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Use of Quranic Verses, Amulets, Numerology, and Medicinal Plants for Treatment of Diseases: a Case Study of a Healer in NARSinghdi District, Bangladesh

Piplu Bhuiyan
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh.

Zubaida Khatun
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh.

Sharmin Jahan
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh.

Md. Tanvir Morshed
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh.

Shahnaz Rahman
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh.

Nusrat Anik Afsana
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh.

Dilruba Nasrin
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh.

Mohammed Rahmatullah*
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

According to the World Health Organization, traditional medicine is the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness. Bangladesh has many types of traditional medicinal systems. Some like Ayurveda, Unani, or folk medicines mainly use medicinal plants for treatment. However, other treatment forms exist, which relies on use of Islamic and Hindu religious texts, wearing amulets containing plants or other miscellaneous items as well as portions from religious texts, incantations, and special religious rituals. The objective of this study was to document the healing methods of a ‘fakir’ (holy man as well as a medicinal practitioner), who practiced traditional medicine and treated diseases in Narsinghdi district of Bangladesh with the help of Quranic scripts, amulets, numerological charts, and medicinal plants. A total of 20 formulations were obtained from him using the above-mentioned diverse items. This study demonstrates another aspect of traditional medicine practice within the country, which has been scantly reported in the medical literature.

Keywords: Quranic inscriptions, Amulets, Numerology, Medicinal plants

Location: Narsinghdi district, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants

Objectives:

The objective of the present survey was to document the traditional medicinal practices of such a Muslim fakir of Narsinghdi district, Bangladesh, who used a combination of Quranic inscriptions, amulets, numerology, and medicinal plants in his treatment methods.

Methodology:

Information was collected from Zakir Hossain (Fakir) practicing in the village of Torowa in Narsinghdi district, Bangladesh. Informed consent was initially obtained from the healer to disseminate any provided information both nationally and internationally. The healer was requested to provide complete information on his practicing methods, although he kept to himself some of the details, like how he converted Quranic ‘surahs’ to numerological charts. Any plants mentioned by the healer were collected from guided field-walks conducted by the healer to show the interviewers the plants. Plant specimens were photographed and collected from the spot. Plant specimens were pressed, dried, and brought back to Dhaka to be identified at the Bangladesh National Herbarium.

Source of Information: 2013 / American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 7(5), December, Pages: 415-425

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

To conclude, the fakir used a mixture of the exoteric with the esoteric in his healing practices. Incantation or reciting of Quranic verses is an example of the exoteric tradition of religion, i.e. it makes use of contemporary and practicing religious beliefs. Prescribing amulets or Quranic verse dipped water can be considered examples of esoteric. Levin (2008) pointed out several esoteric healing traditions including kabbalistic tradition, mystery school tradition, gnostic tradition, brotherhood tradition, Eastern mystical tradition, Western mystical tradition, shamanic tradition, and the new age tradition. The practices of the fakir possibly fall under the Eastern mystical tradition (with a Muslim inclination) as suggested from the fakir’s use of Quranic verses for treatment. However, it is to be noted that the fakir also used other methods, like the use of a dead man’s skull, which may have been borrowed from the Tantrik tradition of the Hindus, and so also falls under eastern mystical tradition. Also the fakir delved in medicinal plants, as evident by his use, for example, of Amaranthus spinosus. Overall, the fakir used several methods of treatment unlike the typical folk medicinal practitioner of Bangladesh, and as such, can be called unique.

Knowledge Management: Journal