The honey bee exhibits a combination of individual traits and social co-operation which is unparalleled in the animal kingdom. A glimpse into the nest makes it apparent why honey bees have fascinated us from the earliest days of scientific observations. The infrastructure of the nest, the perfectly uniform and functional comb, is composed of beeswax and is constructed into a repeating series of almost perfect hexagonal cells. The comb is the stage for the activity of the colony and is used for almost everything imaginable, from larval nursery to pantry to message centre.
At the individual level, honey bees have not one but three types of colony members: queens, drones and workers, each with their own specialisations and place in honey bee society. The queen reigns over the nest, surrounded by attendants and fed the rich food she requires to perform her few but crucial tasks in the colony. The queen produces powerful pheromones, chemical signals to recipient workers which control many of their behaviours and provide part of the 'social glue' which holds honey bee life together. A highly organised social structure exists within the colony and elaborate 'dances' are used to communicate the location of food sources.
The products of the hive are important to the modern agricultural system. Not only do honey bees provide us with honey, wax, propolis, royal jelly and pollen but they also pollinate a good portion of our crops, including such diverse agricultural plants as fruit trees, oilseeds, small berries and forage crops.
Honey is a remarkable viscous liquid, prepared by the bees from the nectars of various plants. It has occupied a prominent place in traditional medicines throughout world history. The ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, Chinese, Greeks and Romans employed honey for wounds and diseases of the gut. When the Children of Israel were in Egypt or journeying through the desert, their promised goal was a 'land flowing with milk and honey'.
Both the holy Qur'an and Hadith refer to honey as a healer of disease.
'And thy Lord taught the bee to build its cells in hills, on trees and in (men's) habitations..... there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for mankind. Verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought'. (Translation of Quran 16:68-69)
In addition, the Prophet (PBUH) said:
'Honey is a remedy for every illness and the Qur'an is a remedy for all illness of the mind, therefore I recommend to you both remedies, the Qur'an and honey.' (Bukhari)
The reader may be surprised to learn that the above quotation from the Qur'an is mentioned in a well known encyclopedia on honey (reference 3).
In recent years, scientific support is beginning to emerge confirming the beneficial effects of honey on certain medical and surgical conditions. These effects may be summarised as follows:
Antibacterial and antifungal properties
Anti-diarrhoeal properties
At a concentration of 40%, honey has a bactericidal effect on various gut bacteria known to cause diarrhoea and dysentery such as Salmonella, Shigella, enteropathogenic E. coli and Vibrio cholera. In one study, honey given with oral rehydration fluid was shown to reduce the duration of bacterial diarrhoea in infants and children.
Wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties
Honey is of value in treating burns, infected surgical wounds and decubitus ulcers. Honey is very viscous, enabling it to absorb water from surrounding inflamed tissue. For example, a study in West Africa showed that skin grafting, surgical debridement and even amputation were avoided when local application of honey to wound promoted healing, whereas conventional treatment failed.
In another study, wound healing was accelerated by application of honey in women who had undergone radical vulvectomy for vulval cancer. Also, it has been suggested that honey may be useful in the treatment of chronic, foul smelling ulcers seen in leprosy.
Anti-tussive and expectorant properties
These anti-cough properties of honey are related to its capacity to dilute bronchial secretions and improve the function of the bronchial epithelium.
Nutritional properties
Uncontaminated honey is a healthy, easily digestible, natural and energy rich food. It contains carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, enzymes and vitamins. One tablespoon of honey provides 60 calories and contains 11g of carbohydrates, 1mg of calcium, 0.2mg of iron, 0.lmg of vitamin B and 1mg of vitamin C.
Honey is widely available in most communities but its medical potential remains grossly underutilised. Its mode of action remains incompletely understood and the healing properties of honey in other clinical and laboratory situations requires further evaluation. The miraculous beneficial properties of honey, so beautifully ex-pressed in the holy Qur'an and Sunnah 14 centuries ago expose the reluctance of modern science to accept and exploit this 'traditional remedy'.
Selected References:
1 - Ali A.T.M.M. (1989) The Pharmacological Characterization and the Scientific Basis of the Hidden Miracles of Honey; Saudi Medical Journal 10(3):177-179
2 - Zumla A. and Lulat A. (1989) Honey- a remedy rediscovered; J Royal Soc Med 82:384-385
3 - Crane E. (1975) Honey: a comprehensive survey;London, Heineman
4 - Winston M.L. (1987) The Biology of the Honey Bee;London, Harvard University Press
Source - Islamic Research
"And in the creation of yourselves and the fact that animals are scattered (through the earth), are Signs for those of assured Faith." (Surat al-Jathiya (Crouching), 4)
Miracle in the Sunnah / hadeeth
It is narrated in the Sahihain that “A man came to the Prophet peace be upon him and said, ‘my brother is complaining about his stomach’. The Prophet peace be upon him said, ‘give him some honey.’ The man went and came back later, saying, ‘I have given him some honey, but it did not help.’ He repeated this three times, all the while the Prophet peace be upon him continued saying to him, ‘give him some honey.’ In the fourth time he came, the Prophet peace be upon him said, ‘give him some honey.’ And the man said ‘I have given him some honey, but it did not help.’ Then the Prophet peace be upon him said, ‘Allah has said the truth while your brother’s stomach has lied.’” The man gave his brother some honey and he was healed.
The Prophet’s words above indicate the importance of using honey in treating digestion disorders.
The stomach complain that came in the Hadeeth above is the closest translation for the original Arabic word ‘istitlaq’, which is known today to be diarrhea. Studies showed that honey kills all types of germs especially the ones exist in the digestion system. As a result, honey is considered effective in treating Diarrhea and stomach ulcer in a very short time. However, honey has a dual effect, it also treats constipation, it regulates the motion of the colon and influences the colon with the information that Allah the Almighty has designed it with.
Prophet peace be upon him said, “There is cure in three substances, a drink of honey, a slash with a knife used for cupping and cauterizing by fire. I forbid by nation from cauterizing by fire.” Narrated by Bukhari
Another hadeeth [narrated by Ibn Majah and others] stated that the Prophet peace be upon him said, “Make use of the two cures: honey and the Qur’an”
Categories:
Miracle
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Quran and Science
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