Getting treatment from a polytheist doctor

Question

Question: A polytheist doctor or Ayurvedic practitioner rises early every morning, worships the idols that are his deities and asks them for help in healing the patients who come to him. Both Muslims and non-Muslims get treatment from such a polytheist doctor or Ayurvedic practitioner and are healed by him. Now the point is that in the religion of Islam, however high the rank of a Hindu holy man, sadhu (a Hindu ascetic)

Answer

If he treats by means of the medical profession and medicine (tibb), there is no harm in getting treated by him, because this has nothing to do with sanctity but with skill and experience. However, if someone regards him as holy and accepted because of his worship of other than Allah, and gets treatment from him for that very reason, this is not allowed — it is dangerous.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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