Question
I read a Hadith somewhere that states (something to the effect) that if a fly falls in something, one should dip it fully and then drink that because there is disease in one wing and cure in the other. Can you please explain?
Answer
The Hadith in full, is as follows:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu’anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said:
‘When a fly falls into your utensil [consisting of food or drink], then he should re-immerse it fully [into the utensil], as one of its wings has cure, and the other has the disease.’
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 5782)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has cited a narration in which the Sahabi (radiyallahu’anhu) also recited bismillah when doing this, and said that Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) had advised so.
(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 5782)
Explanation
The commentators cite another version of this Hadith that states that the fly has the habit of falling on the side that has the disease. Therefore Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) advised to re-immerse it so the other wing [which has the cure] is also immersed.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 3840 and Sahih Ibn hibban; Al-Ihsan, Hadith: 5250. Also see Fathul Bari, Hadith: 5782)
In this Hadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) miraculously informed the ummah of this reality. As Muslims, we believe in it unreservedly, even before modern science discovered its truth.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar