Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

An Invocation for Childbirth

‘Isa b. Dawud narrated from Musa b. al-Qasim from al-Mufaddal b. ‘ Umar from Abu al-Zabyan from al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, who said: “Write these verses on paper for the pregnant woman when she has entered her month [for delivery]. She will not be afflicted with labour pains or difficulty at childbirth. Wrap a strip [of paper] lightly around the paper and do not tie it. Write:

Have not the unbelievers then beheld that the heavens and the earth were a mass all sewn up and then We unstitched them and of water fashioned every living thing? Will they not believe? (21:30).

And a sign for them is the night; We strip it of the day and lo, they are in darkness. And the sun - it runs to a fixed resting-place; that is the ordaining of the All-mighty, the All-knowing. And the moon - We have determined it by stations, till it returns like an aged palm-bough, it behoves not the sun to overtake the moon, neither does the night outstrip the day, each swimming in a sky. And a sign for them is that We carried their seed in the laden ship, and We have created for them the like of it whereon they ride, and if We will, We drown them, then none have they to cry to, neither are they delivered, save as a mercy from Us, and enjoyment for a while (36:37-44).

And the Trumpet shall be blown; then behold, they are sliding down from their tombs unto their Lord (36:51).

“Write on the back of the paper these verses:

It shall be as if on the day they see that they are promised, they had not tarried but for an hour of a single day. A Message to be delivered! And shall any be destroyed but the people of the ungodly? (46:35). It shall be as if, on the day they see it, they have but tarried for an evening, or its forenoon (79:46).

“Fasten the paper on her middle and when her child is born do not leave it on for an instant.”

What is Written for the Newborn Child at Birth

Sa’d b. Mihran narrated from Muhammad b. Sadaqa from Muhammad b. Sinan al-Zahiri from Yunus b. Zabyan from Muhammad b. Isma’il from Jabir b. Yazid al-Ju’fi, who said: A man from the Bani Umayya came to Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him. He was a believer from the family of Fir’awn, attached to the family uf Muhammad. He said: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, my bondmaid has entered her month [of childbirth] and I have no child, so pray to Allah to grant me a son.” He [Abu Ja’far] said: “Allah, grant him a healthy male child.” Then he said: “When she enters her month [of childbirth] write for her the sura al-Qadr (197), and protect her and what is in her belly with this invocation [written] with musk and saffron. Wash it out and make her drink its water and sprinkle her genitals [with it].

The invocation is this:

‘I seek protection for my newborn child in the Name of Allah, in the Name of Allah.

We stretched towards heaven, but we found it filled with terrible guards and meteors. We would sit there on seats to hear, but any listening now finds a meteor in wait for him (72:8-9).’

Then say: ‘In the Name of Allah, in the Name of Allah, I take refuge in Allah, the All-hearing, the All-knowing, from the accursed Satan, I and you and the house and those in it, and the dwelling and those in it. We, all of us, are in the refuge of Allah, and the protection of Allah, and the preserve of Allah, and the safekeeping of Allah, secure and safeguarded.’

“Then recite the two Suras of taking protection [al-Falaq (113) and al-Nas (114)], and begin with the sura al-Fatiha (1) and the sura al-Ikhlas (112). Then recite:

What, did you think that We created you only for sport, and that you would not be returned to Us? Then high exalted be God, the King, the True! There is no god but Allah, the Lord of the noble Throne. Whosoever calls upon another god with God, whereof he has no proof, his reckoning is with his Lord. Surely the unbelievers shall not prosper. And say: My Lord, forgive, and have mercy, for Thou art the best of the merciful (23:115-18). If We had sent this Qur'an down upon a mountain, thou wouldst have seen it humbled, split asunder out of the fear of God (59:21), to the end of the Sura.

“'Then say: ‘Banished are they who contend with Allah and His Messenger. I adjure you, O house and those in you, by the seven names and the seven angels who come and go between the heavens and the earth, veiled from this woman and what is in her belly, every possession by a jinn and stealing, or touch, or shining apparition touched by man or jinn.’

When he has finished this statement and this invocation, he should say: ‘I mean by this statement and this invocation so-and-so, his wife and child, his dwelling, his house and his wife and child.’ Then let him name himself and his dwelling and his house and his wife and his child, and let him utter it and say:

‘The wife of so-and-so, son of so-and-so; and his son - so-and-so, son of so-and-so.’ It is wiser for him and better, and I guarantee that his wife and child will not be afflicted with trial, mental disorder (al-khabl), or madness, Allah, the Exalted, willing.”

An Invocation for One Who Does Not Wish Satan to Trifle With His Wife

Al-Walid b. Bayyina, the mu'adhdhin of the Kufa mosque, narrated from Abu al-Hasan al-Askari, peace be upon him, from his fathers from Muhammad al-Baqir, peace be upon him, who said. “Whoever wishes that Satan should not trifle with his wife during her confinement (al-nifas), let him write this invocation in musk and saffron with pure rainwater, let him squeeze it out on to a new garment, not previously worn, and put it on his wife and child. Let him sprinkle the place and the house in which the woman is. His wife will not be afflicted as long as she is in her confinement, and his child will not be afflicted with insanity (al-khubat) or madness or panic (al-faz’) or the evil eye (al-nazara), Allah, the Exalted, willing.

