The Wisdom Beyond Touch: An Astonishing Cure by Avicenna

An Astonishing Cure

It is said that in ancient times, the daughter of a wealthy man fell from her horse while riding, and the bone of her hip became dislocated from its joint. The girl’s father sought treatment from many physicians, hoping they could set the bone back in place. The difficulty, however, was that the girl would not allow any physician to touch her body. Her father insisted greatly, explaining that according to Islamic law the physician was considered a mahram (permissible), but the girl would not agree under any circumstances. Day by day, her condition worsened and she grew weaker.

Eventually, people advised the father that outside the city lived a highly skilled and renowned physician, and that he should consult him. The man went to this physician and explained his problem in detail. The physician said, “I can set your daughter’s hip back in place without touching her, but only on one condition.” The man replied that he was ready to accept any condition. The physician said, “Bring me a very large, healthy cow, and I will treat your daughter.”

The man purchased the strongest and most robust cow in the city at a very high price and brought it to the physician’s house. The physician said, “Bring your daughter with you the day after tomorrow. By the will of God, I will treat her on that day.”

After the man left, the physician instructed his students that for the next two days, the cow should not be given even a blade of grass nor a single drop of water. The students were astonished and wondered how such a strong cow could survive two days without food or water. However, since it was their teacher’s command, they had no choice but to obey. After two days of intense hunger and thirst, the cow became extremely weak.

At midday, as promised, the man brought his daughter on a cot to the physician. The physician told the girl’s father to seat his daughter on the cow’s back. Everyone was shocked, but there was no option other than to follow the instruction. The girl was seated on the cow’s back. Then the physician told his students to tie the girl’s legs with a rope around the cow’s belly. Once this was done, the physician instructed them to place grass and other fodder in front of the cow.

The cow, having been hungry and thirsty for two days, began to eat greedily. The physician then placed a large bucket of water mixed with a great amount of salt in front of the cow. The cow began to drink rapidly. The salt in the water intensified its thirst, causing it to drink a large quantity of water at once.

As the cow’s stomach began to swell from the food and water, the pressure on the girl’s legs increased so intensely that she began to scream in pain. Suddenly, a cracking sound was heard, and the girl lost consciousness due to the severe pain.

The physician then had the girl taken down from the cow and said to her father, “Your daughter’s hip bone has returned to its proper place, and from today onward, this cow belongs to me.”

This physician was none other than Hakim Bu Ali Sina (Avicenna), whose name later became famous throughout the entire world.

This remarkable incident reflects not only the brilliance of Hakim Bu Ali Sina’s medical knowledge, but also his deep understanding of human anatomy, physics, and psychology. His unconventional method demonstrates how wisdom, patience, and innovation can succeed where ordinary treatments fail, leaving a lasting lesson in the history of healing and intellect.