The role of prophetic medicine in the management of diabetes mellitus: A review of literature

Prophetic medicine is the total authentic Hadith narrated by the Prophet, peace be upon him, in relation to medicine, whether Qur'anic verses or honourable Prophetic Hadith. It includes remedy recipes, by which the Prophet, peace be upon him, was cured or he called people to be cured by. Furthermore, it includes recommendations relevant to human health in the conditions of life, including eating, drinking, housing, and marriage. It comprehends legislations related to medication, medicine in practicing the profession, and the guarantee of the patient in the perspective of Islamic Law. Ibn Al Qayyim, may Allah be merciful with him, in his book Zad Al Ma'ad Fe Haday Khair Al Abad, said: “The medicine of the Messenger, peace be upon him, is not similar to the medicine of physicians. The medicine of the Prophet, peace be upon him, is certain, categorical, and godly medicine; issued by the Revelation, Prophethood niche, and sagacity; while the medicine of others is inductive, assumptive, and experimental.”In KSA alone, 3.8 million cases of diabetes were recorded, thus warranting increased global health concern. Scientific evidence has accorded the claim of several plants and honey listed in prophetic medicine, which improve glycaemic control in diabetes mellitus. In addition to their hypoglycaemic effect, studies indicate that extracts from those plants and honey ameliorate other associated metabolic derangements. In this review, we present several of the latest findings linking the bioefficacy of these plants and honey with the pathogenesis of diabetes and insulin secretion in diabetes mellitus subjects.