‘In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate; In the Name of Allah, in the Name of Allah, in the Name of Allah, and peace be on the Messenger of Allah, and peace be on the family of the Messenger of Allah, and blessings and the mercy of Allah be on them. In the Name of Allah and by Allah, depart by the will of Allah, depart by the will of Allah;

out of the earth We brought you, and We shall restore you into it, and bring you forth from it a second time (20:55). So, if they turn their backs, say: God is enough for me. There is no god but He. In Him I have put my trust. He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne (9:129)

In the Name of Allah, and by Allah, I expel you by Allah, I expel you by the Messenger of Allah.’”

For A Mare at the Time of its Delivery

Al-Khidr b. Muhammad narrated from al-Haradini from al-Hasan b. ’Ali b. Faddala from Muhammad b. Harun from Ibn Ri’ab from Ibn Sinan from al-Mufaddal from Jabir from Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him; also from ‘Ali b. Asbat from Ibn Bakayr from Zarara b. A’yan from Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, that he said: “Write this invocation for an old and noble mare (al-faras) at its time of delivery (al-wad’) on the parchment of a gazelle and fasten it to her at her groin:

‘O Allah, Dispeller of grief, and Remover of sorrow, the Merciful and the Compassionate of this world and the next, have mercy on so-and-so, son of so-and-so, the owner of the mare, with a mercy which will make him free of mercy from other than you. Dispel his grief and sorrow, relieve his anxiety (al-hamm), keep his mare from harm, and make easy for us its delivery.’”

‘Isa b. Maryam and Yahya b. Zakariyya, blessings be on our Prophet and his family and on them be peace, came out among creation. We heard the sound of a female wild animal (wahshiya). The Messiah, ‘Isa b. Maryam, peace be upon him, said: “How strange! What is this sound?” Yahya replied: “This is the sound of a wild animal giving birth.” ‘Isa b. Maryam, peace be upon him, said: “Come forth with ease, with ease, by the will of Allah, the Exalted.”

An Invocation for Pregnant Women and Animals

Abu Yazid al-Qannad narrated from Muhammad b. Muslim from Abu al-Hasan Al-Ridha’, peace be upon him, who said: “Write this invocation on a paper or parchment for pregnant animals:

‘In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate, in the Name of Allah, in the Name of Allah, in the Name of Allah, truly with hardship comes ease.

Truly with hardship comes ease (94:5-6).

God desires ease for you, and desires not hardship for you, and that you fulfil the number and magnify God that He has guided you, and haply you will be thankful. And when My servants question thee concerning Me - I am near to answer the call of the caller, when he calls to Me. So let them respond to Me, and let them believe in Me. Haply they will go aright (2:185-6).

And He will furnish you with a gentle issue of your affair (18:16).

He will provide you with guidance in your affair. God's it is to show the way If He willed, He would have guided you all together (16.9).

Then the way eased for him (80:20). Have not the unbelievers then beheld that the heavens and the earth were a mass all sewn up, and then We unstitched them and of water fashioned every living thing? Will they not believe? (21:30).

..and [she] withdrew with him to a distant place. And the birthpangs surprised her by the trunk of the palm tree. She said, Would I had had died ere this, and become a thing forgotten. But the one that was below her called to her, Nay, do not sorrow. See, thy Lord has set below thee a rivulet. Shake also to thee the palm trunk, and there shall come tumbling upon thee dates fresh and ripe. Eat therefore, and drink, and be comforted. And if thou shouldst see any mortal, say, I have vowed to the All-merciful a fast, and today I will not speak to any man. Then she brought the child to her folk, carrying him; and they said, Maryam, thou hast surely committed a monstrous thing! Sister of Harun, thy father was not a wicked man, nor was thy mother a woman unchaste.

Maryam pointed to the child then; but they said, How shall we speak to one who is still in the cradle, a little child? He said. Lo, I am God's servant; God has given me the Book, and made me a Prophet. Blessed He has made me, wherever I may be; and He has enjoined me to pray, and to give the alms, so long as I live, and likewise to cherish my mother. He has not made me arrogant, unprosperous. Peace be upon me, the day 1 was born, and the day I died, and the day I am raised up alive! That is ‘Isa, son of Maryam (19:22-34).

'And it is God who brought you forth from your mothers’ abdomens not knowing anything, He appointed for you hearing, and sight, and hearts, that haply so you will be thankful. Have they not regarded the birds, that are subjected in the air of heaven? Naught holds them but God, surely in that are signs for a people who believe (16:78-9).

Thus, O newborn child, come forth healthy, by the will of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.’

“Then fasten it to her and when she gives birth, remove it from her. Take care that you do not leave out any part of the verse or stop after [writing] part of it, and that you complete it. It is the statement of Allah, the Exalted:

God who brought you forth from your mothers' wombs not knowing anything. If you stop here, the child will be born dumb (akhras).

