The Blessed Oil: How to Use Olive Oil (Zaitun) for Health and Healing

Few remedies sit as comfortably in both the kitchen and the medicine cabinet as olive oil — zaitun in Arabic, man zaitun in Hausa. It is one of the foods Allah swears by in the Qur'an, and one the Prophet ﷺ told us plainly to eat and to rub on the body. At Alyusra it remains one of the most frequently recommended items we keep, both on its own and as the base for other herbal preparations.

Its Place in the Qur'an and Sunnah

Allah swears by the olive at the opening of Surah At-Tin: "By the fig and the olive" (95:1). In the verse of Light, the oil is described as coming from "a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire" (24:35).

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Eat olive oil and anoint yourselves with it, for it comes from a blessed tree." (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)

Notice that the instruction covers two separate uses: eating it and applying it to the body. Both have carried down through the tradition of Prophetic medicine, and both are worth taking seriously.

Using Olive Oil in Food

The simplest and most consistent way to benefit is through the diet. A tablespoon taken on an empty stomach in the morning is a long-standing practice, and many find it settles the digestion and eases constipation. Beyond that:

• Drizzle it over food after cooking rather than frying with it — high heat degrades the oil and wastes much of its goodness.
• Use it in place of heavier fats in salads, soups, and stews.
• Take it with warm water and a little honey in the morning, a combination many of our patients find gentle on the stomach.
• Pair it with black seed (habbatus sauda) — the two complement each other well and are frequently used together.

Moderation is the principle throughout. One to two tablespoons a day is plenty for most adults; olive oil is nourishing but calorie-dense, and more is not better.

Using It on the Skin and Hair

The Prophetic instruction to "anoint yourselves with it" points to external use, and here olive oil is genuinely versatile:

• Dry skin and cracked heels. Warm a small amount between the palms and work it in after bathing, while the skin is still slightly damp.
• Scalp and hair. Massage into the scalp, leave for thirty minutes to an hour, then wash out. Used weekly it softens dry, brittle hair.
• Massage. Warmed olive oil is our usual base for massaging stiff joints, aching backs, and tired limbs, often infused with other herbs.
• Infant care. A light massage with warmed oil is a traditional practice, though it should always be gentle and the oil never hot.
• Minor chapping and irritation. It forms a soft protective layer that helps the skin hold its moisture.

Whatever the use, test a little on the inside of the forearm first and wait a day, particularly for children or anyone with sensitive skin.

Alongside Ruqyah

Olive oil is one of the substances traditionally recited over in ruqyah shar'iyyah, along with water and honey. Verses from the Qur'an are recited over the oil, which is then applied to the body or taken. The healing is from Allah alone; the oil is a means, not a power in itself. We offer this within our consultations, always within what the Sunnah establishes and without the amulets, charms, or invented practices that have no basis in the religion.

Choosing a Good Olive Oil

Quality varies enormously in the market, and a poor oil will not give you what you are looking for. When buying:

• Choose extra virgin, cold-pressed oil. This is the first pressing, taken without heat or chemicals, and it retains the most benefit.
• Prefer dark glass bottles or tins over clear plastic — light spoils the oil.
• Expect a genuine olive smell and a slightly peppery taste at the back of the throat. Flat, greasy, or rancid oil has been sitting too long or has been adulterated.
• Check the harvest or expiry date. Olive oil does not improve with age; use it within a year or so of opening.

Store the bottle somewhere cool and dark, away from the cooker and out of direct sunlight, and keep it tightly closed.

A Word of Caution

Olive oil is safe for most people, but a few points are worth stating plainly. Very large quantities can loosen the bowels. Anyone with gallbladder problems should be moderate with fats generally. Allergy is uncommon but not impossible, which is why the patch test matters. And most importantly: olive oil supports health, it does not replace treatment. If you have a diagnosed condition or are on prescribed medication, continue with it and speak to your doctor before making changes.

Come and See Us

If you would like guidance on using olive oil for a specific complaint — or on combining it with black seed, honey, or any of our herbal preparations — you are welcome to visit us in person at our head office in Kano or our branch office in Abuja, any day between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM. You can also reach us on phone or WhatsApp, or book a consultation through this website and we will confirm your appointment.

And Allah is the one who grants healing.