A Department of Prophetic Medicine will be established at the Kabul University of Medical Sciences named after Abu Ali ibn Sina, according to RBC, citing the Afghan Ministry of Higher Education. Authorities expect the department to contribute to the development of medical sciences and the training of professional personnel for the healthcare system.
Prophetic medicine is a set of recommendations for treating diseases, hygiene, and lifestyle, based on the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. Unlike conventional folk medicine, prophetic medicine is perceived by believers as part of religious practice and includes both physical treatment methods and spiritual ones—such as prayers and Quran recitation.
In particular, prophetic medicine includes bloodletting (hijama), believed to help remove “stagnant” blood using vacuum cups and small incisions. Natural products such as black seed, honey, olive oil, garlic, dates, ginger, and others are used as remedies.
Guidelines on prophetic medicine are written by scholar-theologians. For instance, in the 16th century, the renowned expert in Islamic sciences, Jalal al-Din Abd al-Rahman al-Suyuti, author of numerous treatises on various topics, compiled one of the most popular books on Muhammad’s advice for healing illnesses—”Tibb al-Nabi” (“The Medicine of the Prophet”).
