--- title: "Health and Medicine in Islam | Islam Is Mercy" description: "Islam treats the body as a trust: eat in moderation, seek treatment, avoid harm, keep quarantine in plague, and never lose hope in God's mercy." lang: en url: https://islamismercy.com/en/islam-guides-everything/health-and-medicine/ --- 1. [Home](https://islamismercy.com/en/) 2. [Islam Guides Everything](https://islamismercy.com/en/islam-guides-everything/) 3. Health and Medicine in Islam # Health and Medicine in Islam Written by **Islam Is Mercy Editorial Team**· 4 min readAwaiting scholar review ## The short answer In Islam, life and health are a trust from God, not something a person owns outright. Muslims are told to eat and drink without excess, to avoid whatever harms the body or mind, to seek medical treatment, to stay put in a plague, and never to despair of God's mercy. Caring for the body is not a distraction from faith; it is part of it. ## On this page 1. The body is a trust 2. Moderation in food and drink 3. Seeking treatment 4. Quarantine and the rule of no harm 5. Mind, heart and hope 6. Common misunderstandings Islam does not divide a person into a soul that belongs to religion and a body that belongs to the doctor. The same guidance that teaches a Muslim to pray also teaches them how to eat, how to deal with illness, what to do in an epidemic and how to look after their mind. Classical scholars counted the protection of **life** and of the **intellect** among the essential aims of the [Sharia](https://islamismercy.com/en/glossary/sharia/), alongside religion, family and property. ## The body is a trust A Muslim does not believe “my body, my property, I can do what I like with it”. Life is given by God and will be accounted for. The [Qur’an](https://islamismercy.com/en/glossary/quran/) forbids destroying oneself: > يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِٱلْبَٰطِلِ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ تِجَٰرَةً عَن تَرَاضٍۢ مِّنكُمْ ۚ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًۭا ﴿٢٩﴾ > O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only \[in lawful\] business by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves \[or one another\]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful. [Qur'an, An-Nisaa 4:29](https://quran.com/4?startingVerse=29&translations=20)Saheeh International And it ties this to everyday choices — spending, risk-taking and doing good: > وَأَنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا۟ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى ٱلتَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوٓا۟ ۛ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٩٥﴾ > And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw \[yourselves\] with your \[own\] hands into destruction \[by refraining\]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good. [Qur'an, Al-Baqara 2:195](https://quran.com/2?startingVerse=195&translations=20)Saheeh International This is why Islam forbids intoxicants and drugs that cloud the mind (Qur’an 5:90), self-harm and suicide. It is also why the Prophet ﷺ stopped a companion who was fasting every day and praying all night, telling him that his body had a right over him, his eyes had a right over him and his wife had a right over him (Bukhari 5199). Even worship bends for health: the sick may postpone fasting (Qur’an 2:184–185), pray sitting or lying down, and use dry ablution when water would harm them (Qur’an 5:6). Read more in [Islam on alcohol and drugs](https://islamismercy.com/en/views/alcohol-and-drugs/). ## Moderation in food and drink Overeating is not only a medical problem in Islam; it is a moral one. The Qur’an gives a short rule that doctors have quoted for centuries: > ۞ يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍۢ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ ﴿٣١﴾ > O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess. [Qur'an, Al-A'raaf 7:31](https://quran.com/7?startingVerse=31&translations=20)Saheeh International The Prophet ﷺ explained what moderation looks like at the table: > Miqdam bin Ma'dikarib said:"I heard the Messenger of Allah (S.a.w) saying: 'The human does not fill any container that is worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat what will support his back. If this is not possible, then a third for food, a third for drink, and third for his breath [Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2380](https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/36#:~:text=heard%20the%20Messenger%20of%20Allah)Grade: Sahih — Al-Albani Food should also be lawful and wholesome (Qur’an 2:168) — which is why Muslims avoid pork, blood and alcohol, and why the regular fasting of [Ramadan](https://islamismercy.com/en/glossary/ramadan/) and of voluntary days is part of the rhythm of a Muslim’s life. See [What makes food halal?](https://islamismercy.com/en/views/halal-food/) ## Seeking treatment Some people imagine that a believer should simply pray and wait. The Prophet ﷺ taught the opposite: > Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "There is no disease that Allah has created, except that He also has created its treatment [Sahih al-Bukhari 5678](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/76#:~:text=is%20no%20disease%20that%20Allah)Grade: Sahih (in Sahih al-Bukhari) When desert Arabs asked him whether they should use medicine, he told them to seek treatment, because God has not created a disease without a remedy, except old age (Abu Dawud 3855). Taking medicine is not a lack of trust in God; it is using the means God created, while knowing that the cure itself comes from Him. The Qur’an praises honey as a source of healing (Qur’an 16:69), but Islam never limited medicine to a list of remedies. Classical scholars differed over whether seeking treatment is merely permitted or recommended; many scholars today say it becomes obligatory when an illness threatens life, or threatens others, and an effective treatment exists. Forbidden substances are not used as medicine except in genuine necessity, under the general rule that necessity lifts a prohibition (Qur’an 2:173). It is well known that medicine flourished in Muslim civilisation: physicians such as Ibn Sina wrote works that were studied in Europe for centuries, and endowed hospitals treated patients in many cities. ## Quarantine and the rule of no harm Long before the word “quarantine” existed, the Prophet ﷺ gave this instruction for epidemics: > Narrated Saud: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place [Sahih