Fatwa ID: 02467
Answered by: Ustaadha Bint Salih
Question:
How should we deal with allergies in Islam. My situation is that I am allergic to a particular food product. Every time I consume or even smell its scent I become poorly and suffer migraines.(migraines are known to be triggered by certain factors like citrus fruit etc).
However my parents force me to consume and handle this food product citing that if I had proper yaqeen on Allah I wouldn't get ill. However When I consume it I get a migraine due to my allergy.
My belief is that everything is from Allah, though he has put an allergy for me in citrus fruit and I must therefore protect myself and refrain from it.
Please advise me on the correct way on handling this situation and what is the correct aqeeda that I should have.
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Allah subhanahuwata’ala created illnesses and cures. The prophet peace and blessings be upon him said “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.” In bazlu lmajhood it is stated under the hadith that this hadith indicates the permissibility of seeking medical treatment and if someone seeks medical treatment to imitate the prophet then he will be rewarded, Bazlul majhood, vol. 8, hadith no. 3855, Darulkutub al ilmiyah.
Our body is a trust from Allah and we are required to look after it. In order to look after our body we need to stay away from those foods which harm our body.
Imam tirmizi dedicated a chapter in his book with the title ‘babun fil himyah’. In bazlul majhood it says that Himyah refers to protecting oneself from harmful things, and Allah has said in the Quran “If you are ill or on a journey”..till the end of ayah, Surah nisa ayah number 43. In this ayah Allah has allowed a sick person to use soil for purification in place of water in order to protect himself from harm., Bazlul majhood, vol. 8, hadith no. 3856, Darulkutub al ilmiyah.
Under this chapter he mentioned one hadith in which the prophet 
was eating ripe dates so Ali 
who was just recovering from an illness, also got up to eat but the messenger of Allah forbade him from eating. After a while when some barley and beetroot was offered to them, the prophet said to Ali , Take some of this for this will be more beneficial for you. In bazlul majhood it says, there is proof in this hadith for the virtue of the knowledge of medicine, and that the advice of a doctor should be accepted and he should be consulted with regard to eliminating harmful foods and consumption of beneficial foods. (Bazlul majhood, vol. 8, hadith no. 3856, Darul kutub al ilmiyah.)
Our belief with regards to catching a disease should be that it is Allah who causes it to spread and the food or the disease itself cannot harm or benefit anyone.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Ustaadha Bint Salih
Check and Approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
