'And when I am sick. Then He heals me' (TMQ 26,80)

The Medicine of the Prophet
Translation  from Tibb an-Nabbi 
By Jalalu'd-Din 'Abdur-Rahman as-Suyuti
-Edited by Ahmad Thomson
248 pages Paperback A5 ISBN 1 897940 15 7
Published by Taha, London UK
Reprinted 2004

A unique edition of this exceptional work by one of the most famous of Muslim scholars. Originally written in Arabic nearly 500 years ago, this book is packed with a detailed description of the most common physical and spiritual diseases experienced by people throughout the ages. Imam Suyuti indicates the remedies for these by drawing both from the Qur'an and the wisdom of the Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be on him. Doctors and scientists may debate the effectiveness of traditional medicines, but the positive results and soothing effects of this medicine have been obvious to millions of people during the last fourteen centuries.

This unique work gives a clear insight into the causes of illness and healing. 

Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Wafid said
'Allah put all medicine into half an ayah when he said:
Eat and drink, but not excessively'
 (TM Qur'an: 7:31) [Taken from  Page 11]

Taken from Tarikh al-Khulafa’, this classical work presents authentic hadith about the first four Khalifahs of Islam: Umar, Abu Bakr, Ithman & Ali (It also Includes a Section On Imam Husan ) may Allah be pleased with them, illustrating both the integrity and wisdom that they displayed in governance. This book also highlights their contributions to that body of practice which is known as the Sunnah.


Abd al-Rahman ibn Kamal al-Din Abi Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Sabiq al-Din, Jalal al-Din al-Misri al-Suyuti Biography of Imam Suyuti

The translator:Abdassamad Clarke is the translator of a number of classical works, Other books translated or written by Abdassamad include, "A Madinan View on the Sunnah", "The Clear Victory", "Year of the Elephant", "Drops from an Ocean" and Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawâni's manual on Maliki fiqh "Kitâb al-Jâmi'". For more visit: http://www.bogvaerker.dk/Bookwright/index.html

An Excerpt From: The History of the Khalifahs who took the Right Way By Imam Suyuti

His khilafah (Umar Bin Al Khatta)

He took on the khilafah through the covenant of Abu Bakr in Jumada al-Akhirah in the year 13 A.H.

Az-Zuhri said, ''Umar was appointed khalifah on the day that Abu Bakr died which was Tuesday eight days before the end of Jumada al-Akhirah.' He undertook the command most fully, and there were very many conquests in his days.

In the year 14 A.H., Damascus was conquered partly both by treaty and force, and Homs (ancient Emessa) and Baalbek by treaty, and Basrah and Ubullah by force.

'In that year 'Umar united people in one jama'ah in salat at-tarawih (the optional prayers said at night in Ramadan),' said al-'Askari in Al-Awa'il (Firsts).

In the year 15 A.H., all of Jordan was conquered by force except for Tiberias which was by treaty. In this year were the battles of Yarmuk and Qadisiyyah. Ibn Jarir said: In it Sa'd founded Kufa, and 'Umar instituted regular wages (for the fighting men), registers, and gave allowances according to priority.

In the year 16 A.H., Ahwaz and Mada'in were conquered, and in the latter Sa'd established the jumu'ah in the great hall of Khosrau, and this was the first jumu'ah to be held in Iraq. That was in the month of Safar. In it, was the battle of Jalula in which Yezdajird the son of Khosrau was defeated and he retreated back to Rai. In it, Takrit was taken, 'Umar travelled and took Al-Bait al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) and gave his famous khutbah in al-Jabiyyah. Kinnasrin, Aleppo, and Antioch were taken by force, Manbij by treaty, and Saruj by force. In that year, Qirqisiya' was taken by treaty. In Rabi' al-Awwal, dating was begun from the Hijrah on the advice of 'Ali.

In the year 17 A.H., 'Umar increased the size of the Prophet's Mosque. In it there was drought and famine in the Hijaz and it was called the Year of Destruction, and 'Umar prayed for rain for people by means of al-'Abbas.

Niyar al-Aslami narrated that 'Umar, when he came out to pray for rain, came out with the cloak of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, upon him.

Ibn 'Aun said: 'Umar took hold of the hand of al-'Abbas and raised it up, saying, 'O Allah, we approach You by means of the uncle of Your Prophet (asking) that You drive away from us the drought, and that You give us to drink from the rain,' and they didn't leave before they were given to drink. The sky poured down upon them for days. In that year Ahwaz was taken by treaty.

In the year 18 A.H., Jundaysabur was taken by treaty, and Hulwan by force. In it, was the plague of Emaus; Urfa (Edessa) and Sumaysat were taken by force; Harran, Nasibin and a part of Mesopotamia by force, and it has been said, by treaty; and Mosul and its environs by force.

In the year 19 A.H., Cæsarea was taken by force. In the year 20 A.H., Egypt was conquered by force. It is also said that all of Egypt was taken by treaty except for Alexandria which was taken by force. 'Ali ibn Rabah said, 'The whole of the Maghrib (north-western Africa) was taken by force.' In that year Tustar was taken, Caesar (Heraclius), the great man of the Byzantines, died. In it also, 'Umar expelled the Jews from Khaybar and Najran, and he apportioned Khaybar and Wadi'l-Qurra' (between those who had been present there at the original battles of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace).

In the year 21 A.H., Alexandria was taken by force, and Nahawand, after which the Persians could not muster an army, and Barqah and other places.

In the year 22 A.H., Azerbaijan was taken by force, and it has been said, by treaty, and Dinaur by force, Masabdhan and Hamadan by force, and Tripoli of North Africa, Rai, 'Askar and Qumas.

In the year 23 A.H., there were the conquests of Kirman, Sijistan, Makran in the mountainous lands, and also Isfahan and its environs.

In the end of this year there was the death of Sayyiduna 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, after his return from the Hajj; he was killed as a martyr.

Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab said: When 'Umar returned from Mina (to Makkah), he made his camel kneel down in the watercourse, then he threw himself down, raised his hands to the sky and said, 'O Allah! I am advanced in years, my strength has weakened, and my subjects have increased, so take me to You without (my) being wasteful or falling short.' Dhu'l-Hijjah had not gone before he was killed.

Abu Salih as-Saman said: Ka'b al-Ahbar said to 'Umar, 'I find you in the Tawrah killed as a martyr.' He said, 'How can I be a martyr when I am in the peninsula of the Arabs?'

Aslam said: 'Umar said, 'O Allah provide me with martyrdom in Your way, and make my death to be in the city of Your Messenger.' Ma'dan ibn Abi Talhah: 'Umar gave a khutbah and said, 'I saw (in a dream) as if a cock pecked at me once or twice, and I can only believe that it means that my term has come. There are people who tell me to appoint a successor, and Allah will not cause His deen to go to waste nor His khilafah. If the matter is hastened for me, then the khilafah is a matter of consultation between these six whom the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was pleased with when he died.' Az-Zuhri said: 'Umar would not permit a captive who had reached the age of puberty to enter Madinah until al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah wrote to himand he was the governor of Al-Kufahmentioning to him a slave who had a number of crafts and asking permission that he enter Madinah, saying, 'He has many trades which are useful to people. He is a blacksmith, engraver and carpenter.' He gave permission to him to send him to Madinah. Al-Mughirah put a demand for revenue on him (the slave) of one hundred dirhams per month, so the slave came to 'Umar to complain of the severity of that imposition. He said, 'Your demand for revenue is not that much,' and he turned away in anger and threateningly. 'Umar waited some days and then he called him and said, 'Have I not been informed that you say, "If I wished, I could make a mill which will grind by means of the wind."' Then he turned his face to 'Umar with a frown and said, 'I will make for you a mill which people will talk about.' When he turned away, 'Umar said to his companions, 'The slave threatened me just now.' After a while Abu Lu'lu'ah wrapped his garments around a dagger with two heads (to the blade) whose handle was in the middle of it, hid in one of the corners of the mosque in the darkness of the last part of the night, and there he waited until 'Umar came out waking people up for the prayer. When he drew near to him, he stabbed him three times.

'Amr ibn Maymun al-Ansari said: Abu Lu'lu'ah, the slave of al-Mughirah, stabbed 'Umar with a dagger which had two heads, and he stabbed, along with him, twelve other men of whom six died, then a man from Iraq threw over him a robe. When he became tangled up in it, he killed himself.

Abu Rafi' said: Abu Lu'lu'ah, the slave of al-Mughirah, used to make mills. Al-Mughirah used to demand as revenue from him four dirhams a day. He met 'Umar and said, 'Amir al-Muminin, al-Mughirah is being very heavy on me, so speak to him.' He said, 'Behave well towards your master,'and 'Umar's intention was to speak to al-Mughirah about itso he (the slave) became angry and said, 'His justice encompasses all of the people except for me,' and he secretly decided to kill him. He took a dagger, sharpened it and poisoned it. 'Umar used to say, 'Straighten your ranks,' before he pronounced the takbir. He came and stood opposite him in the rank, stabbed him in his shoulder and side, and 'Umar fell. Then he stabbed thirteen other men with him, of whom six died. 'Umar was carried to his family. The sun was about to rise so 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn 'Auf led the people in prayer with the two shortest surahs. 'Umar was brought some nabidh (a drink made from dates left to soak in water) and he drank it and it came out of his wound, but it wasn't yet distinct (from the blood). So they gave him some milk to drink, and it came out of his wound and they said, 'There's no great harm with you.' He said, 'If there is any harm in killing, then I have been killed.' People began to praise him, saying, 'You were such and such and you were such and such.' He said, 'By Allah, I wish that I had gone out of it, independent of others, with nothing against me and nothing for me, and that the companionship of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace, was secure for me.' Ibn 'Abbas praised him, so he said, 'Even if I had that gold which would fill the earth, I would ransom myself by it from the terror of the rising. I have made it (the khilafah) a matter of consultation between 'Uthman, 'Ali, Talhah, az-Zubayr, 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn 'Auf and Sa'd.' He ordered Suhayb to lead people in prayer, and gave the six a period of three (days in which to decide).