If you do not recite: and appointed for you hearing, and sight, and hearts, that haply so you will be thankful, the child will not be born healthy.”

On Thinness

Isma’il b. al-Qasim al-Mutatabbib al-Kufi narrated from Muhammad b. ‘Isa from Muhammad b. Ishaq b. al-Fayd who said: I was with al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, when a man from the Shi'a came and said to him: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, my daughter is wasting away and her body has become thin (nahal). Her illness has been protracted and she has a loose belly.”

Al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, replied: “What keeps you from eating this rice (al-aruzz) with the blessed fat. Allah only made fat unlawful for the Banu Isra’il because of its great blessing in eating it, until Allah removed what was in it. Perhaps you think it will be harmful because of the amount of treatment she has had?” He [the man] said: “O son of the Prophet of Allah, how shall I prepare it?”

He replied: “Take four stones and place them under the fire. Put the rice in a pot and cook it until it is done. Then take the fresh fat of two kidneys and put it in a bowl. When the rice is cooked, take the four stones and throw them into the bowl which contains the fat and turn over it another bowl. Shake it violently and do not let its steam escape. When the fat melts, add it to the rice and let her sip it, neither hot nor cold. She will be cured, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, willing.” The man said: “By Allah, there is no god but Him, she ate it only once and recovered.”

On Looseness of Bowels

Abu Ya'qub Yusuf b. Ya’qub al-Za’farani narrated from ‘Ali b. al-Hakam from Yunus b. Ya’qub, who said: Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, told me while I was serving him when he was in pain from looseness of the bowels: “Woe be to you, O Yunus, you know that I was inspired in my illness to eat rice, and was commanded to eat it. So wash and dry it, then roast, crush, and cook it, for I eat it with fat and Allah will remove the pain from rne.”

For Ailments of the Belly and the Prayer For It

Ahmad b. ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Jamila narrated from al-Hasan b. Khalid, who said: I wrote to Abu al-Hasan, peace be upon him, complaining of an ailment in my belly and asking for a prayer.

He wrote: “In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate.” He wrote the first sura of the Qur'an, the two suras of taking refuge al-Falaq (113) and al-Nas (114), and the sura al-Ikhlas (112). Then he wrote under that:

“I take refuge in the Face of Allah, the Magnificient, and His Might, which is unceasing, and His Power, which nothing can resist, from the evil of this pain and the evil of what is in it and what I fear.”

[He said:] “Write that on a tablet or a shoulder-blade, then wash it out with rainwater and drink it before breakfast and before bed. Write below that: ‘He made it a healing from every illness.’”

For Rumbling in the Belly

Ahmad b. Muharib al-Sudani narrated from Safwan b.Yahya al-Bayya' from ‘Abd al-Rahman b. al-Jahm that Dharih al-Muharibi complained to Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, of rumbling in his belly. He [Abu 'Abd Allah] asked: “Does it pain you?” He replied: “Yes.” He [Abu ‘Abd Allah] said: “What prevents you from taking black cumin and honey for it?”

Salama b. Muhammad al-Ash’ari narrated fmm ‘Uthman b. ‘Isa who said: A man complained to Abu al-Hasan, the first [Musa al-Kazim], peace be upon him, and said: “I have a rumbling, it never subsides and I am ashamed of talking to people for they will hear the sound of that rumbling. So pray for me to be cured of it.” He [Abu al-Hasan] replied: “When you finish your night prayer, say: ‘O Allah, whatever I know of good, it is from You, there is no praise for me in it. Whatever I know of evil, You have warned me of it, so I have no excuse in it. O Allah, I take refuge in You from relying on that in which there is no praise for me, or trusting in that for which I have no excuse.’”

On Stopping Flowing Blood

Al-Sabbah b. Muhammad al-Azdi narrated from al-Husayn b. Khalid, who said: A woman wrote to Al-Ridha’, peace be upon him, complaining of a continuous flow of blood. He [Al-Ridha’] wrote to her: “Take one handful of coriander and one of sumac and soak it for one night in the open air. Then put it on the fire and sieve it. Drink a saucer of it and the blood will cease, Allah, the Exalted, willing.”

Gripes

Ayyub b. ‘Umar narrated from Muhammad b. ‘Isa from Kamil from Muhammad b. Ibrahim al-Ju'fi who said: A man complained to Abu al-Hasan ul-Rida, peace be upon him, of gripes (al-maghs), the pains of which almost kiiled him. He asked him to pray to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, for him, since the many medications he had taken for it had wearied him and had not benefited him. On the contrary, the severity [of the pain] had increased. He [Al-Ridha’] smiled and said: “Woe be to you, our prayer to Allah has weight, and I ask Allah to ease it for you with His Power and His Strength. When the affair [i.e. the pain] intensifies and you are in agony from it, take a walnut and throw it on the fire until you know that its kernel has been roasted and the fire has altered all of its shell. It [the pain] will subside at once.” He [the man] said: “By Allah, I only did that once and the gripes subsided, by the will of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.”

