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JAFARALDEQv.Andherbalmedicine

JAFARALDEQ

v.HerbalMedicine

ImamJafaraldeqsworkonmedicine(ebbalEmmaldeq)belongstoagenreoftraditionalherbal
medicineattributedtotheShiiteimamsandknownastheMedicineoftheimams(ebbalaemma),whose
salientfigureisImamJafaraldeq.Imamdeqsnarrateddictums(Hadith)arecentraltoShiitemedical
literatureasitenhanced,inthecourseoftime,thespiritualimageoftheimaminpopularreligion.ImamJafar,
indeed,wasnottheonlyimamwhocontributedtoShiitetraditionalmedicalwisdom,butthevarietyofhis
ethicalinstructionsontheprioritiesoffoodsanddrinkshassignificantlyextendedthechapterofeatingand
drinking(bbalaemawalareba)inShiitejurisprudence(seeFEQHqBozorgehrni,XV,pp.139
40).BeforejuridicalrearrangementsofImamitraditionsbyShiiteauthorsofthe4th/10thcentury(particularly
byAbuJafarKolayni,d.329/940andEbnBbuya,d.381/991,q.v.),ImamJafarsmedicalinstructionswere
compiledbysomeofhiscompanionsundertherubricofebbalaemma(qBozorgehrni,XV,pp.13942
EbnBesm,tr.,p.xv).Asimilarrubricketbalebb(thebookofmedicine)appearsintheearliestcollectionof
HadithoftheProphetMoammadbyMoammadBori(d.256/870Bori,IV,pp.823),whosecontents,
too,wererearrangedandrenamedwithdifferentdesignationsinSunnitejurisprudence.

AnothermainreshufflingofShiitemedicaltraditionsoccurredinthelateSafavidperiodbytworenowned
authors,Moammadorrmeli(d.1104/1693,q.v.),andMoammadBqerMajlesi(d.1111/1699),who
refashionedtheimamstraditionsnotonlywithmorepopularflavor,butalsowithreligioussanctions.The
juridicalinstructionsoftheimamappearwithmedicalsanctionsinthelanguageofMajlesi.Basedontheabove
mentionedsources,ImamJafaraldeqsmedicalstatementswererecollectedinthemodernperiod(seeq
Bozorgehrni,XV,p.141).Themostrecentlypublishedcollection,compiledbyMosenAqil,endeavorsto
supporttheimamsinstructionswithtodaysscientificmedicalevidence.

FollowingasummaryofImamJafaraldeqstraditionalherbalmedicineaccordingtoMosenAqils
arrangement,thisarticlewilldealwithintellectualreactionstothetraditionalherbalmedicineandcommentsby
variousobserversandscholars.

IMAMALDEQSPOPULARMEDICINE

ImamJafaraldeqsmedicaltraditionsareconcernedwiththreespheres:avarietyofbeneficialandharmful
fooditemsanddrinkssomecommonlyknowndiseasesandtheirremediescorroborationofsometraditional
methodsoftreatingillness.

Usefulandharmfulfoodsanddrinks.BeneficialfruitsreportedlymentionedbyImamaldeqincludeapple
(10Hadiths),dates(7Hadiths),quince(6Hadiths),pomegranate(5Hadiths),citrusfruits(4Hadiths),pear,
walnut,andraisins(3Hadithseach),grape,melon,andolive(2HadithseachAqil,pp.779,quotingMajlesi,
LXIII,pp.13374,18182,188,196,198orrmeli,XXV,pp.124,151,156,164,16768,17071,174,177
Nuri,XVI,pp.39798,4002,4056).

Vegetables,legumes,andgrainswithhealthbenefitsreportedlyrecommendedbyImamaldeqincludebarley,
lentil,andrice(16Hadiths),rice(13Hadiths),wildchicory(5Hadiths),eggplant(5Hadiths),blackcuminand
chard(4Hadithseach),onion(3Hadiths),radish,harmalpeganum,marshmallow,turnip,beans,andpumpkin(2
Hadithseach),carrot,lettuce,leek,garlic,andfrankincense(1HaditheachAqil,pp.80161,18789,quoting
Majlesi,LIX,pp.220234,LXIII,pp.208,215,221,22728,237,239,24849,28081,444,LXXIII,p.86

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orrmeli,XXV,pp.1418,21,12931,189,19596,199200,2056,212Nuri,XVI,pp.337,339,41617,
423,42830).

ImamJafaraldeqisalsocreditedwithnaminganumberofjuicesandbeveragesasbeingbeneficialtoones
goodhealth.Theyincludewater(12Hadiths),milk,andvinegar(7Hadithseach),honey(3Hadiths),androse
waterHadithsAqil,pp.16263,21359,29146067,quotingNuriXVI,pp.36364,369orrmeliXXV,
pp.8892,112,,115,3023Majlesi,LIX,pp.14547,22129,236,LXIII,pp.95,101,3023Kolayni,VI,pp.
33639).

