Key Sources
A quick reference guide to key sources of Christianity and Islam.
History of Islam - Implausible claims
Lizards killed for opposing Abraham
Narrated Um Sharik: Allah's Messenger ordered that the salamander should be killed and said, "It (i.e. the salamander) blew (the fire) on Abraham."
In this tradition, Muhammad orders that all lizards (or, salamanders) be killed because they "blew the fire on Abraham." This is influenced by an older legend, popularised by Aristotle and later among Jewish rabbis, which claimed that salamanders were created out of fire and immmune to its effects (see Mishnah Sanhedrin 63b:18, third century).
Strange advice for ablutions
Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: The Messenger of Allah said: The eyes are the leather strap of the anus, so one who sleeps should perform ablution.
Why and how should we cleanse or wash our bodies? The sunnah offer some curious advice on this subject, which was supposedly endorsed by the Prophet himself.
Fearing the 'evil eye'
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "The effect of an evil eye is a fact." And he prohibited tattooing.
Hadith traditions assume the reality of the 'evil eye', an ancient superstition in which people or spiritual beings (jinn) are able to curse others by means of a malicious glare. The hadith even prescribe recitation of the Qur'an (ruqyah), or spells, as a means of protecting oneself from its influence.
Adam was 30 meters tall
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger said, "The first group of people who will enter Paradise, will be glittering like the full moon and those who will follow them, will glitter like the most brilliant star in the sky. They will not urinate, relieve nature, spit, or have any nasal secretions. Their combs will be of gold, and their sweat will smell like musk. The aloes-wood will be used in their centers....
A Jewish tribe turned into rats
Abu Huraira reported that the rat (is the result of) metamorphosis (of a group of Bani Isra'il) and the proof of this is that when the milk of goat is placed before it, it drinks it, and when the milk of the camel is placed before it, it would not taste it at all. Ka'b said: Did you hear it from Allah's Messenger? Thereupon he said: Has Torah been revealed to...
A similar tale is also told elsewhere in the 'authentic' hadith traditions, saying that apes and pigs derive from humans tribes whom Allah had formerly cursed and transformed.
Dip houseflies in your drink
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said "If a house fly falls in the drink of anyone of you, he should dip it (in the drink) and take it out, for one of its wings has a disease and the other has the cure for the disease."
Health benefits of camel urine
Narrated Abu Qilaba: Anas said, "Some people of `Ukl or `Uraina tribe came to Medina and its climate did not suit them. So the Prophet ordered them to go to the herd of (Milch) camels and to drink their milk and urine (as a medicine). So they went as directed and after they became healthy, they killed the shepherd of the Prophet and drove away all the camels. The news reached...
Health benefits of cupping
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: (The Prophet 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."
This is one of many endorsements of a folk remedy which is known to be medically useless. Cupping continues to be common in Islamic-majority communities, but is broadly recognised by medical professionals as having no health benefits.
Dates as a safeguard against 'poison and magic'
Narrated Sa`d: Allah's Messenger said, "He who eats seven 'Ajwa dates every morning, will not be affected by poison or magic on the day he eats them."
A formula for raising the dead
'A'isha reported Allah's Apostle saying: If a company of Muslims numbering one hundred pray over a dead person, all of them interceding for him, their intercession for him will be accepted.
Licking your hands after eating
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet said, 'When you eat, do not wipe your hands till you have licked it, or had it licked by somebody else."