al-Bukhari 5728](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/76#:~:text=you%20hear%20of%20an%20outbreak)Grade: Sahih (in Sahih al-Bukhari) The caliph Umar acted on it. When he was travelling to Syria and heard that plague had broken out there, he consulted the senior companions and turned back with his army (Bukhari 5729). Behind this lies one of the great legal maxims of Islam, taken from a short ruling of the Prophet ﷺ: > It was narrated from 'Ubadah bin Samit that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ruled:“There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.” [Sunan Ibn Majah 2340](https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah/13#:~:text=bin%20Samit%20that%20the%20Messenger)Grade: Sahih — Al-Albani A person may not harm himself or others, and may not answer harm with more harm. Scholars apply this to spreading infection knowingly, selling unsafe food, polluting water and, according to many contemporary scholars, to smoking. Cleanliness serves the same purpose; see [Cleanliness and hygiene in Islam](https://islamismercy.com/en/islam-guides-everything/cleanliness-and-hygiene/). ## Mind, heart and hope Islam treats the inner life as seriously as the body. Sadness itself is not a sin: the Prophet ﷺ wept when his young son Ibrahim was dying and called his tears mercy (Bukhari 1303). He also taught that every illness, worry and hurt a believer suffers wipes away some of their sins (Bukhari 5641), so suffering is never wasted. What Islam forbids is despair of God, and it points the heart towards peace: > ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ﴿٢٨﴾ > Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured." [Qur'an, Ar-Ra'd 13:28](https://quran.com/13?startingVerse=28&translations=20)Saheeh International > فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٥﴾ إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًۭا ﴿٦﴾ > 5For indeed, with hardship \[will be\] ease. 6Indeed, with hardship \[will be\] ease. [Qur'an, Ash-Sharh 94:5-6](https://quran.com/94?startingVerse=5&translations=20)Saheeh International Seeking help from a counsellor or doctor for depression or anxiety is part of seeking treatment, not a sign of weak faith. Read more in [Mental health and hope in Islam](https://islamismercy.com/en/views/mental-health-and-hope/). ## Common misunderstandings - **“Faith replaces medicine.”** No. The Prophet ﷺ commanded treatment; prayer and medicine go together. - **“Islamic medicine means only honey, black seed and cupping.”** These remedies are reported in authentic texts and many Muslims use them. Some scholars, such as Ibn Khaldun, held that many remedies of that era reflected the medical customs of the time rather than revelation; others give them more weight. All agree that effective modern treatment is lawful. - **“Illness is always a punishment.”** No. It can be a test, a cleansing and a reason for reward. Caring for one’s health, then, is worship: an act of gratitude for a trust that will one day be returned. ## Key takeaways - Life, body and mind are a trust from God; harming them, including through intoxicants or self-harm, is forbidden. - Moderation in food and drink is a Qur'anic command, not just a health tip. - The Prophet ﷺ taught that God sent a cure for every disease and told people to seek treatment. - Quarantine in plague and the rule of no harm and no reciprocating harm protect the whole community. - Sadness is human, but despair is not: hope and seeking help are part of faith. ## Share this article [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=Health%20and%20Medicine%20in%20Islam%20https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fislam-guides-everything%2Fhealth-and-medicine%2F)[Telegram](https://t.me/share/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fislam-guides-everything%2Fhealth-and-medicine%2F&text=Health%20and%20Medicine%20in%20Islam)[X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Health%20and%20Medicine%20in%20Islam&url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fislam-guides-everything%2Fhealth-and-medicine%2F)[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fislam-guides-everything%2Fhealth-and-medicine%2F) ## Sources - [Qur'an, An-Nisaa 4:29](https://quran.com/4?startingVerse=29&translations=20) - [Qur'an, Al-Baqara 2:195](https://quran.com/2?startingVerse=195&translations=20) - [Qur'an, Al-A'raaf 7:31](https://quran.com/7?startingVerse=31&translations=20) - [Qur'an, Ar-Ra'd 13:28](https://quran.com/13?startingVerse=28&translations=20) - [Qur'an, Ash-Sharh 94:5-6](https://quran.com/94?startingVerse=5&translations=20) - [Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2380](https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/36#:~:text=heard%20the%20Messenger%20of%20Allah) - [Sahih al-Bukhari 5678](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/76#:~:text=is%20no%20disease%20that%20Allah) - [Sahih al-Bukhari 5728](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/76#:~:text=you%20hear%20of%20an%20outbreak) - [Sunan Ibn Majah 2340](https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah/13#:~:text=bin%20Samit%20that%20the%20Messenger) ## Talk to a Muslim Have a question that isn't answered here? Ask a real person — no pressure, no judgement. [Ask your question](https://islamismercy.com/en/talk/) ## Keep reading [Islam's View On… ### What Does Islam Say About Mental Health and Hope? Islam acknowledges sadness and grief — even the Prophet ﷺ wept — encourages seeking treatment, and offers deep sources of hope and comfort. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/views/mental-health-and-hope/)[Islam's View On… ### Why Does Islam Forbid Alcohol and Drugs? The Qur'an forbade alcohol in gradual stages, and the Prophet ﷺ taught that every intoxicant is forbidden — to protect the mind, the family and society. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/views/alcohol-and-drugs/)[Islam's View On… ### What Is Halal Food and Why Do Muslims Eat It? Halal food is food God has made lawful. Most food is halal; Islam forbids only a few things, like pork, blood and alcohol, and asks for mercy in slaughter. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/views/halal-food/)[Islam Guides Everything ### Cleanliness and Hygiene in Islam Purity is half of faith: wudu and ghusl, a clean body, clothes and home, the fitrah habits, the toothstick, washed hands, clean water and clean streets. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/islam-guides-everything/cleanliness-and-hygiene/)