Hemorrhoids

Abu al-Fawaris b. Ghalib b. Muhammad b. Faris narrated from Ahmad b. Hammad al-Basri from the son of Nasr b. Sayyar from Mu’ammar b. Khallad, who said: “Abu al-Hasan Al-Ridha’, peace be upon him, would often instruct me to take this medication and would say that there arc many benefits in it. I have tried it for wind and hemorrhoids and by Allah, it did not disagree with me.

Take equal parts of black myrobalan, beleric myrobalan, and emblic myrobalan. Grind them, then sieve through silk. Take a similar measure of blue almonds (lauz azraq), called blue muql among the Iraqis. Soak the almonds in leek water for thirty days until it becomes soft and dissolves. Then add these ingredients to it and knead them together vigorously until mixed. Form them into pellets like lentils (al-'adas), and oil your hand with violet oil or the oil of the yellow gilllflower (khiri) or sesame oil, so that it does not stick. Then dry it in the shade. If it is summer, take one mithqal of it, and if it is winter, take two mithqal. Abstain from fish, vinegar, and legumes, for it has been proved by experience.”

Vitiligo and Whiteness of the Eyes

‘Abd al-Aziz b. ‘Abd al-Jabbar narrated from Dawud b. ‘Abd al-Rahman from Yunus, who said: I was afflicted with whiteness in my eyes, so I went to Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, and complained of that to him. He said: “Purify yourself and pray two rak 'as and say: ‘O Allah, O Merciful, O Compassionate, O All-hearing, O Hearer of supplications, O Bestower of blessings. Grant me the good of this world and the next, and protect me from the evil of this world and the evil of the next world, and remove from me my suffering, for the affair has vexed me and grieved me.’”

Yunus said: I did as he instructed me and Allah removed that from me, praise be to Him.

From him, blessings of Allah on him and his family, that he said: “Place your hand on it and say: ‘O Bestower of healing and Remover of illness, bestow a cure on the illness that is in in me.’

The Milk of Milch Camels

Al-Jarud b. Muhammad narrated from Muhammad b. ‘Isa from Kamil who said: I heard Musa b. ‘Abd Allah, the son of al-Husayn say: I heard the shaykhs say: “The milk of milch camels (alban al-liqah) is a cure for every illness in the body.”

From Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, that he said the same, except that he added: “In it is a cure for every illness and disease in the body. It purifies the body, removes its impurity, and cleanses it completely.”

Shortness of Breath

Abu Ja’far Ahmad b. Muhammad narrated from Abu Muhammad b. Khalid from Muhammad b. Sinan al-Sinani from al-Mufaddal b. ‘Umar, who said: I asked Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, “O son of the Messenger of Allah, severe shortness of breath (al-rabw) afflicts me when I walk so that I sometimes have lo rest twice between my house and yours.” He replied: “O Mufaddal, drink the urine of milch camels.” He [al-Mufaddal] said: I drank that and Allah removed my illness.

Ibrahim b. Sirhan al-Mutatabbib narrated from ‘Ali b. Asbat from Hakim b. Miskin from Ishaq b. Isma’il and Bishr b. ‘Ammar, both of whom said: We came to Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, and Yunus had been afflicted with ‘the evil disease’ (al-da’ al-khabith). We sat before him and said: “'May Allah be good to you, we have been afflicted with a misfortune, the like of which has never afflicted us before.” He [Abu ‘Abd Allah] asked: “And what is that?” So we acquainted him with the story. He said to Yunus: “Rise and purify yourself. Pray two rak’as, then praise Allah and extol Him, and bless Muhammad and his Ahl al-Bayt.

Then say: ‘O Allah, O Allah, O Allah; O Merciful, O Merciful, O Merciful; O Compassionate, O Compassionate, O Compassionate; O Single, O Single, O Single; O One, O One, O One; O Refuge, O Refuge, O Refuge; O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Most Merciful of the merciful O Most Merciful of the merciful; O Most Powerful of the powerful, O Most Powerful of the powerful, O Most Powerful of the powerful; O Lord of the Worlds, O Lord of the Worlds, O Lord of the Worlds; O Hearer of supplications, O Revealer of blessings, O Bestower of favours, bless Muhammad and his family and grant me the good of this world and the good of the next, and avert from me the evil of this world and the evil of the next. Remove what is in me, for the matter has vexed me and grieved me.’”

He said: I did what al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, instructed, and by Allah, we had not left Medina when it was removed from me.

Habbaba Al-Walibiyya and the ‘Evil Disease’

Ahmad b. al-Mundhir narrated from ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-Aziz from Dawud al-Raqqi, who said: I was with Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, when Habbaba al-Walibiyya entered. She was a righteous woman. She asked him questions dealing with the lawful and the unlawful, and we marvelcd at the beauty of those questions. He [al-Sadiq] said to us: “Have you seen questions better than those of Habbaba al-Walibiyya?” We replied: “May we be your sacrifice, it has left an impression on our eyes and our hearts.” Then her tears flowed. Al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, asked: “Why is it I see your tears streaming?”

