87/21. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6897 — Respecting the Prophet’s Refusal of Medicine
If a group killed or injured one man, will all have to give Diya or be punished with Al-Qisas?
وَقَالَ مُطَرِّفٌ عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ فِي رَجُلَيْنِ شَهِدَا عَلَى رَجُلٍ أَنَّهُ سَرَقَ فَقَطَعَهُ عَلِيٌّ، ثُمَّ جَاءَا بِآخَرَ وَقَالاَ أَخْطَأْنَا. فَأَبْطَلَ شَهَادَتَهُمَا وَأُخِذَا بِدِيَةِ الأَوَّلِ، وَقَالَ لَوْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكُمَا تَعَمَّدْتُمَا لَقَطَعْتُكُمَا.
Hadith About Refusing Forced Medicine
Sahih Bukhari : 6897
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6897
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ أَبِي عَائِشَةَ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ لَدَدْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي مَرَضِهِ، وَجَعَلَ يُشِيرُ إِلَيْنَا " لاَ تَلُدُّونِي ". قَالَ فَقُلْنَا كَرَاهِيَةُ الْمَرِيضِ بِالدَّوَاءِ، فَلَمَّا أَفَاقَ قَالَ " أَلَمْ أَنْهَكُمْ أَنْ تَلُدُّونِي ". قَالَ قُلْنَا كَرَاهِيَةٌ لِلدَّوَاءِ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يَبْقَى مِنْكُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ لُدَّ ـ وَأَنَا أَنْظُرُ ـ إِلاَّ الْعَبَّاسَ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَشْهَدْكُمْ ".
A'isha Narrated from:
We poured medicine into the mouth of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) during his illness, and he pointed out to us intending to say, "Don't pour medicine into my mouth." We thought that his refusal was out of the aversion a patient usually has for medicine. When he improved and felt a bit better he said (to us.) "Didn't I forbid you to pour medicine into my mouth?" We said, "We thought (you did so) because of the aversion, one usually have for medicine." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "There is none of you but will be forced to drink medicine, and I will watch you, except Al-`Abbas, for he did not witness this act of yours."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6897In-book reference : Book 87, Hadith 36USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 83, Hadith 35
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6897
This Hadith about forced medicine describes an incident during the illness of Allah’s Messenger. Aisha said they poured medicine into his mouth while he was ill. He pointed to them, meaning, “Do not pour medicine into my mouth.” They thought his refusal was like the usual dislike a sick person may have for medicine. When he felt better, he reminded them that he had forbidden them to do it. Then he ordered that everyone who took part be made to drink medicine while he watched, except Al-Abbas, because he had not witnessed the act. For readers searching hadith about forced medicine, the focus is obedience to a clear refusal and not dismissing it as ordinary patient dislike.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet’s signal of refusal was not to be ignored.
- Good intentions do not remove the need to respect a clear instruction.
- Al-Abbas was excluded because he did not witness the act.
- The Hadith teaches care before assuming why someone refuses medicine.
