يَخْرُجُ مِن بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ لِّلنَّاسِ
There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colours, in which there is healing for people.
Surah an-Nahl (The Bees), 16:68-69
Translation to be validatedHoney is one of the foods most present in the prophetic tradition. In roqya, it is often combined with recitation. Abdelaziz especially mentions manuka honey, which he values for its quality.
In the tradition
- A medium for recitation in roqya, taken on its own or in water.
- Used as food and in skincare (masks, skin care).
- Manuka honey comes from the nectar of a shrub from Oceania (Leptospermum scoparium), used in traditional Māori medicine. It flowers for only a few weeks a year, which makes it rare and expensive.
What research says
- Manuka honey is rich in methylglyoxal (MGO), a molecule responsible for its antibacterial activity observed in the laboratory.
- Its labelling uses the UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) rating or the MGO content: the higher the rating, the higher the concentration. Be wary of manuka honey sold very cheaply.
- Medical-grade honeys are used in some wound dressings. Studies on infections (notably Staphylococcus aureus) are encouraging but do not allow it to replace a prescribed antibiotic treatment.
Precautions
- Never give honey to a baby under one year old (risk of infant botulism).
- Honey is still a sugar: be careful if you have diabetes.
- If a wound is infected or you have a fever, see a doctor.
This information is general. It is not medical advice. Ask your doctor or pharmacist, especially if you are taking a treatment, are pregnant or breastfeeding.