Beneficialkindsofmeatandotheranimalproducts,reportedlyremarkedbyImamaldeq,includegeneral
references(13Hadiths),fish(7Hadiths),egg(4HadithsseeAqil,pp.268,278,44647,quotingMajlesi,LXII,
pp.190,2078,212,215,LXIII,pp.4647orrmeli,XXV,pp.3941,4445,77).Harmfuldrinksandfoods
whichcannotbeusedevenformedicaltreatmentincludealcoholicbeverages,specificallywine(13Hadith),
blood,pork,anddeadmeat(1HaditheachseeAqil,pp.410,594,quotingMajlesi,LIX,p.89).

Commonlyknowndiseasesandtheirremedies.Incasesofcertainpaininthewaist,honeyandcuminare
advised(3HadithsAqil,p.325,quotingMajlesi,LIX,p.170).Incasesofcertainstomachpains,honey,cumin,
rice,andsumacareadvised(4HadithsAqil,p.327,quotingMajlesi,LIX,p.177).Fortreatingcertain
hemorrhoids,itisadvisedtoeatrice,leek,especiallywhiteleek(3HadithsAqil,pp.33738,quotingMajlesi,
LIX,pp.19596).Incaseofheadcold,amongotherthings,violetoilisadvised(3HadithsAqil,p.341,
quotingMajlesi,LIX,pp.18384).Fortreatingtapeworm,freckles,throatpain,cough,chestpain,nightmaresor
anxietyduringsleep,herbalmedicinearemostlyadvised(1HaditheachseeAqil,pp.35461,quotingMajlesi,
LIX,pp.165,182).Fortreatingfever,ingeneral,twentyoneHadithsarequotedinwhichfootbathandeating
fruitssuchasappleand,onoccasion,onionandhoneyareadvised(Aqil,pp.37276,quotingMajlesi,LIX,pp.
9399,1014).Fortheremedyofeyedisease,washing,cleaning,nailcutting,andeatingspecificfoodsare
advised(9HadithsAqil,pp.29192,quotingMajlesi,LIX,pp.14547).

Methodsoftreatingsomeillnesses.ImamJafaraldeqhascorroboratedsometraditionalmethodsoftreating
illnessandhealthproblems.HehassometimessupportedhisinstructionswithGodsblessingandarialaw
treatmentoftheeyeswithkohl(9HadithsAqil,p.390,quotingMajlesi,LXIII,pp.9496)ventotreatment
(ejma)orartofcupping(39HadithsAqil,pp.394402,quotingMajlesi,LIX,pp.10831see
BLOODLETTING)cauterization(kayy)orburningtheskin(1HadithAqil,p.410,quotingMajlesi,LIX,p.
74)cuttingdownonfood(11HadithsAqil,pp.48182,quotingorrmeli,XXIV,pp.23940,24243,247
Nuri,XVI,p.213Majlesi,LXIII,p.232336)takingabath(8HadithsAqil,pp.28182,ascitedbyMajlesi,
LXXIII,pp.7071,7679).

PERSPECTIVESONTHEIMAMSTRADITIONALMEDICINE

OntheauthenticityoftheabovementionedHadiths,qBozorgehrniquotesMajlesisviewthattheimams
traditionsonfoodanddrinksdonotneedstrongdocumentation(alasnidalqawiya)onthepartoftransmitters,
becausetheirignorancedoesnotspoilwhattheyhaveheardandquotedfromtheimam(ehrni,XV,p.140).
ThisargumentisinlinewiththeopinionarticulatedbythepioneeringscholarofearlyShiism,Shaikhalefa
AbuJafarMoammadusi(d.460/1067),whoadoptedweaktraditionsfromignorantorexaggerativenarrators
relyingontheirgeneralknowledgeofthereligion(usi,p.349).AnexampleofaweaktransmitterinImam
JafaraldeqsmedicaltraditionsisMofaalb.OmarJofi(q.v.),who,asacompanionoftheimam,figures
repeatedlyintheimamstraditions,butwhomthefamousbiographeroftheearlyperiodAmadb.AliNaji
(d.450/10589)describedasweak(EbnBesm,tr.,p.xxii,quotingNaji).

UnliketheShiitepositionthatregardstheimamsstatementsasakm(rulings)orpartsofdivinelyinspired
ordinances,Ebnaldun(d.809/1406,q.v.)characterizedtheProphetMoammadsmedicalstatementsas
somethingcustomarilypracticedamongtheArabs.Accordingtohim,themedicinementionedinreligious
traditionisofthe(Bedouin)type.Itisinnowaypartofthedivinerevelation.(Suchmedicalmatters)were
merely(partof)Arabcustomandhappenedtobementionedinconnectionwiththecircumstancesofthe
Prophet,likeotherthingsthatwerecustomaryinhisgeneration.Theywerenotmentionedinordertoimplythat
thatparticularwayofpracticing(medicine)isstipulatedbyreligiouslaw.Moammadwassenttoteachusthe
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religiouslaw.Hewasnotsenttoteachusmedicineoranyotherordinarymatter.Inconnectionwiththestoryof
fecundationofpalms,hesaid:Youknowmoreaboutyourworldlyaffairs(thanI)(Ebnaldun,III,p.150).

