Sunnis Claim Prophet's Spit is Healing

TLDR: Sunnis claim that the prophet's spit (as well as sweat, hair, and fingernail clippings) possess powers for healing. These ideas were developed around the prophet to claim that Muhammad possessed more godly powers than the past prophets, most notably Jesus.

In the Roman world, The Roman historian Tacitus (56-120 CE) reports that the emperor Vespasian (r. 69-79) had restored vision to a blind man by means of oris excremento, his saliva (Histories iv. 81). In another account by Suetonius (69-122 CE) in The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, the emperor he healed a paralyzed man (withered hand or leg) by touching the hand or leg.

BIBLE

In the Bible, there are three accounts of Jesus healing individuals through his spit.

In Mark 7:33-35, Jesus heals a deaf and mute man. He takes the man aside, puts His fingers into the man’s ears, spits, and touches the man’s tongue. Jesus then looks up to heaven, sighs, and says, “Ephphatha,” which means “Be opened.” The man’s ears are opened, his tongue is loosened, and he begins to speak clearly.

33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. – Mark 7:33-35

In Mark 8:22-25, Jesus heals a blind man at Bethsaida. People bring the blind man to Jesus and beg Him to touch the man. Jesus takes the blind man by the hand, leads him outside the village, spits on the man’s eyes, and lays His hands on him. Jesus asks if the man sees anything. The man looks up and says he sees people, but they look like trees walking around. Jesus places His hands on the man’s eyes again, and his sight is completely restored.

22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into[a] the village.” – Mark 8:22-25

In John 9:1-7, Jesus heals a man born blind. He spits on the ground, makes mud with the saliva, and applies it to the man’s eyes. He then tells the man to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man goes and washes and comes back seeing.

1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. – John 9:1-7

It is unclear if the account of Jesus performing these miracles influenced the tale of Vespasian or the other way around because the dates of both these writings are in the same period. Yet, we can say in the Quran that there is no account of Jesus curing by means of spit, though it does confirm that Jesus did heal the blind (5:101).

HADITH

Interestingly, many Hadith claim the prophet’s spit was considered a healing agent and a blessing by his companions, and he is often attributed with using his spit for all kinds of miracles.

Narrated Miswar bin Makhrama and Marwan: Allah’s Messenger set out at the time of Al-Hudaibiya (treaty), and mentioned the res to Hadith and when Allah’s messenger spitted, the spittle would fall in the hand one of them (the Prophet’s companions) who would rub it on his face and skin.
قَالَ عُرْوَةُ عَنِ الْمِسْوَرِ وَمَرْوَانَ خَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ زَمَنَ حُدَيْبِيَةَ فَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ. وَمَا تَنَخَّمَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نُخَامَةً إِلاَّ وَقَعَتْ فِي كَفِّ رَجُلٍ مِنْهُمْ فَدَلَكَ بِهَا وَجْهَهُ وَجِلْدَهُ.
Sahih al-Bukhari Book 4 Ablutions (Wudu’) (70) See also: Sahih al-Bukhari 2731, 2732

Paralleling Jesus curing the blind with his spit, the Hadith says that the prophet cured Ali of an issue with his eye. The prophet supposedly spat in his eye, and it was cured immediately.

Narrated Sahl bin Sad: That he heard the Prophet (ﷺ) on the day (of the battle) of Khaibar saying, “I will give the flag to a person at whose hands Allah will grant victory.” So, the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) got up, wishing eagerly to see to whom the flag will be given, and everyone of them wished to be given the flag. But the Prophet asked for Ali. Someone informed him that he was suffering from eye-trouble. So, he ordered them to bring Ali in front of him. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) spat in his eyes and his eyes were cured immediately as if he had never any eye-trouble. Ali said, “We will fight with them (i.e. infidels) till they become like us (i.e. Muslims).” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Be patient, till you face them and invite them to Islam and inform them of what Allah has enjoined upon them. By Allah! If a single person embraces Islam at your hands (i.e. through you), that will be better for you than the red camels.”
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْد ٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ ‏”‏ لأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلاً يَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ ‏”‏‏.‏ فَقَامُوا يَرْجُونَ لِذَلِكَ أَيُّهُمْ يُعْطَى، فَغَدَوْا وَكُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُعْطَى فَقَالَ ‏”‏ أَيْنَ عَلِيٌّ ‏”‏‏.‏ فَقِيلَ يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ، فَأَمَرَ فَدُعِيَ لَهُ، فَبَصَقَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ، فَبَرَأَ مَكَانَهُ حَتَّى كَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ شَىْءٌ فَقَالَ نُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ، ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الإِسْلاَمِ، وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَوَاللَّهِ لأَنْ يُهْدَى بِكَ رَجُلٌ وَاحِدٌ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ ‏”‏‏.‏
Sahih al-Bukhari 2942 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2942

There is also Hadith, where the prophet was able to manifest water and food through his spit, which mimics some of the stories in the Gospel regarding Jesus multiplying food for the masses. For example, we have Jesus supposedly feeding 5,000 people in Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:1-14. And another account of him feeding of 4,000 in Matthew 15:32-39 and Mark 8:1-10).

Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: When the Trench was dug, I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) in the state of severe hunger. So I returned to my wife and said, “Have you got anything (to eat), for I have seen Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) in a state of severe hunger.” She brought out for me, a bag containing one Sa of barley, and we had a domestic she animal (i.e. a kid) which I slaughtered then, and my wife ground the barley and she finished at the time I finished my job (i.e. slaughtering the kid). Then I cut the meat into pieces and put it in an earthenware (cooking) pot, and returned to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) . My wife said, “Do not disgrace me in front of Allah’s Apostle and those who are with him.” So I went to him and said to him secretly, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! I have slaughtered a she-animal (i.e. kid) of ours, and we have ground a Sa of barley which was with us. So please come, you and another person along with you.” The Prophet (ﷺ) raised his voice and said, “O people of Trench! Jabir has prepared a meal so let us go.” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, “Don’t put down your earthenware meat pot (from the fireplace) or bake your dough till I come.” So I came (to my house) and Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) too, came, proceeding before the people. When I came to my wife, she said, “May Allah do so-and-so to you.” I said, “I have told the Prophet (ﷺ) of what you said.” Then she brought out to him (i.e. the Prophet (ﷺ) the dough, and he spat in it and invoked for Allah’s Blessings in it. Then he proceeded towards our earthenware meat-pot and spat in it and invoked for Allah’s Blessings in it. Then he said (to my wife). Call a lady-baker to bake along with you and keep on taking out scoops from your earthenware meat-pot, and do not put it down from its fireplace.” They were one thousand (who took their meals), and by Allah they all ate, and when they left the food and went away, our earthenware pot was still bubbling (full of meat) as if it had not decreased, and our dough was still being baked as if nothing had been taken from it.
حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا حَنْظَلَةُ بْنُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، أَخْبَرَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مِينَاءَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ لَمَّا حُفِرَ الْخَنْدَقُ رَأَيْتُ بِالنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَمَصًا شَدِيدًا، فَانْكَفَأْتُ إِلَى امْرَأَتِي فَقُلْتُ هَلْ عِنْدَكِ شَىْءٌ فَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَمَصًا شَدِيدًا‏.‏ فَأَخْرَجَتْ إِلَىَّ جِرَابًا فِيهِ صَاعٌ مِنْ شَعِيرٍ، وَلَنَا بُهَيْمَةٌ دَاجِنٌ فَذَبَحْتُهَا، وَطَحَنَتِ الشَّعِيرَ فَفَرَغَتْ إِلَى فَرَاغِي، وَقَطَّعْتُهَا فِي بُرْمَتِهَا، ثُمَّ وَلَّيْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ لاَ تَفْضَحْنِي بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَبِمَنْ مَعَهُ‏.‏ فَجِئْتُهُ فَسَارَرْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ذَبَحْنَا بُهَيْمَةً لَنَا وَطَحَنَّا صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ كَانَ عِنْدَنَا، فَتَعَالَ أَنْتَ وَنَفَرٌ مَعَكَ‏.‏ فَصَاحَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏”‏ يَا أَهْلَ الْخَنْدَقِ، إِنَّ جَابِرًا قَدْ صَنَعَ سُورًا فَحَىَّ هَلاً بِكُمْ ‏”‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ لاَ تُنْزِلُنَّ بُرْمَتَكُمْ، وَلاَ تَخْبِزُنَّ عَجِينَكُمْ حَتَّى أَجِيءَ ‏”‏‏.‏ فَجِئْتُ وَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْدُمُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى جِئْتُ امْرَأَتِي، فَقَالَتْ بِكَ وَبِكَ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ الَّذِي قُلْتِ‏.‏ فَأَخْرَجَتْ لَهُ عَجِينًا، فَبَصَقَ فِيهِ وَبَارَكَ، ثُمَّ عَمَدَ إِلَى بُرْمَتِنَا فَبَصَقَ وَبَارَكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏”‏ ادْعُ خَابِزَةً فَلْتَخْبِزْ مَعِي وَاقْدَحِي مِنْ بُرْمَتِكُمْ وَلاَ تُنْزِلُوهَا‏”‏، وَهُمْ أَلْفٌ، فَأُقْسِمُ بِاللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَكَلُوا حَتَّى تَرَكُوهُ وَانْحَرَفُوا، وَإِنَّ بُرْمَتَنَا لَتَغِطُّ كَمَا هِيَ، وَإِنَّ عَجِينَنَا لَيُخْبَزُ كَمَا هُوَ‏.‏
Sahih al-Bukhari 4102 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4102

