How we grade
Every page on ilaj carries two independent grades. One grades the Islamic sources, the other the clinical evidence. They are graded separately because they answer different questions.
A practice can be religiously established and clinically unproven, or the reverse. Where the evidence is thin, that is said plainly rather than dressed up.
Each page shows its grades in two cards, side by side, under a headline that says how the two relate. This page explains every grade you will see on them.
Islamic sources
Strength
How strong the strongest source cited is.
- Established
- The Qur'an with a clear meaning, or a hadith agreed upon by Bukhari and Muslim, with an interpretation no one contests.
- Strong
- A sahih (sound) hadith in one collection, or the Qur'an with a widely accepted interpretation.
- Moderate
- A hasan (good) hadith, a ruling of a major fiqh council, or a position drawn from established principles with broad scholarly support.
- Limited
- A weak (da'if) hadith, cited only as encouragement and never for a ruling or a medical claim; or a minority scholarly view.
- General principles only
- No specific source covers this matter, so the general teachings on health apply.
- No Islamic basis
- A cultural practice with no basis in Islamic texts, or a fabricated (mawdu') narration. We say so plainly.
Level
How directly the sources speak to the matter. Where nothing specific exists, we say so rather than stretch a source to fit.
- Direct
- A verse or hadith addresses this matter. We quote it, with its grade.
- Ruled
- A named scholarly body has issued a position. We give the body, the year and the position.
- General
- No specific verse, hadith or ruling exists. We say so, and give the general teachings that apply.
Scholars
Where scholars stand. We never present one school's view as Islam's view, and ilaj does not issue rulings: it reports them.
- Agreed
- Consensus, or all four Sunni schools agree. The Shia position is noted where it differs materially.
- Scholars differ
- Scholars hold different views. Each position is stated, and where the difference follows the schools, the schools are named.
- Contemporary ruling
- A modern ruling, with the body and year named and a link.
- Not addressed
- No ruling found after searching.
Clinical evidence
Strength
How strong the clinical evidence is. We prefer NICE, SIGN, the NHS and Cochrane, then systematic reviews, then trials, then observational studies.
- Strong
- A NICE or SIGN recommendation, or a Cochrane or other systematic review of randomised controlled trials with consistent findings.
- Moderate
- Randomised controlled trials, or systematic reviews, with limitations.
- Limited
- Observational studies, small trials, results that vary widely, or studies of people outside the UK.
- Insufficient
- Only case reports, or laboratory or animal studies.
- Not studied
- No research found.
- Consensus guidance
- Safety advice from recognised UK clinical bodies, such as NICE, the Royal Colleges, NHS trusts and national health charities, where the question is avoiding harm rather than comparing treatments. The strength of the evidence is not graded.
Where the grade is Limited, Insufficient or Not studied, the page says why in one line. A lack of studies does not disprove something.
When the evidence is thin
We say so, and say why: few studies, small samples, results that vary, or no UK data. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. It is also not evidence of benefit. So:
- Thin evidence and no plausible harm: permissible, unproven, and fine alongside treatment.
- Thin evidence and possible harm, such as interactions, delay or cost: a clear caution, with the harm named.
- Nothing is recommended on the basis that it might work.
How they relate
The headline on every page: whether Islamic teaching and NHS advice point the same way.
- Aligned
- Islamic teaching and NHS advice point the same way.
- Adds to NHS care
- Islam offers something the NHS does not address: spiritual, communal or motivational.
- Differs
- They point different ways. Both positions are explained, and the page marks the difference clearly.
- NHS guidance only
- There is no Islamic position on this; the general teachings apply.
- Islamic guidance only
- There is no clinical side, as with matters of worship or du'a.
Sources
Every citation is typed, so you can see what kind of authority stands behind it.
Nothing on ilaj is a recommendation. A strong grade describes the evidence, not what you should do. Speak to your care team before changing anything.