She replied: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, one of the evil diseases that would afflict the Prophets and the friends has afflicted me. My relatives and the people of my family say: ‘The “evil disease” has afflicted her, and if her master is as she says, it is incumbent that he pray for her, so Allah, the Exalted, will remove it from her.’ By Allah, I was pleased with that and knew it was a purification and an expiation, and that it is the illness of the righteous.” Al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, said to her: “Is your affliction chronic?” She replied: “Yes, O son of the Messenger of Allah.”

He [Dawud al-Raqqi] said: Al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, moved his lips with some prayer I did not know and said: "Go into the womens' quarters so that you may look at your body.” He [al-Raqqi] said: She went in and removed her clothing, then rose. Nothing remained on her chest or her body. He [al-Sadiq] said: “Go now to them and tell them: This is the one who, by his Imamate, seeks nearness to Allah, the Exalted.”

From Abu al-Hasan, the first [Musa al-Kazim], “Whoever eats the broth of meat (maraq bi-lahm), Allah, the Exalted, removes from him vitiligo (al-baras) and leprosy.”

The ‘Evil Disease’

Al-Hasan b. al-Khalil narrated from Ahmad b. Zayd from Shadhan b. al-Khalil from Dhari’, who said: A man came to Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, and complained to him that one of his clients was afflicted with the ‘evil disease’. He instructed him to take gypsum (tin al-jir) with rainwater and drink it. He [Dhari’] said: “He did that and was cured.”

From him, peace be upon him, that he said: “There is nothing more beneficial for the ‘evil disease’ than the clay (al-tin) of al-Jarir." 1 said: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, how do you take it?” He said: “Drink it with rainwater and daub it over the affected area, for it is beneficial and has been proven, Allah, the Exalted, willing.”'

Protection from Leprosy

Ibrahim narrated from al-Husayn b. ‘Ali b. Faddal and al-Husayn b. ‘Ali b. Yaqtin from Sa’dan b. Muslim from Ishaq b. ‘Ammar from Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, who said: “Amplitude of the side and [the profusion of] hair in the nose (al-anf) are a protection from leprosy.”

From Salama b. ‘Umar al-Hamdani. who said: I entered Medina and went to Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, and said: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, I brought the people of my house for the Hajj, and I have come to you to seek refuge for them from an illness which has afflicted me - it is the ‘evil disease’.” He [Abu ‘Abd Allah] said: “Stand by the side of [the tomb of] the Messenger of Allah, blessings be on him, and in his sanctuary and protection. Write the sura al-An'am (6) with honey and drink it. It will be removed from you.”

From him, peace be upon him, that he said: “The soil (al-turba) of al-Medina, the city of the Messenger of Allah, blessings of Allah on him and his family, removes leprosy.

On Turnips (Al-Saljam)

Abu Bakr Muhammad b. al-Huraysh narrated from Muhammad b. ‘Isa from ‘Ali b. Musayyib from al-‘Abd al-Salih [Musa al-Kazim], peace be upon him, that he said: “Eat turnips (al-lift), that is al-saljam, for there is not one who has a strain of leprosy ('irq al-min al-judham) but that the eating of turnips (al-saljam) dissolves it.” He [‘Ali b. Musayyib] asked: “Raw or cooked?” He replied: “Both”.

From Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, that he said: “There is no creature who has in him a strain of leprosy but that it is dissolved by [eating] turnips (al-saljam).”

On Ganglia

Muhammad b. Ja’far al-Bursi narrated from Muhammad b. Yahya al-Armani from Muhammad b. Sinan from al-Mufaddal b. ‘Umar al-Ju’fi from Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, from his forefathers from Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, that he said: ‘The Messenger of Allah, blessings on him and his family, said: “Beware of eating ganglia (al-ghadad), for it stirs up leprosy.”’ He said: “The Jews were restored to health because of their avoiding the eating of ganglia.” He said: “When you see those afflicted with leprosy, ask your Lord for good health and do not be unmindful of Him.”

On Looking At the Afflicted

Muhammad b. Sinan al-Sinani from Ja’far b. Muhammad, peace be upon him, from his father, who said: ‘The Messenger of Allah, blessings on him, said: “Do not stare at the afflicted (ahl al-bala’) and those with leprosy, for that grieves them.”’

From Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, from his fathers, who said: ‘The Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, said: “Do not look much at the afflicted and do not visit them. When, you pass by them, quicken the pace so that what has afflicted them may not befall you.”’

Clipping the Moustache and the Hair in the Nose

Ahmad b. Basir narrated from Ziyad b. Marwan al-‘Abdi from Muhammad b. Sinan, from Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, who said: ‘Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, said: “Clipping the moustache (al-sharib) every Friday is a protection against leprosy. Hair in the nose is aiso a protection from it.”’

On Flies

Sahl b. Ahmad narrated from Muhammad b. Aruma from Salih b. Muhammad from ‘Umar b. Shimr from Jabir from Abu Ja’far al-Baqir, peace be upon him, who said: ‘The Messenger of Allah, blessings on him, said: “If a fly (al-dhubab) falls into one of your vessels, let it be immersed in it, for in one of its wings (al-janah) is a healing and in the other a poison. It dips its poisonous wing into the liquid and does not dip the wing in which is healing. Therefore immerse it, so that it may not harm you.”’

