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