Question Summary:
If I say that nothing will harm me unless it is from Allah and just eat/drink whatever I want. Is it correct? Question Detail:
Some medical researchers say that many of the modern day diseases are due to over usage of pesticides in agriculture, pharmaceutical medicine, water contamination ...etc. As a muslim we believe that sickness and cure is from Allah. Is it wrong to attribute a disease or illness to above mentioned things? Please advice what should be the right approach in this regard. If I say that nothing will harm me unless it is from Allah and just eat/drink whatever I want. Is it wright?
Answer :
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
In order to answer your query, one must understand and differentiate between the concept of contagiousness of a disease and taking preventive measures in face of clear harm.
Contagiousness
In regard to the first, the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
«لاَ عَدْوَى وَلاَ طِيَرَةَ، وَلاَ هَامَةَ وَلاَ صَفَرَ، وَفِرَّ مِنَ المَجْذُومِ كَمَا تَفِرُّ مِنَ الأَسَدِ»
(There is) no `adwā (no contagious disease is conveyed without Allah's permission). Nor is there any bad omen, nor is there any Hāmah (superstition regarding an owl), nor is there any (bad omen in the month of) Safar, and one should run away from the leper as one runs away from a lion.[1]
It is also reported on the authority of Jābir (radiyallāhu `anh):
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَخَذَ بِيَدِ مَجْذُومٍ فَوَضَعَهَا مَعَهُ فِي الْقَصْعَةِ، وَقَالَ: «كُلْ ثِقَةً بِاللَّهِ وَتَوَكُّلًا عَلَيْهِ»
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ took a man who was suffering from leprosy by the hand; he then put it along with his own hand in the dish and said: “Eat with confidence in Allāh and trust in Him.”[2]
The lesson that we learn from these ahādīth is that the overall rule is that no disease spreads except by the will of Allāh Ta`ālā. However, due to the delicate nature of human beings regarding such matters, out of mercy and compassion the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ allowed people to exercise caution and instructed them to steer clear of areas where one may catch a certain disease. The underlying wisdom behind this command was to protect the belief of all Muslims regarding the contagiousness of diseases in case a Muslim catches a disease and starts to believe that the actual cause of the disease is not through the power of Allāh Ta`ālā; rather, it is the contagiousness of the disease itself.[3]
As such, one who exercises caution and stays away from such situations has practiced on the sunnah and has acted according to the wisdom of this command. On the other hand, one who shows absolute tawakkul (trust) in Allāh Ta`āla and has reached very high levels of yaqīn (certainty in the fact that nothing in this world has any effect unless it is willed by Allāh the Almighty) may act on the general meaning of the hadīth (that in essence, nothing is contagious unless Allāh Ta`ālā wills that such a thing affects us).[4]
In summary, nothing in this world has the power or ability to affect anything else unless Allāh Ta`āla wills it as so;[5] however, unless one has truly reached such a level of Īmān where one believes that one’s belief will not waver or be shaken by any such incident, it is better that one practices on divine wisdom and the words of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ by exercising precaution in such matters.