Ibn 'Abbas said: Abu Lu'lu'ah was a Magian.

'Amr ibn Maimun said: 'Umar said, 'Praise be to Allah Who did not make my decree of death to be at the hands of a man who claimed Islam.' Then he said to his son, ''Abdullah, look and see what debts I have.' They calculated it and found it to be eighty-six thousand or thereabouts. He said, 'If the wealth of the family of 'Umar is enough, then pay it. If it is not, then ask among Bani 'Adi, and if their wealth is not enough, then ask among Quraysh. Go to the Mother of the Believers, 'A'ishah, and say, "'Umar asks permission to be buried with his two companions."' He went to her and she said, 'I wanted itmeaning the burial plotfor myself, but I will definitely prefer him over myself, today.' 'Abdullah came and said, 'She has given permission,' so he praised Allah. Someone said to him, 'Make bequest, Amir al-Muminin, and appoint a successor.' He said, 'I see no-one with more right to this command than these six with whom the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was pleased when he died,' and he named the six, and said, ''Abdullah ibn 'Umar will be present with them but he has no part in the command. If the office should fall to Sa'd, then he it is, and if not, then let whoever of you is appointed seek help from him, for I did not remove him (from his office) because of any incapacity or treachery.' Then he said, 'I counsel the khalifah after me to have fearful obedience of Allah; I counsel him to pay particular care to the Muhajirun and the Ansar, and I counsel him to treat the people of the provinces well,' and other similar counsels. When he died, we went walking with him, 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar called out the greeting and said, ''Umar seeks permission to enter.' 'A'ishah said, 'Bring him in.' He was brought in and placed there with his two companions.

When they finished burying him and had returned, that group gathered and 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn 'Auf said, 'Delegate your authority to three among you.' Az-Zubayr said, 'I delegate my authority to 'Ali.' Sa'd said, 'I delegate my authority to 'Abd ar-Rahman.' Talhah said, 'I delegate my authority to 'Uthman.' He continued: so there remained these three. 'Abd ar-Rahman said, 'I don't want it. Which of you two will be quit of this matter and we will entrust it to him (the remaining one)? And Allah is his witness and Islam, let him consider in himself who is the best of them and let him be eager for the benefit of the ummah.' The two Shaykhs, 'Ali and 'Uthman were silent. 'Abd ar-Rahman said, 'Delegate me and, Allah is my witness, I will not fail you in choosing the best of you.' They said, 'Yes.' Then he went apart with 'Ali and said, 'You have that precedence in Islam and kinship with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, which you know. Allah is your witness; if I give you authority, will you be just, and if I give authority (to 'Uthman) over you, will you hear and obey?' He said, 'Yes.' Then he went apart with the other and said to him the same thing. When he had their agreement, he pledged allegiance to 'Uthman and 'Ali pledged allegiance to him.

'Umar said: If my term overtakes me, and Abu 'Ubaydah al-Jarrah is still alive, then I would appoint him as khalifah. If my Lord asked me, I would say, 'I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying, "Every Prophet has a trustworthy (companion), and my trustworthy (companion) is Abu 'Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah."' If my term overtakes me, and Abu 'Ubaydah al-Jarrah has died, I would appoint Mu'adh ibn Jabal as khalifah. If my Lord asked me, 'Why did you appoint him as khalifah?' I would say, 'I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying, "He will be raised up on the Day of Resurrection a distance in front of the men of knowledge."' They had both died during his khilafah.

Abu Rafi' narrated that someone spoke to 'Umar at his death about the appointment of a khalifah, so he said, 'I have seen among my companions an unfortunate eagerness. If one of two men had reached me, and then I had entrusted this command to him, I would have been sure of him: Salim the freed slave of Abu Hudhayfah and Abu 'Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah.' 'Umar was struck on the Wednesday, four days before the end of Dhu'l-Hijjah, and he was buried on Sunday, the day of the new moon of al-Muharram, the Sacred (month). He was sixty-three years old. It has also been said that he was sixty-six, sixty-one, sixty (which al-Waqidi preferred). It has been said that he was fifty-nine, fifty-five and fifty-four. Suhayb performed the (funeral) prayer over him in the mosque.

In the Tahdhib of al-Mazini, there is that the engraving on the seal-ring of 'Umar was, 'Death is enough of an admonisher, 'Umar.' Tariq ibn Shihab said: Umm Ayman said, on the day 'Umar was killed, 'Today Islam has been rent.' 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn Yasar said, 'I witnessed the death of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab and the sun was eclipsed on that day.' The men who transmitted (this hadith) were trustworthy.