The Hadith regarding olive oil being a cure for seventy illnesses

Question

Is the Hadith which states that olive oil is a cure for seventy diseases authentic?

 

Answer

Imam Abu Nu’aym (rahimahullah) has recorded the following narration in At Tibbun Nabawi:

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Eat olive oil and apply it as oil for it has cure from seventy illnesses including leprosy.”

(At Tibbun Nabawi, Hadith: 684)

 

Shaykh Ahmad Siddiq Al Ghumari, a Moroccan Scholar of the recent past has declared this version of the Hadith a fabrication.

(Refer: Al Mughir, Hadith: 354. Also see: At Taysir Bi Sharhil Jami’is Saghir, vol. 2 pg. 221 and As Sirajul Munir, vol. 3 pg. 100)

 

Also see here

 

Note: The first part of the Hadith “Eat olive/olive oil and use its oil” has been recorded in other Hadith collections and is suitable to quote. See here

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar