The Damages of Fabricating Medical Narrations to Religion and Health: History and Scope

Medicine has an important place in human life. If this field is linked to religious beliefs or medical and health issues are attributed to religious leaders, they will be of more interest and acceptability to religious people. In this case, medical statements will go beyond worldly statements and take up a divine identity. Nonetheless, it is necessary to be aware of the damages of including medical statements in religious texts and to avoid fabricated health narrations by examining the history and truthfulness of those statements as well as controlling their quantity. A review of the Ḥadīth heritage shows that the topics in medicine and health make up a significant part of traditions, or religious narrations, and the frequency of fabricated medical statements that have slipped through traditions is considerable. In general, the damage caused by fabricated medical narrations can be viewed in the two areas of Sharī’a (religious law) and health. The most important health damages stem from wrong prescriptions and prolonged treatment periods. Incorrect advice may cause the illness or even the death of a person. As for religious beliefs and convictions, one may refer to damages such as disfiguring the beautiful face of Sharī’a, casting doubts on the validity of correct religious teachings, and damaging the beliefs of religious people.