Narrated Al-Bara bin Azib: That they were in the company of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) on the day of Al-Hudaibiya and their number was 1400 or more. They camped at a well and drew its water till it was dried. When they informed Allah’s Apostle of that, he came and sat over its edge and said, “Bring me a bucket of its water.” When it was brought, he spat and invoked (Allah) and said, “Leave it for a while.” Then they quenched their thirst and watered their riding animals (from that well) till they departed.
حَدَّثَنِي فَضْلُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْحَرَّانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا الْبَرَاءُ بْنُ عَازِبٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ الْحُدَيْبِيَةِ أَلْفًا وَأَرْبَعَمِائَةٍ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ، فَنَزَلُوا عَلَى بِئْرٍ فَنَزَحُوهَا، فَأَتَوْا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَتَى الْبِئْرَ، وَقَعَدَ عَلَى شَفِيرِهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏”‏ ائْتُونِي بِدَلْوٍ مِنْ مَائِهَا ‏”‏‏.‏ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ فَبَصَقَ فَدَعَا ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏”‏ دَعُوهَا سَاعَةً ‏”‏‏.‏ فَأَرْوَوْا أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَرِكَابَهُمْ حَتَّى ارْتَحَلُوا‏.‏
Sahih al-Bukhari 4151 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4151

There are also other strange Hadith regarding the supposed spit of the prophet.

Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) came to Abdullah bin Ubai (a hypocrite) after his death and he has been laid in his pit (grave). He ordered (that he be taken out of the grave) and he was taken out. Then he placed him on his knees and threw some of his saliva on him and clothed him in his (the Prophet’s) own shirt. Allah knows better (why he did so). Abdullah bin Ubai had given his shirt to Al-Abbas to wear. Abu Harun said, “Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) at that time had two shirts and the son of Abdullah bin Ubai said to him, ‘O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Clothe my father in your shirt which has been in contact with your skin.’ ‘ Sufyan added, “Thus people think that the Prophet (ﷺ) clothed Abdullah bin Tubal in his shirt in lieu of what he (Abdullah) had done (for Al Abbas, the Prophet’s uncle.)”
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ عَمْرٌو سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ أَتَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أُبَىٍّ بَعْدَ مَا أُدْخِلَ حُفْرَتَهُ فَأَمَرَ بِهِ فَأُخْرِجَ، فَوَضَعَهُ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ، وَنَفَثَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ رِيقِهِ، وَأَلْبَسَهُ قَمِيصَهُ، فَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ، وَكَانَ كَسَا عَبَّاسًا قَمِيصًا‏.‏ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ وَقَالَ أَبُو هَارُونَ وَكَانَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَمِيصَانِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَلْبِسْ أَبِي قَمِيصَكَ الَّذِي يَلِي جِلْدَكَ‏.‏ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ فَيُرَوْنَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَلْبَسَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ قَمِيصَهُ مُكَافَأَةً لِمَا صَنَعَ‏.‏
Sahih al-Bukhari 1350 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1350

Narrated Aisha: The first child who was born in the Islamic Land (i.e. Medina) amongst the Emigrants, was `Abdullah bin Az-Zubair. They brought him to the Prophet. The Prophet (ﷺ) took a date, and after chewing it, put its juice in his mouth. So the first thing that went into the child’s stomach, was the saliva of the Prophet.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ أَوَّلُ مَوْلُودٍ وُلِدَ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَتَوْا بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخَذَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَمْرَةً فَلاَكَهَا ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَهَا فِي فِيهِ، فَأَوَّلُ مَا دَخَلَ بَطْنَهُ رِيقُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏
Sahih al-Bukhari 3910 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3910 See also Sahih al-Bukhari 5469 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5469

Additionally, to better understand how Sunnis understand this supposed veneration towards the prophet’s spit from the companions, it helps to see the following commentary from Yaser Qadhi regarding the following Hadith from Abu Dawud.

‘Aishah narrated: “The Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) would clean his teeth with the Siwak, then he would give me the Siwak in order to wash it. So I would first use it myself, then wash it and return it.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَنْبَسَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْكُوفِيُّ الْحَاسِبُ، حَدَّثَنِي كَثِيرٌ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ كَانَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْتَاكُ فَيُعْطِينِي السِّوَاكَ لأَغْسِلَهُ فَأَبْدَأُ بِهِ فَأَسْتَاكُ ثُمَّ أَغْسِلُهُ وَأَدْفَعُهُ إِلَيْهِ ‏.‏
Sunan Abi Dawud 52 https://sunnah.com/abudawud:52

So, according to their understanding, ‘Aishah’s purpose was to seek blessings from the saliva of the messenger.

The act of seeking blessings through the relic of a “holy” person is called “relic veneration.” This act aligns with the broader practice of relic veneration, where followers seek blessings through the physical remnants or personal effects of holy figures. This practice involves reverence and honor for these objects, believed to convey blessings, grace, or miracles to the faithful. This tradition is common in various religious traditions that have been inundated with idol worship, such as Paganism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Sunni Islam. In Christianity, particularly within Catholicism and Orthodoxy, relic veneration has a long history and is an integral part of the faith.

Historically, it appears that these stories of Jesus healing and performing miracles by means of his spit influenced the fabrication of similar accounts in the Hadith corpus. However, instead of identifying this clear plagiarism and removing these false narrations attributed to the prophet from the Hadith, the Ulama, in order to preserve the integrity of their Science of Hadith (Ilm al-Rijal), continued to propagate these lies and shirky claims towards the prophet and his companions. Once again showing that their allegiance is to their tradition rather than the truth.