Shaykh Abu Ja’far said that there were different types of Ahadith, which related to the profession of medicine. There were some that were linked to the environment of Makkah and Medina, and it was not appropriate to relate those to other countries, where the climate was different. There were other narrations, in which the Imam advised according to the requirements of the patient. This advice was not extendable to people with other afflictions, as Imam was best attuned to the needs of the patient.

In some Ahadith, content from conflicting sources entered fraudulently into Shi’a literature, in order to make the Shi’a Fiqh a subject of ridicule for opposing camps. In some Ahadith, the reporters made genuine mistakes by forgetting some essential aspects of the report, for example, it was reported that honey was the cure for all diseases. The report while factual was relevant only for those illnesses that involved energy loss in the body.

Similarly, it had been recommended for the patients of piles to clean their back passage with cold water. This was effective only if it was initiated by the use of high-energy foods. It is had been told that bringan (a vegetable), was also its cure. This recommendation was applicable only at the time of the maturing of dates when the patient also desired to eat the dates. This treatment could not be universal.

Anyhow, recommendations of correct medicines that were related to the Imams were based on Qur’anic suras and Verses. Certain supplications were available in the authentic Ahadith treatise. Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (‘a) had once also said that philosophers and sages of the earlier era were recognized as physicians.

Once Moses asked God, who was responsible for sending a disease? God replied that it was from Him. Moses then asked about who provides medicine? God replied that it was He, the Lord. Moses then asked, why did the people then visit the physicians. God replied that because it made their hearts satisfied, and it was for this reason that the physicians were called - Tabeeb. In dictionary, the word Tibb stood for the provision of confidence.

It was reported that in the prayer hall of David, every day a special grass would grow and communicate with God’s permission that it was suitable for such and such disease. During the last days of David’s life, he saw a particular grass near the place of worship. He asked the grass to identify itself. It responded that its name was Khorabia. Listening to this, David (‘a) realised that his end was near and his place of worship was about to be destroyed so that nothing will ever grow there again.

The Prophet of God (S) has said that if Surah Al-Hamd could not cure a person, then it means God would not heal him.