For the people have disputed regarding medicinal treatment, is it permissible (mubaah), recommended (mustahabb) or obligatory (waajib)?

What is correct: That from it is that which is unlawful (muharram), and from it is that which is disliked (makrooh), and from it is that which is permissible (mubaah), and from it is that which is recommended (mustahabb).

And sometimes there can be from it that which is obligatory (waajib) and that is when it is known about something that [its use] will preserve [someone's] life, and [this will not occur] by anything else.

[This is] similar to when it is obligatory to eat the [meat of the] dead animal out of compelling necessity, for that is obligatory with the four Imaams and the majority of the scholars. And Masrooq has said, "Whoever is compelled by necessity to [eat the flesh of] the dead animal, does not eat and thus dies, will enter the Fire". For sometimes when an illness flares up, a person will die if he does not get treatment for it. Life can be preserved by regular treatment such as nourishment for the weak person, and such as the extraction of blood sometimes.

The second: Is the ill person ordered with medicinal treatment? Or is he ordered not to take medicinal treatment? Or is there detail in [the matter]?

The answer: Some of the scholars have said: Abandoning medicinal treatment is better, and it is not desirable for a person to take medicinal treatment. As evidence for this [view], they used the following:

1. That the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), "When he was ill and they adminstered treatment to him, he ordered that everyone present also be adminstered treatment, except for al-Abbaas bin 'Abdul-Muttalib". They said: And this is a prof that he disliked their action. And al-ladood, is that by which the ill person is treated, and it is a type of medicinal treatment.

2. That Abu Bakr (radiallaahu anhu), when he was ill, it was said to him, "Shall we not call a doctor for you?" He said, "The doctor has already seen me, and said, 'Indeed, I am the Doer of whatever I will'." And Abu Bakr is the best of the ummah after its Prophet, and he is an [exemplary] model and leader (imaam).

And some of the scholars said: Rather medicinal treatment is sanctioned by tradition (the Sunnah) due to the following:

1. The Prophet (sallalaahu alaihi wasallam) ordered with that.
2. That it is from the beneficial ways and means (asbaab).
3. That a person benefits (by way of it) in terms of his time, and especially the believer who derives [great] benefit from [his] time, he benefits from every hour that passes by.
4. That the ill person is constrained (in his soul), he does not perform what is desirable for him to perform of the acts of obedience. And when Allaah heals him, his chest expands and his soul becomes lively, he will perform what is desirable for him to perform of the acts of obedience, and thus the treatment is desired for another objective [separate from itself]. Thus it is sanctioned (by the Sunnah).

And some of the Scholars have said: When it is known (for sure) or it is believed to be very likely according to experience that the medicinal treatment will benefit, then it is better, and if it entails risk, then it is better to leave it. Because if it is something that entails risk then [further] harm can arise within him, and thus the person will be one who caused harm to himself. This is especially so regarding current medicinal treatments - the drug medications which act very rapidly and powerfully upon a person, when a doctor prescribes them incorrectly.

And some scholars have said: medicinal treatment is obligatory when its benefit is believed to be very likely.

And as for what is correct:

That it is obligatory when leaving it entails death (perishing), such as localised cancer for example. Localised cancer, by Allaah's permission, when the cancer-affected area is [surgically] removed, then he will survive from it. But if he was to leave it, it may spread to the rest of the body, and the result would be death (destruction). So here the treatment is known to benefit, because the (cancer) is localised, it is cut off, and thus it ends.

And al-Khidr destroyed the ship, in order to save the rest of them [from being expropriated by the king]. Likewise, the body, when a part of it is cut off so that the rest of it can survive, then that is obligatory.

And based upon [all of] this, that which is nearest (to what is correct) is that the following is said [regarding medicinal treatment]:

1. That what is known or believed to be very likely to be of benefit, alongside the likelihood that [a person] will perish without [making use of] it, then it is obligatory (waajib).

2. That what is believed to be very likely of benefit, but there is no established likelihood of [a person] perishing by abandoning it, then it is better (afdal) [to be taken].

3. That when the two affairs are equal (i.e. the benefit and the risk), then it is better to abandon it, so that a person does not throw himself to destruction (i.e. bring more harm upon himself) without perceiving it.