Honey in Islam: Quran, hadith and health claims

What does the Quran say about the bee's drink?

The passage is An-Nahl 16:68 to 69. In verse 68, Allah inspires the bee to make homes in the hills, in trees and in other structures. In verse 69, a drink of varying colours comes out of the bees' bellies, and the verse says that in it there is healing for people. The passage ends by calling this a sign for people who reflect (source 2).

The word for honey does not appear in these two verses, in the Arabic or in the English. The verse does not name honey, so this page does not call the drink honey. Keep the verse separate from claims made on jars, adverts or supplement labels. This page does not check those claims.

What is the honey hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari 5684?

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, reports that a man came to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and said that his brother had abdominal trouble. The Prophet told him to give his brother honey to drink. The man came back and was told to give it again. When he returned and reported doing so, the Prophet said that Allah had spoken the truth and his brother's belly had lied, and told him to give honey again. The brother drank it and recovered, according to the narrator (source 1).

1AuthenticSahih al-Bukhari 5684

This is a narrated case, not a study that compares treatments. It gives no amount, frequency or type of honey, and it does not say how old the brother was. It names the complaint only as abdominal trouble. For the terms, see what is a hadith?

Does honey treat every illness?

Neither source says so. The verse describes healing for people, and the narration reports one case of abdominal trouble. Neither source tests a product, sets a dose or compares treatments. Whether honey helps a given condition is a question for clinical evidence about that condition. A person with symptoms that persist, return or worry them should see their GP rather than wait.

What does NHS guidance say about honey for a cough?

The NHS cough page lists hot lemon and honey among things to try for a cough. It says the drink can have a similar effect to cough syrup, though it also says the evidence is limited, and that it is not suitable for babies under 1 year old. It also says there is limited evidence to show that hot lemon and honey helps ease a cough (source 3).

That advice is about a cough. It says nothing about the abdominal trouble in the narration, and it does not show that honey works for any other condition.

Is honey safe for a baby?

Do not give your child honey until they're over 1 year old. The NHS says honey can contain bacteria that produce toxins in a baby's intestines, leading to infant botulism, which it calls a very serious illness (source 4). This is a present-day safety point. The narration does not say how old the brother was, so it is no guide for a baby. For a baby's symptoms, speak to a health professional.

How should I check a claim about honey?

Ask first which kind of claim it is:

1. Does it quote the verse? Check the wording against An-Nahl 16:68 to 69 (source 2).
2. Does it retell the narration? Check it against Sahih al-Bukhari 5684, which reports one case (source 1).
3. Does it claim a modern treatment? Look for clinical evidence about the product, the condition and the age group. These sources do not supply it.

The first two can be checked against this page. The third is outside it.

Practice

1. Where is the Quranic bee passage? An-Nahl 16:68 to 69 (source 2).
2. Who had abdominal trouble in Sahih al-Bukhari 5684? The man's brother. The report names neither the man nor the brother (source 1).
3. Can honey be given to a baby under one year old? No. The NHS says not to give honey until a child is over 1 year old (source 4).

Where can I get personal advice?

For a health question about yourself or a child, see your GP, or a pharmacist about a product. For a ruling on any honey-related matter, ask a scholar you trust. Neither question is answered on this page.