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Is it true that Muslims drink camel’s urine for medicine?

Started by bamalli, February 22, 2013, 10:32:58 PM

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bamalli

Answered by Abu Amina Elias at FaithinAllah.org

Question:

Is it true that Muslims drink camel's urine for medicine?

Answer:

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

The Arabs at the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would prescribe camel's urine for various sicknesses but this has no religious significance in Islam.

There is an authentic report in which the Prophet prescribed camel's urine as medicine for some of his companions. Camel's urine was recognized in Arab custom as having medicinal properties. Ibn Al-Qayyim reports that the famous philosopher Avicenna (Ibn Sina) mentioned camel's urine in his work on classical Arab medicine:

وَأَنْفَعُ الْأَبْوَالِ بَوْلُ الْجَمَلِ الْأَعْرَابِيِّ وَهُوَ النَّجِيبُ

The most beneficial urine is the urine of Bedouin camels, which is called najeeb.

[Zaad Al-Ma'ad 44]

There are even some modern medicines which are derived from animal urine, such as premarin.

However, it is important to understand that the use of camel urine was strictly an Arab custom at the time of the Prophet and it has no special religious significance. Ibn Khaldun mentions the traditions on this topic and then he writes:

والطب المنقول في الشرعيات من هذا القبيل وليس من الوحي في شىءوإنما هوأمر كان عادياً للعرب‏.‏ ووقع في ذكر أحوال النبي صلىالله عليهوسلم من نوع ذكرأحواله التي هي عادة وجبلة لا من جهة أن ذلك مشروع على ذلك النحو من العمل‏ فإنه صلى الله عليه وسلم إنما بعث ليعلمنا الشرائع ولم يبعث لتعريف الطب ولا غيره من العاديات

‏The medicine mentioned in the religious tradition is of the Bedouin type. It is in no way part of the divine revelation. (Such medical matters) were merely part of the Arab custom and happened to be mentioned in connection with the circumstances of the Prophet, like other things that were customary in his generation. They were not mentioned in order to imply that that particular way of practicing medicine is stipulated by the religious law. Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was sent to teach us the religious law (sharia). He was not sent to teach us medicine or any other ordinary matter.

[Al-Muqaddimah]

Therefore, there is no particular reward for the use of camel's urine, but rather it is only permissible as a matter of custom. In fact, if better medical treatments are available, then we recommend for Muslims to use those alternative treatments. In this regard, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَنْتُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِأَمْرِ دُنْيَاكُمْ

You have better knowledge of the affairs of your world.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 30, Number 5832, Sahih]

I hope this answers your question.

Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.