Yes, the Quran says honey contains healing for people, and the Prophet ﷺ recommended honey and black seed. But the same Prophet ﷺ told people to seek medical treatment, because Allah made a remedy for every disease. Honey and black seed are blessed foods that sit alongside medicine, not in place of it.
Speaking of the bee, the Quran says: "There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there
is healing for people" 1. The Mukhtasar tafsir explains that honey "contains a cure for people that they can use
to treat their sick" 2. Note the wording: in which there is healing, not that honey cures everything.
The Prophet ﷺ put this into practice. A man said his brother had stomach trouble; the Prophet ﷺ told him to give
him honey. The man came back more than once saying it had not worked, and the Prophet ﷺ replied, "Allah has said
the truth, but your brother's abdomen has told a lie", and told him to keep giving honey, and the brother
recovered 3. He also mentioned healing in "a gulp of honey", cupping and cauterisation, while saying he forbade
his followers cauterisation 4.
About black seed (nigella), he said there is "healing in black cumin for all diseases except death" 5. Many
scholars explained "all diseases" as general wording with a more specific meaning, as Arabic often uses such
words: black seed has benefit for many illnesses, in suitable forms and amounts, by Allah's permission. It is not
a promise that it cures every disease on its own or replaces other treatment.
Crucially, the Prophet ﷺ said, "There is no disease that Allah has created, except that He also has created its
treatment" 6, and when asked whether people should seek medical treatment, he said, "Make use of medical
treatment" 7. So Islam pushes believers to look for cures, which includes modern medicine and research.
A modest note on science: honey has antibacterial properties, and medical-grade honey is used in some wound
dressings. Reviews of clinical trials suggest it may help some burns heal faster, while evidence for many other
uses is weak. Health authorities also advise never giving honey to babies under one year old. None of this turns
the verse into a medical prescription.
Above all, healing comes from Allah, as Ibrahim (AS) said: "when I am ill, it is He who cures me" 8. Take your
honey, see your doctor, and make dua.
The evidence
1
Quran An-Nahl · 16:69
Honey, of varying colours, comes from bees and contains healing for people.
Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down [for you]." There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought
2
TafsirAl-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir al-Quran · 16:69
“Then eat of all the fruits you desire, and go along the pathways that your Lord inspires you to take that are made easy for you.” From the bellies of those bees emerges honey of different colours, such as white, yellow and other colours, which contains a cure for people that they can use to treat their sick. Surely in such inspiring of bees and in the honey that emerges from their bellies is a sign of Allah’s power and planning of the affairs of His creation for people who reflect, for they are the ones who take heed.
3
HadithSahih al-Bukhari 5684
SahihBukhari
The Prophet ﷺ repeatedly prescribed honey for a man's stomach illness and he was cured.
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "My brother has some Abdominal trouble." The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him "Let him drink honey." The man came for the second time and the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, 'Let him drink honey." He came for the third time and the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Let him drink honey." He returned again and said, "I have done that ' The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "Allah has said the truth, but your brother's `Abdomen has told a lie. Let him drink honey." So he made him drink honey and he was cured
Healing in honey, cupping and cauterisation, though he forbade cauterisation for his followers.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:(The Prophet (ﷺ) said), "Healing is in three things: A gulp of honey, cupping, and branding with fire (cauterizing)." But I forbid my followers to use (cauterization) branding with fire
العربية
حَدَّثَنِي الْحُسَيْنُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ بْنُ شُجَاعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَالِمٌ الأَفْطَسُ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ " الشِّفَاءُ فِي ثَلاَثَةٍ شَرْبَةِ عَسَلٍ، وَشَرْطَةِ مِحْجَمٍ، وَكَيَّةِ نَارٍ، وَأَنْهَى أُمَّتِي عَنِ الْكَىِّ ". رَفَعَ الْحَدِيثَ وَرَوَاهُ الْقُمِّيُّ عَنْ لَيْثٍ عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الْعَسَلِ وَالْحَجْمِ.
5
HadithSahih al-Bukhari 5688
SahihBukhari
There is healing in black cumin for all diseases except death.
Narrated Abu Huraira:I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "There is healing in black cumin for all diseases except death
Allah has created a treatment for every disease He created.
Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "There is no disease that Allah has created, except that He also has created its treatment
العربية
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ الزُّبَيْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي حُسَيْنٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَطَاءُ بْنُ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ دَاءً إِلاَّ أَنْزَلَ لَهُ شِفَاءً ".
7
HadithSunan Abi Dawud 3855
Sahihgraded by Al-Albani
The Prophet ﷺ told people to use medical treatment.
Narrated Usamah ibn Sharik: I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and his Companions were sitting as if they had birds on their heads. I saluted and sat down. The desert Arabs then came from here and there. They asked: Messenger of Allah, should we make use of medical treatment? He replied: Make use of medical treatment, for Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease, namely old age
This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24