EbnaldunsquotationoftheabovetraditionoftheProphetreferstothreeHadithsdocumentedbyAbul
osaynMoslemb.ajjj(d.261/875)saying,Iamahuman,followmewhenIorderyousomething
concerningyourreligion,whenIorderyousomethingoutofmyopinion,[beaware]Iamahuman.Youknow
moreaboutyourworldlyaffairs[thanI])(Moslem,XV,pp.11617).NeitherisImamJafaraldeqsoverall
languagesojuridicalinhismedicalstatementsastheyareinreligiousmatters.TodaysShiites,however,make
useoftheimamsmedicaltraditionsmostlyforinvocation,goodomen,andrecentlytoprovethemiraculous
insightoftheimamthatcanbeascertainedbycontemporaryscientificevidence(Aqil,p.6).

MichaelDolshascharacterizedtheoriginandcontentsoftheimamsmedicaltraditionsasablendofthree
distinctelements,ThefolkmedicineoftheArabianBedouin,theborrowingofGalenicconcepts(see
JLINUSHUMERISM)thathadbecomecommonparlance(suchashumours,temperaments,andqualities),
andtheoveractingprincipleofdivineorsupernaturalcausation(Dols,p.421,ascitedinEbnBesm,editors
Introd.,p.xvi).

Commentingontheebbalaemma,FazlurRahmanobservesthattheShiitesunderplaythenaturalcuresand
emphasizethevalueofsuffering.Suchtendencies,heargues,wereundoubtedlyconnectedwiththepassion
motifandthestressonmartyrdom,ofwhichSunniIslamhaslittletrace(Rahman,1987,pp.3738,ascitedin
EbnBesm,editorsIntrod.,p.xv).InImamJafaraldeqscollectionofmedicaltraditions,however,wedo
notfindanyobvioustraceofsuchvalueinsufferingormartyrdom.

GiventhehighprioritiesoffruitsandvegetablesprescribedbyImamJafaraldeq,onemayconcludethatthe
imamwasessentiallyconcernedwithherbalbasedremediesthencurrentinMesopotamia,wherehetraveledin
thelatterpartofhislife.HeoccasionallycombinedhisfoodanddruginstructionswithinvocationtoGod,or
recitationofpassagesfromtheQurnbut,inhismedicalstipulationshedidnotascertainhisremarksby
attributingthem,evenbyimplication,todivineinspiration,neitherdidheascribethemtoatraditionofthe
ProphetMoammad.Itisnoteworthythatsomeofthehisinstructions,suchasdrinkingthreesipsofhotwater
ofthereservoirofapublicbathwhereinoneenters(Aqil,p.468,quotingMajlesi,LXIII,p.451),arecommon
amongMuslimswherepublicbathsarestillinuse.

Bibliography:

Moammadb.asanorrmeli,Waslalia,30vols.,Beirut,2003.

MosenAqil,ebbalEmmaldeq,Beirut,1998.

Moammadb.EsmilBori,aialBori,pub.withnotesofAbdalHdiSendiasMatnalBuri
makulbeiatalSendi,4vols.in2,Cairo,1981.

MichaelDols,IslamandMedicine,HistoryofScience26,1988,p.421.

EbnBesm,ebbalAemma,tr.BatoolIspahanyasIslamicMedicalWisdom:TheTibbalAimmah,ed.
AndrewJ.Newman,London,1991.

EbnHendu,Meftalebbwamenhjalollb,Beirut,2002.

Ebnaldun,TheMuqaddimah:AnIntroductiontoHistory,tr.FranzRosenthal,2nded.,3vols.,Princeton,
1967.

AbuJafarMoammadKolayni,ForualKfi,8vols.,Beirut,1993.

MoammadBqerMajlesi,Beralanwr,110vols.,Beirut,1983.
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Moslemb.ajjjQoayri,aimoslembearalEmmalNowawi,18vols.,Beirut,1994.

AbulAbbsAmadb.AliNaji,RejlalNaji,ed.MoammadJawdNini,2vols.,Beirut,1988.

MirzosaynNuri,Mostadrakalwaselwamostanbaalmasel,18vols.Beirut,1987.

FazlurRahman,HealthandMedicineintheIslamicTradition:ChangeandIdentity,NewYork,1987.

qBozorgehrni,alariaeltanifalia,25vols.Beirut,1983.

ayalefaAbuJafarMoammadb.asanusi,Oddataloul,2vols.Najaf,1983.

(AhmadKazemiMoussavi)

OriginallyPublished:December15,2008

LastUpdated:April5,2012

Thisarticleisavailableinprint.
Vol.XIV,Fasc.4,pp.264266

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