He [al-Baqir] said: “Were it not for flies which fall into people’s food from whence they know not, leprosy would have spread rapidly among them.”

From Muhammad b. ‘Ali al-Baqir, peace be upon him, who said: “Were it not that people eat flies from whence they know not, they would be afflicted with leprosy”, or he said: “they would all be afflicted with leprosy.”

On The The Common Cold

‘Ali b. al-Khalil narrated from ‘Abd al-Aziz b. al-Hassan from Hammad b. ‘Isa from Hariz b. ‘Abd Allah al-Sijistani from Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, who said to his children's teacher: “If any of my children are affected with a cold, inform me.” The teacher would inform him, but he said nothing in response. So the teacher said: “You instructed me to inform you of this. I have informed you, but you did not answer me with anything.” He replied: “It [the cold] is not from anything but a strain of leprosy in him. When it stirs up, Allah repels it with a cold.”

On Eating Francolin

Marwan b. Muhammad narrated from ‘Ali b. al-Nu’man from ‘Ali b. al-Hasan b Musa, peace be upon him, from his forefathers from Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, who said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah, blessings on him, say: “Whoever wishes to lessen his anger, let him eat francolin (al-durraj).”’

From him, blessings on him and his family, he said: “Whoever complains of his heart and has many sorrows, let him eat francolin.”

An Invocation For Mental Disorder

‘Uthman b. Sa’id al-Qattan narrated from Sa'dan b. Muslim related from Muhammad b. Ibrahim, who said: A man came to Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, and a mental disorder had afflicted him. Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, said: ‘Recite this prayer when you go to bed: “In the Name of Allah, and by Allah. I believe in Allah, and disbelieve in the idols. O Allah, protect me in my sleep and my wakening. I take refuge in the Might of Allah and His Magnificence from that which I suffer and fear.”’

The man said: “I did it and was cured, by the will of Allah, the Exalted.”

From him, peace be upon him, that he said: “Whoever is afflicted with a mental disorder, let him seek protection on Thursday night with this healing, beneficial invocation.” Then he mentioned the like of the previous hadith and said: “It will not recur. Recite that at dawn after seeking forgiveness from Allah, and after completing the night prayer.”

For Panic

Ja’far b. Hannan at-Ta’i narrated from Muhammad b. ‘Abd Allah b. Mas’ud from Muhammad b. Muskan al-Halabi, who said: Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, said to one of his followers when the man had asked him: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, I have a daughter, and I am sorry and anxious for her since she is in a panic night and day. If you think it proper, pray to Allah for her well-being.” He [al-Halabi] said: He prayed for her, then said: “Instruct her to open a blood vessel (al-fasd), for she will benefit by that.”

From Abu Ja'far Muhammad al-Baqir, peace be upon him, that a believer complained to him and said: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, 1 have a bondmaid who is afflicted by winds.” He replied: “Seek protection for her in the opening of the Book (the sura al-Fatiha (1)) and the two suras of taking refuge (al-Falaq (113) and al-Nas (114)) ten times. Then write it for her in a vessel in musk and saffron and give her to drink of it. Use it for her drinking, her ablution, and her washing, Do that for three days and Allah will remove it from her.”

For Excessively Heated Blood

‘Ali b. Muhammad b. Hilal narrated from ‘Ali b. Mihran from Hammad b. ‘Isa from Hariz b. ‘Abd Allah from Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, who said: ‘Most of these abscesses (al-damamil) and sores (al-quruh) are from this excessively heated blood (al-dam al-muhtariq) which a person does not take out at its time. Whoever is overcome by something of that, let him say when he goes to bed: “I take refuge in the Face of Allah, the Mighty, and Bis Perfect Words, which neither the righteous nor the ungodly pass by, from the evil of everything possessed of evil.” When he has said that, none of the jinn will harm him and he will be restored to health by it, Allah, the Exalted, willing.

‘Finally, write on a paper and make the person suffering from abscesses swallow it:

لا الآء الا آلاؤك يا الله

علمك به محيط علمك

به كهلسون

On Warts

Sa'dawayh b. ‘Abd Allah narrated from ‘Ali b. al-Nu'man from Abu al-Hasan Al-Ridha’, peace be upon him, from [one of his] forefathers, that he [al-Nu’man] said: I said to him [Al-Ridha’]: “May I be your sacrifice, I have a much-wanted son who is not able to mix with people because of the numerous warts he has. I ask you, O son of the Messenger of Allah, to teach me something that will benefit him.” He replied: “For each wart, take seven barleycorns (sha'irat) and recite over each one seven times:

When the Terror descends… until the verse: and become a dust scattered (56:1-6). They will question thee concerning the mountains. Say: My Lord will scatter them as ashes. Then He will leave them a level hollow wherein thou wilt see no crookedness neither any curving (20:105-7).

