The Ruling on Bathing in Blood for Medical Treatment
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
My mother was ill and went to many hospitals, but to no avail. Finally, she went to a soothsayer who asked her to bathe in goat blood. My mother actually did what he asked of her, out of ignorance of the Islamic ruling. Do we have to pay an expiation? And what is it? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
It is not permissible to go to soothsayers, astrologers, sorcerers, or other charlatans, nor is it permissible to ask them questions or believe them; rather, that is among the greatest of major sins. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 2230, narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih. And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan al-Bayhaqi 15:741, narrated by the people of the Sunan with a sound chain. And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): , narrated by al-Bazzar with a good chain.
As for bathing in blood, this is a clear abomination and forbidden. It is not permissible to treat oneself with impurities. This is based on what Abu Dawud (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated in his Sunan from Abu al-Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sunan Abi Dawud 3874Da'if (Al-Albani). And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Bulugh al-Maram 10:50, narrated by al-Bayhaqi and authenticated by Ibn Hibban from the hadith of Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her).
It is obligatory for your mother to repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and not to return to what she did. Whoever repents sincerely, Allah accepts his repentance. This is based on the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) : [Surat al-Nur: 31].
Sincere and earnest repentance includes regret for the past sin, ceasing from it and abandoning it, and a sincere resolve not to return to it, out of reverence for Allah and love for Him (Glorified and Exalted is He), desiring His pleasure and fearing His punishment. If the sin involves the right of a created being, then a fourth condition is necessary for the validity of the repentance, which is: returning the right to its owner or obtaining his forgiveness. And Allah is the One to be asked for help.
My mother was ill and went to many hospitals, but to no avail. Finally, she went to a soothsayer who asked her to bathe in goat blood. My mother actually did what he asked of her, out of ignorance of the Islamic ruling. Do we have to pay an expiation? And what is it? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
It is not permissible to go to soothsayers, astrologers, sorcerers, or other charlatans, nor is it permissible to ask them questions or believe them; rather, that is among the greatest of major sins. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
He who visits a diviner ('Arraf) and asks him about anything, his prayers extending to forty nights will not be accepted.
من أتى عرافًا فسأله عن شيء، لم تقبل له صلاة أربعين ليلةWhoever goes to a fortune-teller or a diviner and believes what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)
من أتى كاهنًا أو عرافًا فصدقه بما يقول فقد كفر بما أنزل على محمد ﷺIt is not one of us whoever performs sorcery or has sorcery performed for him, or divines or has divination done for him, or takes an omen or has an omen taken for him. And whoever goes to a soothsayer and believes what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
ليس منا من سحر أو سحر له، أو تكهن أو تكهن له، أو تطير أو تطير له، ومن أتى كاهنا فصدقه بما يقول فقد كفر بما أنزل على محمد ﷺAs for bathing in blood, this is a clear abomination and forbidden. It is not permissible to treat oneself with impurities. This is based on what Abu Dawud (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated in his Sunan from Abu al-Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Allah has sent down both the disease and the cure, and He has appointed a cure for every disease, so treat yourselves medically, but use nothing unlawful.
إن الله أنزل الداء والدواء، وجعل لكل داء دواء؛ فتداووا، ولا تتداووا بحرامAllah did not make your cure in what He made Haram (unlawful) to you.
إن الله لم يجعل شفاءكم فيما حرم عليكمIt is obligatory for your mother to repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and not to return to what she did. Whoever repents sincerely, Allah accepts his repentance. This is based on the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) :
And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.
وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَSincere and earnest repentance includes regret for the past sin, ceasing from it and abandoning it, and a sincere resolve not to return to it, out of reverence for Allah and love for Him (Glorified and Exalted is He), desiring His pleasure and fearing His punishment. If the sin involves the right of a created being, then a fourth condition is necessary for the validity of the repentance, which is: returning the right to its owner or obtaining his forgiveness. And Allah is the One to be asked for help.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.