Islamic Medicine the Key to a Better Life

Islamic Medicine: The Key to a Better Life by Yusuf al-Hajj Ahmad, translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab, is a full-colour guide to the foods, plants and habits the Quran and Sunnah describe as good for the body. For each one it brings together the verses and hadith, what classical scholars wrote, and what modern research says, so you can see where a remedy comes from and how much weight it carries.

What the book sets out to show

The starting point is simple: looking after your body is part of your religion, not separate from it. The Prophet gave guidance on eating, moderation, sleep and cleanliness, and he encouraged seeking treatment. This book collects that guidance and sets it next to what is known about nutrition and health today.

It is written for general readers, not doctors. The chapters are short, each one focused on a single food, plant or practice, and the pages are illustrated with colour photographs, so it is easy to dip into when a question comes up at home.

What each chapter looks like

Take the chapter on cress, one of the sample pages. It opens with the hadith that mention it and notes where a narration has some weakness. It then quotes classical sources, including Ibn al-Qayyim, on how cress was used, describes the plant and where it grows, and ends with its nutritional content: iodine, iron, calcium, vitamins and more. Most chapters follow the same pattern, which makes the book easy to use as a reference.

What it covers

From the table of contents, topics include:

• olive oil, with sections on the skin, the stomach and joints
• fruits such as figs, melons, pomegranate and bananas, and the practice of eating fruit first
• herbs and plants: ginger, cress, sweet basil, myrtle, henna, senna and dill, aloe vera, costus (al-qust) and sidr (lote tree)
• fish, truffles and citron
• hijamah (cupping): its history, tools, dry and wet methods, sites on the body and precautions
• Prophetic habits: the midday nap (qaylulah), not eating or drinking while standing, sleeping on the right side and rising at dawn
• a chapter on understanding medical narrations, and others on the heart, the face and the eyes

A note on using it responsibly

This is a book about what Islamic sources and research say, not a medical manual. Some chapters discuss serious conditions, and no food can replace proper treatment. Use it to understand the Sunnah and to make better everyday choices, and speak to your doctor before trying a remedy if you have a health condition, are pregnant, or take medication. The Prophet himself encouraged seeking treatment, and that includes modern medicine.

Book details

Who this book suits

It suits families in the UAE who want to eat and live according to the Sunnah, readers curious about the foods mentioned in the Quran such as figs, olives and pomegranates, people interested in hijamah who want to understand it before booking a session, and anyone who wants a well-illustrated book on health from an Islamic point of view. The colour photographs also make it a good book to leave on the table for the whole family.

Related books

For the classical source that much of this field draws on, read Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet by Ibn al-Qayyim. For rulings on medical treatment in Islam, see Islamic Guideline on Medicine. For the du'as and ruqyah the Prophet taught for illness, Fortress of the Muslim is a handy pocket collection. For the wider Sunnah of daily life, try Riyad-us-Saliheen and Minhaj al-Muslim. Browse the Health collection for more.

Frequently asked questions

What is Islamic Medicine: The Key to a Better Life about?

It is a guide to the foods, plants and practices mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah as sources of health, by Yusuf al-Hajj Ahmad, translated into English by Nasiruddin al-Khattab. Each topic gathers the relevant verses and hadith, what classical scholars such as Ibn al-Qayyim said about it, and what modern research reports.

Which foods and remedies does it cover?

The contents include olive oil, figs, melons, pomegranate, ginger, bananas, fish, cress, citron, truffles, henna, senna and dill, costus (al-qust), aloe vera, sidr (lote tree), sweet basil, myrtle and more, along with a long section on hijamah (cupping).

Does the book cover cupping (hijamah)?

Yes. It has a full section on hijamah: its history, the tools used, dry and wet cupping, the sites on the body, precautions, and the conditions it is used for.

Does it grade the hadith it quotes?

It notes weaknesses where they exist. On the sample page for cress, for example, narrations are followed by remarks such as 'there is some weakness in it'. That honesty is one of the book's strengths.

Is this book a replacement for a doctor?

No. It explains what Islamic sources and research say about natural foods and remedies, but it is not medical advice. If you have a health condition, are pregnant, or take medication, speak to your doctor before changing your diet or trying a remedy.

Who translated it?

Nasiruddin al-Khattab, according to Dar-us-Salam's listing.

How many pages is it?

About 417 pages, hardcover, 17x24 cm, printed in full colour. The ISBN is 9786035000611.

How long does delivery take in the UAE?

Orders dispatch from Sharjah. Standard delivery takes 2 to 4 working days, and delivery is free on orders over AED 300.