“Then take a barleycorn and rub the centre of the wart with it. Tie it in a new piece of cloth and fasten a stone on to it and throw it into a toilet (kanif).” He ['Ali b. al-Nu'man] said: I did that and looked at him. By Allah, on the seventh and eighth day he was like the palm of my hand and more clear!

'Some of them say that it should be treated at the time of the muhaq of the month [from the 28th to the 30th of the month] , that is, when the moon is hidden and cannot be seen. It is the most effective and beneficial time for treatment.’

On The Cyst

Muhammad b. ‘Amir narrated from Muhammad b. ‘Alim al-Thaqafi from ‘Ammar b. ‘Isa al-Kilabi from ‘Abd Allah b. Sinan on the authority of Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, that he [Ibn Sinan] said: A man from the Shi’a complained to him [Abu ‘Abd Allah] of a cyst (sil’a) that had appeared on him. Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, told him: ‘Fast for three days, then bathe on the fourth day at noon and go out into the open plain to your Lord. Take with you a clean, patched, and ragged garment. Read four rak'as of prayer and recite in it whatever is easy of the Qur'an, and be submissive in your endeavour. When you finish your prayer, cast off your clothes and put on the ragged garment, and put your right cheek on the earth.

‘Then say in supplication, humbly, and submissively: “O Single, O One, O Noble, O Compassionate, O Omnipotent, O Near, O Responder, O Most Merciful of the merciful, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and rcmove what is in me of illness, and clothe me with well-being, sufficient and healing, in this world and the next. Bestow on me all the blessings and remove what is in me for it has troubled and distressed me.”

Then Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, said to him: ‘Know that it will not benefit you until there is no conflict against it in your heart, and you know that it will benefit you.’ He [Ibn Sinan] said: The man did as Ja'far al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, instructed him, and he was cured of it.

For A Swelling in the Body

Muhammad b. Ishaq al-Walid narrated from his cousin Ahmad b. Ibrahim b. al-Walid from ‘Ali b, Asbat from al-Hakam b. Sulayman from Maysar from Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, who said: “This verse is for every swelling m the body for which a man is afraid to resort to anything [else]. When you recite it, do so when you are in a state of purity. When you have performed the ablution for the obligatory prayer, seek protection with it [the verse] from your swelling before the prayer and meditate on it. The verse is:

If We had sent down this Qur an upon a mountain, thou wouidst have seen it humbled, split asunder out of the fear of God . until the end of the sura (59:21-4).

If you do that according to what has been mentioned to you, the swelling will subside.”

For Panic during Sleep

Abu ‘Ubayda b. Muhammad b. ‘Ubayd narrated from Abu Muhammad b. ‘Ubayd from al-Nadr b. Suwayd from Maysar from Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace he upon him, that a man said to him: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, I have a bondmaid who is often in a panic during sleep. Sometimes the condition becomes more severe so that she does not calm down. An amulet (al-hirz) has been fastened to her arm and someone has seen her to cure her and said that she has been touched by the jinn and it is not possible to treat her.” He [al-Sadiq] said: “Instruct her to open a blood vessel and give her dill (al-shabath) water cooked with honey to drink for three days. Allah, the Exalted, will restore her to health.” He [the man] said: I did that and she was cured, by the will of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.

For Winds

Muhammad b. Bukayr narrated from Safwan b. Yahya from al-Mundhir b. Haman from Muhammad b. Muslim and Sa’d al-Mawla, who both said: Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, said: “All these winds are from the predominant bile (al-mirra al-ghaliba) or excessively heated blood or predominant phlegm. So a person should take care of himself before any of these natural constituents overcome and destroy him.”'

On Treatment For Someone Afflicted With Falling Sickness

From Abu al-Hasan Al-Ridha’, peace be upon him, that he saw someone afflicted with falling sickness and called for a tumbler of water for him. Then he recited the sura al-Hamd (1) and the two suras of taking refuge (al-Falaq (113) and al-Nas (114)) over it and ordered the water to he poured over his head and face. The man rose and he [Al-Ridha’] said to him: “It will never recur again.”

On Pigeons

‘Ali b. Sa’id narrated from Muhammad b Karama, who said: I saw a pair of pigeons (hamam) in the house of Musa b. Ja’far, peace be upon him. The male was green, with something of brown on it, and the female was black. I saw him [Musa b. Ja’far] crumbling up bread for them while he was at the table, saying: “They move about at night and keep me company. There is not a single tremor they are shaken with at night but that Allah repels by it the spirits that have entered the house.”

Killing Pigeons

‘Ali b. Sa’id narrated from Muhammad b. Karama from Abu Hamza al-Thumali, who said: My grandson had pigeons and I slaughtered them in anger. Then I went to Mecca and called on Abu Ja’far al-Baqir, peace be upon him, before sunrise. When the sun rose, I saw many pigeons in the house. I asked him [al-Baqir] questions and wrote down his answers to me.