Preventive Measures
Regarding the latter, there are many instances where the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ instructed his companions to be cautious when eating or drinking certain types of foods, especially when it was known that a certain food could have undesired effects on our bodies. Similarly, he would also point out that ailments and illnesses do exist and in order to combat such sicknesses Allāh Ta`ālā has created a cure as well. Consider the following narrations:
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ is reported to have said:
لِكُلِّ دَاءٍ دَوَاءٌ، فَإِذَا أُصِيبَ دَوَاءُ الدَّاءِ بَرَأَ بِإِذْنِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ
There is a remedy for every malady, and when the remedy is applied to the disease it is cured with the permission of Allāh, the Exalted and Glorious.[6]
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ is also reported to have said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَنْزَلَ الدَّاءَ وَالدَّوَاءَ، وَجَعَلَ لِكُلِّ دَاءٍ دَوَاءً فَتَدَاوَوْا وَلَا تَدَاوَوْا بِحَرَامٍ
Allāh has sent down both the disease and the cure, and He has appointed a cure for every disease, so treat yourselves medically, but do not treat yourselves with anything unlawful.[7]
Abū Hurayrah (radiyallāhu `anh) narrates that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ دَاءً إِلاَّ أَنْزَلَ لَهُ شِفَاءً
"There is no disease that Allāh has created except that He also has created its cure."[8]
In the following narration, the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ points out that intentionally consuming a fatal drink such as poison is a great sin:
مَنْ تَحَسَّى سَمًّا فَقَتَلَ نَفْسَهُ، فَسَمُّهُ فِي يَدِهِ، يَتَحَسَّاهُ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدًا مُخَلَّدًا فِيهَا أَبَدًا
Whoever drinks poison and kills himself with it, he will be carrying his poison in his hand and drinking it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever.[9]
Abū Hurayrah (radiyallāhu `anh) narrates that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
إِذَا وَقَعَ الذُّبَابُ فِي إِنَاءِ أَحَدِكُمْ فَلْيَغْمِسْهُ كُلَّهُ، ثُمَّ لِيَطْرَحْهُ، فَإِنَّ فِي أَحَدِ جَنَاحَيْهِ شِفَاءً، وَفِي الآخَرِ دَاءً
If a fly falls in the vessel of any of you, let him dip all of it (into the vessel) and then throw it away, for in one of its wings there is a disease and in the other there is healing (an antidote for it).[10]
It is also narrated that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ advised one of his companions to avoid certain foods while suffering from specific ailments such as in the following narration:
عَنْ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ بْنِ صَيْفِيٍّ، مِنْ وَلَدِ صُهَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ صُهَيْبٍ، قَالَ: قَدِمْتُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَبَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ خُبْزٌ وَتَمْرٌ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «ادْنُ فَكُلْ» فَأَخَذْتُ آكُلُ مِنَ التَّمْرِ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ «تَأْكُلُ تَمْرًا وَبِكَ رَمَدٌ؟» قَالَ، فَقُلْتُ: إِنِّي أَمْضُغُ مِنْ نَاحِيَةٍ أُخْرَى، فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
Suhayb (radiyallāhu) narrates: I came to the Prophet ﷺ and in front of him there were some bread and dates. The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Come and eat.’ So I started to eat some of the dates. Then the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Are you eating dates when you have an inflammation in your eye?’ I said: ‘I am chewing from the other side.’ The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ smiled.[11]
From the above narrations we understand that there are also many instances where the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ has advised us that we should take precautionary measures, lest we do harm to ourselves and our bodies.[12] In fact, Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullāh) has dedicated an entire section in his book Al-Tibb Al-Nabawī (Prophetic Medicine) to preventive medicine[13] and numerous chapters regarding prophetic advices in curing bodily ailments in his book Zād al-Ma`ād.[14]
In regard to water contamination and the use of pesticides, studies have demonstrated that the use of toxic pesticides[15] and instances of consuming contaminated water[16] may cause certain short-term and long-term illnesses. However, preventive measures may be taken such as washing fruits and vegetables before eating, using organic foods instead of chemically treated foods, utilizing water filtration systems, and simply adhering to personal hygiene. Furthermore, governmental protocols and laws aim to prevent such issues as much as possible by regulating the quality of drinking water and the levels of pesticides utilized in production.[17] As Muslims, we may also take preventive measures by promoting healthy habits that keep us and our families safe from such diseases.
