That is, death. Likewise, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said of truffles: “Truffles are from the manna, and their water is a healing for the eye.” (1) Such examples are all forms of material medicine found in the Quran and the Sunnah.

The second type is spiritual medicine: healing recitation over the sick. This may be stronger and quicker in its effect. Consider the Prophet’s healing recitation for the sick: you will find that the patient is cured immediately. When he said on the day of Khaybar, “Tomorrow I shall give the banner to a man at whose hands Allah will grant victory; he loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him,” the people spent that night discussing who this man might be. When morning came, they went to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, each one eagerly hoping for it, since he would thereby attain this description: that “he loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him.” He said, “Where is Ali ibn Abi Talib?” They replied, “He is suffering from an ailment in his eyes.” So he called for him, and he was brought to him. The Prophet spat in his eyes and supplicated for him, and he was cured at once, as though there had never been any trace of illness. He then gave him the banner. (2)

Likewise, in the story of the detachment who sought hospitality from some people, but they refused to host them, so they withdrew to one side. Allah decreed that a scorpion should sting the chief of those people who had refused to host the Companions. When he was stung, they said, “Who can perform a healing recitation?” Some said to one another, “Look for that group—the ones who came to you as guests, yet you did not host them—perhaps there is someone among them who can recite.” So they went to them and said, “Yes, there is someone among us who can recite. But we sought hospitality from you and you did not host us, so we will not recite over you