My heart was preoccupied with what I had done in Kufa and my slaughtering the pigeons meaninglessly. I said to myself: Had there been no good in pigeons, he would not have kept them. Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, said to me: “What is the matter with you, O Abu Hamza?” I said: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, I am well.” He said: “Your heart is elsewhere.” I said: “Yes, by Allah”, and narrated the story to him, mentioning that I had slaughtered them, and that now I was surprised at the number of pigeons that he had. Al-Baqir, peace be upon him, said: “Evil is what you have done, O Abu Hamza. Did you not know that when the jinn play with our children, the harm is driven away from them by the fluttering of the pigeons, and that they perform the call to prayer at the end of the night? So give alms of a dinar for each one of them, for you have killed them in anger.”

An Invocation For One Struck By The Jinn

Al-Muzaffar b. Muhammad b. ‘Abd al-Rahman narrated from ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Abu Najran from Sulayman b. Ja’far from Ibrahim b. Abu Yahya al-Madani who said: The Messenger of Allah, blessings on him, said: ‘Whoever is struck by a stone or by the jinn, let him take the stone which was thrown and return it to the place from which it came and say: “Sufficient for me is Allah and a protection. Allah hears the one who calls. There is no end before Allah.”’

He, blessings of Allah on him and his family, said: “Keep many domestic animals (al-dawajin) in your houses so that the demons are occupied with them instead of with your children.”

Looking At The Afflicted

‘Abid b. ‘Awn b. ‘Abd Allah al-Madani narrated from Safwan b. Yahya Bayya' al-Sabiri from Muhammad b. Ibrahim from Hannan b. Ibrahim from Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, who said: ‘When you see the afflicted, say “Praise be to Allah who has protected me from that which afflicts you, and had He willed to do so, He would have done it. Praise be to Allah Who did not do so.”’

From al-Baqir, peace be upon him, that he said: ‘When you see the afflicted say: “Praise be to Allah who has protected me from that which afflicts you, and has favoured me by far over you and over many of those He created." '

For The Insane and Those Afflicted With the Falling Sickness

Muhammad b. Ja’far b. Mihran narrated from Ahmad b. Hammad from Abu Jafar al-Baqir, peace be upon him, that he had prescribed cyclamen (bukhur maryam) for his bondmaid and said that it was beneficial for everything caused by the spirits such as possession (al-mass), mental disorder, madness, the falling sickness, ensnarement, etc. It is beneficial and has been proved, by the will of Allah, the Exalted.

He said: “Take storax or sanadarch (sandarus) and saliva (bazaq) from the mouth, Sandari false bdellium (kur sandari), the bark of the colocynth (qushur al-hanzal), marmari, white sulphur (kibrit abyad), a fragment inside the muql and Yamani sweet cyperus (su'd Yamani). Break into it three drops of myrrh and ‘porcupine hair’ (sha'r qanfadh) mixed with Syrian liquid pitch (qitran shami). Put it all together and create vapours (bukhur). It is good and beneficial, Allah the Exalted willing.”

An Invocation for Spells

Muhammad b. Ja’far al-Bursi narrated from Ahmad b. Yahya al-Armani from Muhammad b. Sayyar from Muhammad b. al-Fadl b. ‘Umar from Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, who said: ‘Amir al-Mu’minin, blessings of Allah on him, said that Jibra’il peace be upon him, came to the Prophet, blessings be on him, and said: “O Muhammad.” He replied: “At your service, O Jibra’il.” He said: “Such-and-such a Jew has bewitched you and put a spell in the well of Banu so-and-so. Therefore, send to it the most trustworthy of people in your opinion and the most important of them before you and the equal of you, so that he may bring you the spell.”’ He [Abu ‘Abd Allah] said: ‘The Prophet, blessings be on him, sent ‘Ali b. Abu Talib, peace be upon him, and said: “Go to the well of Dharwan, for in it is a spell with which the Jew Labid b. A’sam has bewitched me, and bring it to me.”

‘Ali peace be upon him, said; “I set out at the request of the Messenger of Allah. I descended into it and there was the spring water as if it were water in a cistern because of the spell. I searched for it hurriedly until I came to the bottom of the well but 1 did not obtain it. Those who were with me said: ‘There is nothing in it.’ So I went up. But then I said: ‘No, by Allah, he did not lie and nor do I, and I am not with him as you are,’ meaning the Messenger of Allah. I searched for it again carefully, and brought it out, in truth.

“I went to the Prophet, and he said: ‘Open it.’ I opened it and there was, in truth, a piece of a palm branch inside it on which was tied twenty-one knots. Jibra'il had brought down that day to the Prophet the two suras of taking refuge (al-Falaq (113) and al-Nas (114)). The Prophet said: “O ‘Ali, then recite over the string.” Whenever Amir al-Mu’minin recited it, a knot opened, until he finished with all of them and Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, removed the spell from His Prophet and restored him to health.’

It is related that Jibra’il and Mika’il, peace be upon them, came to the Prophet, blessings of Allah on him and his family. One of them sat on his right and the other on his left. Then Jibra’il said to Mika'il: “What ails the man?” Mika’il replied: “He has been treated.” Jibra’il, peace be upon him, asked: “Who has treated him?” He [Mika’il] replied: “Labid b. A’sam, the Jew.” Then he related the hadith until the end.