Halalan Toyyiban Attributes Shown in Selected Traditional Malay Medical Manuscripts

While some traditional medical practice has been incorporated into their respective modern practice such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Traditional Malay Medicine (TMM) is still in the early stages. Mystic elements in TMM slowly faded after Islamic preachers came to Malay land in the late 15^th century, however, it still faces the stigma of being unscientific and superstitious. Hence, this study focuses on revealing the Halalan Toyyiban attributes as ruled in Islamic law shown in selected TMM manuscripts. Seven TMM manuscripts: MSS 2999, MSS 2515, MS 1998.400, Khazanah Perubatan Melayu Tumbuhan Ubatan, Kitab Tib Ilmu Perubatan Melayu, Khazinat al-Insan and Kitab al-Rahmah Fi al-Tibb wa al-Hikmah in the collection of the Malaysia National Library were reviewed systematically, with emphasis on agarwood as one of the materials. The study finds that all the materials used in all the found 100 agarwood-related formulations were derived from local and Halal sources: plants as the primary ingredient, a few animals, and minerals. The finding can refute the unscientific and superstitious claim and is expected to encourage Muslim scientists to develop alternative medicine using traditional remedies.