi (The Continents) were taught for more than six hundred years in European medical universities?
Western historians admit the truth—that the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) revived medical knowledge and rendered a great favour to humanity. Before Islam, medical knowledge had nearly been forgotten. Not only that, but in Europe, medical treatment was considered a non-religious act. Every disease was seen as divine punishment. The renowned historian George Sarton wrote: “Before Islam, the meaning of medicine was magic—not actual medicine.”
Find below some of the Prophetic Saying on Value of HealthCare and for instructions to follow them :
The Prophet (PBUH) Said: “Cleanliness is half of faith.” (Muslim, Narrated Hazrat Abu Malik al-Ash'ari RA)
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Make use of medical treatment, for Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease—old age.” (al-Bukhari, Narrrated Abu Huraira RA)
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “If you hear that a plague has broken out in a land, do not enter it; and if it breaks out in a land where you are, do not leave it.” (Bukhari, Muslim. Narrator: Usama bin Zaid)
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his back straight…”
(Ibn Majah, Narrator: Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib (RA)
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Honey is a remedy for every illness, and the Qur'an is a remedy for all illnesses of the mind. Therefore, I recommend to you both remedies, the Qur’an and honey.” ( al-Bukhari, Narrator: Ibn Abbas (RA)
The Prophet (PBUH) said: "When one of you wakes up from sleep, he should not put his hand into a utensil until he has washed it three times. ( Bukhari, Muslim Narrator: Abu Huraira (RA)
The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Had I not feared hardship for my followers, I would have ordered them to use the miswak before every prayer." (Bukhari, Narrator: Abu Huraira (RA)
The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Blessing in food lies in washing the hands before and after eating." (Tirmidhi, Narrator: Salman al-Farsi (RA)
The Prophet (PBUH) said: "If you hear of a plague in a land, do not enter it; and if it occurs where you are, do not leave." (Bukhari)
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah has not sent down any disease but that He has also sent down its cure." (Narrated by: Hazrat Abu Huraira, Bukhari)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH)) would drink water in three pauses and say: "Doing so brings freshness, health, and satisfaction." (Narrator Hazrat Anas ibn Malik Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "When you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not go to it; but if plague breaks out in a place where you are, do not leave that place." (Narrated Hazrat Usama bin Zaid, Bukhari,)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Digest your food by mentioning the name of Allah, and do not sleep immediately after eating." (Narrator: Hazrat Wahb ibn Munabbih, Abu Nu'aim)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Visit the sick and free the slave." (Narrator: Abu Musa al-Ashari, Bukhari)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "There is a cure for every disease, and when the correct treatment is administered, healing occurs by the permission of Allah." (Narrated by: Hazrat Jabir, Muslim)
It is narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "When any of you wakes up from sleep, he should wash his hands three times, and should not put his hand in any vessel (or anything) without doing so." (Muslim, Bukhari)
The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Allah has not created any disease without its cure. Those who know it know it, and those who are unaware are unaware. Except for death." (Narrated by Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri, Ibn Majah)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "There is a cure for every disease, and when the correct treatment is found, it benefits the disease by the permission of Allah." (Narrated by Hazrat Jabir, Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) visited a sick person and said, "Call the physician." The sick person asked, "O Messenger of Allah, are you saying this?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, "Yes, I am saying this." ( Abu Nu‘aim’s Tibb an-Nabawi)
A person was injured and bleeding internally. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) called two physicians from the tribe of Bani Ammar and asked, "Which of you is the better physician?" One of them said, "Does the knowledge of medicine have any significance?" In response, he (PBUH also sent down the cure." (Narrated by Hazrat Zaid Ibn Aslam, Al-Muwatta Imam Malik)
Once, an Ansari companion became ill, so the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) called two physicians present in Medina and said to them, "Treat him." They asked, "O Messenger of Allah, is there any benefit in the knowledge of medicine?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, "Yes." (Narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira, Al-Suyuti)
Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) would treat himself with medicine. (Ibn al-Qayyim al Jawziyya)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Whoever practices medicine without being a qualified physician and causes death or less, he (the physician) is responsible." (Narrated by Hazrat Umar Ibn Shu'aib: Abu Dawood, Nasai, Ibn Majah)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "There are two blessings that people often lose: good health and free time."(Hazrat Ibn Abbas, Bukhari)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Visit the sick and free the slave." (: Hazrat Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari, Bukhari)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Whoever visits a sick person is on a path to Paradise." (Bukhari, Hazrat Abu Hurayrah ,)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Cool down (fever) with water, for it is like fire." (Narrated by Hazrat Ibn Umar, Bukhari, Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Fever is like fire, ward it off with cool water." (Narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira, Ibn Majah)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Seek forgiveness from Allah for your sins and ask Him for good health. After firm faith, good health is the highest rank." (:Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umar , Nasai)
A person was injured and bleeding internally. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) called two physicians from the tribe of Bani Ammar and asked, "Which of you is the more skilled physician?" One asked, "Does the knowledge of medicine have any significance?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The One who sent down the disease also sent down its cure." (Narrated by Hazrat Zaid bin Aslam, Muwatta Imam Malik)
It is narrated by Hazrat Aisha that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "The Miswak (tooth stick) cleanses the mouth, brings fragrance, and is pleasing to Allah." (Sunan An-Nasai, Bukhari, Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "The way the children of Adam fill their stomachs is wrong."(Eating too mush) (: Hazrat Miqdam ibn Ma’dikarib, Nasai, Tirmidhi
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Anger is from Satan, and Satan was created from fire, and fire is extinguished by water. So whenever any of you becomes angry, perform Wudu (ablution)." (Hazrat Atiyyah al-‘Awfi, Abu Dawood)
The Prophet (PBUH)"Healing is in three things: a gulp of honey, cupping, and branding with fire (cauterizing), but I forbid my followers to use branding with fire." (Narrated by Hazrat Ibn Abbas, Bukhari)
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Note: Medicine is part of the Sunnah:: Reported by Imam al-Suyuti in his book Medicine of the Prophet: Not a direct Hadith from Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) but a scholarly statement.
Dr. Muhammad Iqtedar Hussain Farooqi, Deputy Director/Scientist -in -Charge (Retired) Plant Chemistry Division, National Botanical Research Institute, Govt. of India, Lucknow, India
URl: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-culture/cleanliness-faith-prophetic-healthcare/d/135304
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