Flies and Diseases; Rasulullah SAW (peace and blessings be upon him) and Scientists

Islam requires us to maintain cleanliness, not only in clothing and shelter, but also food and drinks. The Prophet PBUH (peace and blessings be upon him) has emphasised the importance of cleanliness so much so that he has told us to be vigilant even with a single housefly because of the diseases that may befall us, such as food poisoning. The content of the hadith above has been studied by scientists at a later age. For example, in 1871, a German scientist, Professor Brefeld from University of Halle, discovered a microorganism called empusa muscae, which is a type of entomophthorales (fungus). The microorganism remains in the fatty tissue in the fly’s stomach until it grows in strength. The cells will divide and produce cytoplasm that can kill the germs of diseases (pathogens). Cells can be found in the third section of the fly, which is the abdomen and below. Further research has shown that diseases and bacteria are found only on the feet of the fly, not at other parts of its body. The microorganisms that can destroy the harmful germs (bacteriophages) can only leave the fly’s body if submerged in liquid. The cells of the bacteriophages will burst into the liquid. The content of those cells is the antidote for the pathogens which the fly carries. So we can see there is truth to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had said. By submerging the fly in the drink, we can release the antidote to the harmful pathogens carried by the fly, and thus, the drink can be safely consumed. Subhanallah! How great our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is!