In summary, while it is incorrect to directly attribute the effect of a disease or illness to such things, seeking preventive measures in face of apparent harms is not against tawakkul (having trust) in Allāh Ta`ālā as established through the guidance of our blessed Nabī ﷺ.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Bilal Mohammad
Student Darul Iftaa
New Jersey, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net
[1] Bukhārī, 5707, The Book of Medicine
[2] Abū Dāwūd, 3925, The Book of Divination and Omens
[3] وَلَكِنَّ وَجْهَ الْحَدِيثِ عِنْدِي مَا ذكرته وَأَطْنَبَ بن خُزَيْمَةَ فِي هَذَا فِي كِتَابِ التَّوَكُّلِ فَإِنَّهُ أَوْرَدَ حَدِيثَ لَا عَدْوَى عَنْ عِدَّةٍ مِنَ الصَّحَابَة وَحَدِيث لَا يُورِدُ مُمْرِضٌ عَلَى مُصِحٍّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَتَرْجَمَ لِلْأَوَّلِ التَّوَكُّلُ عَلَى اللَّهِ فِي نَفْيِ الْعَدْوَى وَلِلثَّانِي ذِكْرُ خَبَرٍ غَلِطَ فِي مَعْنَاهُ بَعْضُ الْعُلَمَاءِ وَأَثْبَتَ الْعَدْوَى الَّتِي نَفَاهَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ تَرْجَمَ الدَّلِيلُ عَلَى أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَمْ يَرِدْ إِثْبَاتَ الْعَدْوَى بِهَذَا الْقَوْلِ فَسَاقَ حَدِيثَ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ لَا عَدْوَى فَقَالَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَمَا بَالُ الْإِبِلِ يُخَالِطُهَا الْأَجْرَبُ فَتَجْرَبُ قَالَ فَمَنْ أَعْدَى الْأَوَّلَ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ طُرُقَهُ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ثُمَّ أَخْرَجَهُ مِنْ حَدِيث بن مَسْعُودٍ ثُمَّ تَرْجَمَ ذِكْرُ خَبَرٍ رُوِيَ فِي الْأَمْرِ بِالْفِرَارِ مِنَ الْمَجْذُومِ قَدْ يَخْطُرُ لِبَعْضِ النَّاسِ أَنَّ فِيهِ إِثْبَاتَ الْعَدْوَى وَلَيْسَ كَذَلِكَ وَسَاقَ حَدِيثَ فِرَّ مِنَ الْمَجْذُومِ فِرَارَكَ مِنَ الْأَسَدِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَمِنْ حَدِيثِ عَائِشَةَ وَحَدِيثِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الشَّرِيدِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ فِي أَمر المجذوم بِالرُّجُوعِ وَحَدِيث بن عَبَّاسٍ لَا تُدِيمُوا النَّظَرَ إِلَى الْمَجْذُومِينَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَمَرَهُمْ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالْفِرَارِ مِنَ الْمَجْذُومِ كَمَا نَهَاهُمُ إِنْ يُورِدَ الْمُمْرِضُ عَلَى الْمُصِحِّ شَفَقَةً عَلَيْهِمْ وَخَشْيَةَ أَنْ يُصِيبَ بَعْضَ مَنْ يُخَالِطُهُ الْمَجْذُومُ الْجُذَامُ وَالصَّحِيحَ مِنَ الْمَاشِيَةِ الْجَرِبُ فَيَسْبِقُ إِلَى بَعْضِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْعَدْوَى فَيُثْبِتُ الْعَدْوَى الَّتِي نَفَاهَا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَمَرَهُمْ بِتَجَنُّبِ ذَلِكَ شَفَقَةً مِنْهُ وَرَحْمَةً لِيَسْلَمُوا مِنَ التَّصْدِيقِ بِإِثْبَاتِ الْعَدْوَى وَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ لَا يُعْدِي شَيْءٌ شَيْئًا قَالَ وَيُؤَيِّدُ هَذَا أَكْلُهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَعَ الْمَجْذُومِ ثِقَةً بِاللَّهِ وَتَوَكُّلًا عَلَيْهِ وَسَاقَ حَدِيثَ جَابِرٍ فِي ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَأَمَّا نَهْيُهُ عَنْ إِدَامَةِ النَّظَرِ إِلَى الْمَجْذُومِ فَيَحْتَمِلُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِأَنَّ الْمَجْذُومَ يَغْتَمُّ وَيَكْرَهُ إِدْمَانَ الصَّحِيحِ نَظَرَهُ إِلَيْهِ لِأَنَّهُ قَلَّ مَنْ يَكُونُ بِهِ دَاءٌ إِلَّا وَهُوَ يَكْرَهُ أَنْ يُطَّلَعَ عَلَيْهِ اه
وَهَذَا الَّذِي ذَكَرَهُ احْتِمَالًا سَبَقَهُ إِلَيْهِ مَالِكٌ...
