Journal of - International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

A Review of Some Drugs Mentioned in the Texts of Islamic
Scriptures (Holy Quran and Ahadith)
Ashfaq AHMAD, Ala NARAYANA
tin, calcium, potasium, iron, iodine, phosphorus, vitamin
B and C.
Text:
It contains chiratine, rofalic acid, bitter substances, and
carbonates.
Zareera هرير ذ is also said to be Acorus calamus which
is used for cosmetic purpose on skin also.
Texts: Ummul momineen Ayesha هللا يضر)‏ ‏(اهنع narrated
‏,ةرير ذب ى ديب ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص هللا لوسر تبيط‘‏
‏‹همارحا و هلح ىف عاد ولاةجح ىف
‘I applied Zareera as a perfume to the Prophet during
his last pilgrimage at the time of putting on Ehram and out
of it’ (Bukhari, Muslim).
بهذ 40. Zahab
Gold, Aurum
A soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent)
metallic element; occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks and alluvial
deposits; does not react with most chemicals but is
attacked by chlorine and aqua regia. Gold is the ornament
of life, the talisman of the existence, the cheering of soul
and Almighty’s secret on earth.
Action: هسيءر ءاضعا ىوقم ‏,ىزيرغ ترارح كرحم (Muqawwi
Aaza- Raisa and Moharrik Hararat Ghareezia). Ibn Sina
mentioned that it is included in the drugs used for Daul
Hayya and Daul Thalab (Alopecia), eye diseases, heart and
palpitaion. 7 A lot of research has shown that gold has an
adaptogenic and nootropic activity.
Nature: Lateef Motadil. 7
Unani formulation: Mauz-Zahab.
Text: is mentioned more than once in Holy Quran.
ٱٱٍباَوٱكَأَو ٱٍبَهَذ نِّم ٱٍفاَحِصِب مِٱٱيَلَع ‏ُفاَطُي
ٱُنُيٱعَأٱلٱ ‏ُّذَلَتَو ‏ُسُفنَأٱلٱ ‏ِهيِهَتٱشَت اَم اَهيِفَو
(Al-Quran, 43:71)
Trays of gold and cups will be passed round them,
(there will be) therein all that the inner-selves could desire,
and all that the eyes could delight in,
‏ِءآَسِّنلٱ ‏َنِم ‏ِتٱَوَهَّشلٱ ‏ُّبُح ‏ِساَّنلِل ‏َنِّيُز
‏َنِم ‏ِةَرَطنَقُمٱلٱ ‏ِريِطٱَنَقٱلٱَو ‏َنيِنَبٱلٱَو
‏ِةَمَّوَسُمٱلٱ ‏ِلٱيَخٱلٱَو ‏ِةَّضِفٱلٱَو ‏ِبَهَّذلٱ
ٱِثٱرَحٱلٱَو ‏ِمٱَعٱنَأٱلٱَو
(١٤٦) ٱٍنيِطٱقَي نِّم ٱًةَرَجَش ‏ِهٱيَلَع اَنٱتَبٱنَأَو
‘And we caused to grow over him a tree of Yaqteen’ (Al-
Quran, 37:146).
Prophet Younus (PBUH) was blessed with tree of Yaqteen,
which is known to give cooling shade and to be a repellent
of flies.
ليِبَجنَز 38. Zanjabeel
Ginger, Zingiber officinalis
Zanjabeel is cultivated in many parts of India and is described
by Dioscorides. 7
Nature: Hot and Dry. 7
Actions: It is aromatic, carminative, digestive, rubefacient,
aphrodisiac, expectorant and stimulant to G.I.T. It has a lot
of benefit, used in neuralgic pain and productive cough. We
Indians are fortunate that purely Indian origin plant has
found a place in Holy Quran.
It is the classic medicine for dealing with many digestive
disorders. Ginger promotes Haraarate Gharazi (digestive
and metabolic fire), thus promoting digestive heat burning
toxins and removing and lowering cholesterol deposits.
Ginger is a pungent herb par excellence; we may call ginger
as being stimulating carminative for digestion.
It contains volatile oil, resin, starch and gingerin.
Unani formulation: Jawarish Zanjabeel.
Text:
‏َنٱوَقٱسُيَو
اَٱيِف اٱًسٱأَك ‏َناَك اَهُجاَزِم (١٧) ‏ًاليِبَجنَز
‘They will be given to drink a cup which flavor is of Zanjabeel’.
(Al-Quran, 76:17)
هرير ذ .39 Zareera
Charaeta (Swertia chirata)
Nature: hot and dry.
Action and uses: It is bitter, blood purifier, anti-pyretic,
diaphoretic, tonic to stomach and liver, appetizer, carminative,
anthalmintic. Its decoction is useful in skin disease,
scabies, flatulence, loss of appetite, dyspepsia, diarrhea, and
fever. Zareera is useful for swelling of stomach, intestine
and liver and ascitis. 7
‘Beautified for the people the lust of which they desire
from women and sons, heaped up sums of gold and silver,
fine branded horses and cattle, and tilted land’ (Al-Quran,
3:14).
موقز 41. Zaqqum
Euphorbia resinifera 4
It acts as strong purgative, of bile and phlegm, causes
abortion in women. It is poisonous plant.
ISHIM 2011-2012
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