Is there anything mentioned in Islamic law that prohibits medical treatment with chameleons or their eggs, even though some people use them for treatment?
Scholars have differed on the ruling regarding eating the chameleon. The majority considers it forbidden due to its impurity, citing Allah’s saying: "and prohibits for them impure things." However, the Malikis permit it if it is slaughtered according to Islamic rites. As for its use in treatment, it is common among common folk and often comes from the instructions of sorcerers, and it is not permissible to believe them. The general rule concerning treatment with forbidden things is that it is impermissible, based on the Prophet’s (PBUH) saying: "Indeed, Allah has not made the cure for my nation in what He has forbidden to them," and "Indeed, Allah created both disease and cure, so treat yourselves, but do not treat yourselves with what is unlawful." Nevertheless, it is permissible to use it for treatment out of necessity and in the absence of a pure alternative, based on Allah’s saying: "And He has explained to you in detail what He has forbidden to you, except what you are compelled to [eat or use]," provided that its benefit is medically proven and the patient knows, or a trustworthy Muslim doctor informs him, that no other pure alternative can substitute it. One can resort to Prophetic remedies such as drinking Zamzam water, about which the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Zamzam water is for what it is drunk for," and "Zamzam is a delicious food and a cure for illness," and using black seed, about which the Prophet (PBUH) said: "In the black seed, there is a cure for every disease except death," along with reciting the Qur’an over it.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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