The War on the People of "Al-Tayyibat" Fails (2-2)
The doors of nutritional medical knowledge are wide and numerous, susceptible to both correctness and error, acceptance and rejection, varying by country, intellect, opinion, thought, and religion. However, this does not apply to what the Prophet (peace be upon him) brought, endowed with divine wisdom and sound, healthy, and medical sunnah; there is no room for doubting these, whether one accepts them or turns away. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) defined this in his collection, compiling healthy habits and prophetic medical treatments in his renowned book, *Al-Tibb al-Nabawi* (Prophetic Medicine). We have previously discussed most of these in earlier articles and books, defining Prophetic Medicine as the collection of healthy habits established from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that contain treatment and healing for many diseases. These include Quranic verses (legitimate Ruqyah), supplications that heal physically or psychologically by the permission of Allah, prescriptions used by the Prophet (peace be upon him) to treat others, his advice to those seeking healing, or his encouragement to use such remedies. It also includes advice concerning human health and safety from diseases in all aspects of life, including diet, drink, and housing, as well as legislations related to treatment, the etiquette of medicine, and the practice of the profession within the perspective of Islamic Sharia.
Ibn al-Qayyim divided his book into several sections, including preventive Prophetic Medicine and therapeutic Prophetic Medicine, along with methods of prevention by following the sunnah and the daily life of the Prophet (peace be upon him), such as ablution, prayer, sleep, drinking, and eating habits, as well as what is said before and after relieving oneself, and how to treat related disorders. It also covers preventive medical matters related to general human health, achieved by performing many actions and refraining from others, to preserve overall health and bodily integrity.
As for what reached us regarding the lifestyle and treatment program of "Tayyibat" (The Good Things), it consisted of "short clips and snippets" from recordings intended to cast doubt on authentic goodness. These may have been generated by AI or Meta AI, yet he tried hard to convince the public to adopt healthy habits and various forms of healthy eating. For medical conditions, he advocated intermittent fasting and recommended fasting on Mondays and Thursdays after learning that this is part of the Sunnah. He promoted unconsidered diets excluding certain foods that might harm the patient themselves or conflict with their medications, which they might stop taking after healing, by the permission of Allah. However, for healthy individuals, we see no harm in consuming these foods in moderation, provided they are halal, organic, and free from pesticides and genetic modifications.
If we quickly compare what was presented in "Tayyibat," we see it included much of what the Prophet (peace be upon him) urged regarding hygiene, avoiding harmful prohibitions, and steering clear of unhealthy habits and foods. He emphasized not consuming certain foods or drinks that may be harmful and are not part of the individual’s natural environment. He advised against stopping medications until one has stabilized on a healthy regimen and consulted their treating physician.
Following the prophetic tradition regarding halal and undesirable foods, it is narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) once stayed with a Bedouin who served him a meal containing a desert lizard (a tough, resilient desert reptile). He did not reach out to eat it. When asked if it was halal or haram, he replied that eating lizard is not part of our environment, nor is it customary in our land. This indicates that what benefits a patient in one country may not necessarily benefit another patient with the same symptoms in a different country. For instance, if someone travels to China or follows ancient Indian Ayurveda, attempting treatment through their diet and habits, then brings these practices back to their home country, their health condition may deteriorate, and they may return to their modern physician and chemical treatments. This is what we call ignorance and blind imitation.
"Tayyibat" also mentioned beneficial beverages for humans, such as honey water, and infusions of dates, figs, or raisins to repair the liver and digestive system, as a treatment for anemia and general blood deficiency, and as remedies for constipation and colon issues. It also recommended eating whole wheat bread made from wheat, barley, and spelt, including their bran. The Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away without ever having seen a flour sifter in his lifetime.
On the other hand, those ignorant of authentic medical sunnah and its experts rely on chemical industries, which have caused all the sluggish diseases of our era. These industries have failed to help many patients, starting from examination rooms characterized by misdiagnosis or overdiagnosis, to manufacturing lines producing chemical toxins that destroy most of the body’s immune cells if not used with extreme caution and an advanced understanding of chemical drugs and their pathways in the body. Otherwise, the patient enters a closed circle of physically, psychologically, and materially painful dialogues, with no end but being carried on shoulders and ascending into the sky, either to Paradise or to Hellfire—a final destination whose pains and the difficulty of its moments are known only to Allah, and then to the patient until their appointed time ends. This is, of course, unless their skilled physician precedes them in death, as happened with Al-Adawi (may Allah have mercy on him), due to earnest efforts to spread correct health information to help as many patients as possible, guiding them onto the clear, sound path of following prophetic medical sunnah, which Allah has preserved and will continue to preserve until the Day of Judgment, by the power of the Almighty, the Healer, the All-Capable. Indeed, for every term, there is a written decree.