وَقَالَ الطَّبَرِيُّ الصَّوَابُ عِنْدَنَا الْقَوْلُ بِمَا صَحَّ بِهِ الْخَبَرُ وَأَنْ لَا عَدْوَى وَأَنَّهُ لَا يُصِيبُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَا كُتِبَ عَلَيْهَا وَأَمَّا دُنُوُّ عَلِيلٍ مِنْ صَحِيحٍ فَغَيْرُ مُوجِبٍ انْتِقَالَ الْعِلَّةِ لِلصَّحِيحِ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِذِي صِحَّةٍ الدُّنُوُّ مِنْ صَاحِبِ الْعَاهَةِ الَّتِي يَكْرَهُهَا النَّاسُ لَا لِتَحْرِيمِ ذَلِكَ بَلْ لِخَشْيَةِ أَنْ يَظُنَّ الصَّحِيحُ أَنَّهُ لَوْ نَزَلَ بِهِ ذَلِكَ الدَّاءُ أَنَّهُ مِنْ جِهَةِ دُنُوِّهُ مِنَ الْعَلِيلِ فَيَقَعُ فِيمَا أَبْطَلَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنَ الْعَدْوَى
وَقَدْ سَلَكَ الطَّحَاوِيُّ فِي مَعَاني الْآثَار مَسْلَك بن خُزَيْمَةَ فِيمَا ذَكَرَهُ...
(فتح الباري، حديث رقم ٥٧٠٧، كتاب الطب)
[4] قَالَ الشَّيْخُ أَبُو مُحَمَّدِ بْنُ أَبِي جَمْرَةَ الْأَمْرُ بِالْفِرَارِ مِنَ الْأَسَدِ لَيْسَ لِلْوُجُوبِ بَلْ لِلشَّفَقَةِ لِأَنَّهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَنْهَى أُمَّتَهُ عَنْ كُلِّ مَا فِيهِ ضَرَرٌ بِأَيِّ وَجْهٍ كَانَ وَيَدُلُّهُمْ عَلَى كُلِّ مَا فِيهِ خَيْرٌ وَقَدْ ذَكَرَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الطِّبِّ أَنَّ الرَّوَائِحَ تُحْدِثُ فِي الْأَبْدَانِ خَلَلًا فَكَانَ هَذَا وَجْهَ الْأَمْرِ بِالْمُجَانَبَةِ وَقَدْ أَكَلَ هُوَ مَعَ الْمَجْذُومِ فَلَوْ كَانَ الْأَمْرُ بِمُجَانَبَتِهِ عَلَى الْوُجُوبِ لَمَا فَعَلَهُ قَالَ وَيُمْكِنُ الْجَمْعُ بَيْنَ فِعْلِهِ وَقَوْلِهِ بِأَنَّ الْقَوْلَ هُوَ الْمَشْرُوعُ مِنْ أَجْلِ ضَعْفِ الْمُخَاطَبِينَ وَفِعْلُهُ حَقِيقَةُ الْإِيمَانِ فَمَنْ فَعَلَ الْأَوَّلَ أَصَابَ السُّنَّةَ وَهِيَ أَثَرُ الْحِكْمَةِ وَمَنْ فَعَلَ الثَّانِي كَانَ أَقْوَى يَقِينًا لِأَنَّ الْأَشْيَاءَ كُلَّهَا لَا تَأْثِيرَ لَهَا إِلَّا بِمُقْتَضَى إِرَادَةِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَتَقْدِيرُهُ كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى وَمَا هُمْ بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذن الله فَمَنْ كَانَ قَوِيَّ الْيَقِينِ فَلَهُ أَنْ يُتَابِعَهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي فِعْلِهُ وَلَا يَضُرُّهُ شَيْءٌ وَمَنْ وَجَدَ فِي نَفْسِهِ ضَعْفًا فَلْيَتْبَعْ أَمْرَهُ فِي الْفِرَارِ لِئَلَّا يَدْخُلَ بِفِعْلِهِ فِي إِلْقَاء نَفسه إِلَى التَّهْلُكَة فَالْحَاصِل أَنَّ الْأُمُورَ الَّتِي يُتَوَقَّعُ مِنْهَا الضَّرَرُ وَقَدْ أَبَاحَتِ الْحِكْمَةُ الرَّبَّانِيَّةُ الْحَذَرَ مِنْهَا فَلَا يَنْبَغِي لِلضُّعَفَاءِ أَنْ يَقْرَبُوهَا وَأَمَّا أَصْحَابُ الصِّدْقِ وَالْيَقِينِ فَهُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ بِالْخِيَارِ
(المرجع السابق)
[5] (ومن يقل) من أهل الضلال؛ كالفلاسفة (بالطبع) أي: بتأثير الطبع، أي: الطبيعة والحقيقة، بأن يقول: أن الأشياء المذكورة تؤثر بطبعها. (أو) يقل (بالعلة) أي: بتأثيرها، بأن يقول: إن بعض الأشياء علة، أي: سبب في وجود شيء، من غير أن كون لله تعالي فيه اختيار...(فذاك) القائل (كفر)...لأنه أثبت الشريك، والعجز لله – تعالي عن ذلك – (عند) جميع (أهل الملة) أي: ملة الإسلام...(ومن يقل) من أهل الزيغ إن هذه الأمور العادية تؤثر (بالقوة المودعة) أي: بواسطة قوة أودعها الله تعالي فيها...(فذاك) القائل (بدعي فلا تلتفت) أي: لقوله، بل يجب الأعراض عنه، والتمسك بقول أهل السنة: من أنه لا تأثير لما سوي الله تعالي أصلا، لا بطبع، ولا بعلة، ولا بواسطة قوة أودعت فيها، وإنما التأثير لله وحده بمحض اختياره.
(شرح الخريدة البهية، ص ١٦٤-١٦٦، دار البصائر)
[6] Muslim, 2204, The Book of Greetings
[7] Abū Dāwūd, 3874, The Book of Medicine
[8] Bukhārī, 5678, The Book of Medicine
[11] Abū Dāwūd, 3874, The Book of Medicine
[12] فَالطَّبِيبُ: هُوَ الَّذِي يُفَرِّقُ مَا يَضُرُّ بِالْإِنْسَانِ جَمْعُهُ، أَوْ يَجْمَعُ فِيهِ مَا يَضُرُّهُ تَفَرُّقُهُ، أَوْ يَنْقُصُ مِنْهُ مَا يَضُرُّهُ زِيَادَتُهُ، أَوْ يَزِيدُ فِيهِ مَا يَضُرُّهُ نَقْصُهُ، فَيَجْلِبُ الصِّحَّةَ الْمَفْقُودَةَ، أَوْ يَحْفَظُهَا بِالشَّكْلِ وَالشَّبَهِ، وَيَدْفَعُ الْعِلَّةَ الْمَوْجُودَةَ بِالضِّدِّ وَالنَّقِيضِ وَيُخْرِجُهَا، أَوْ يَدْفَعُهَا بِمَا يَمْنَعُ مِنْ حُصُولِهَا بِالْحِمْيَةِ، وَسَتَرَى هَذَا كُلَّهُ فِي هَدْيِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ شَافِيًا كَافِيًا بِحَوَلِ اللَّهِ وَقُوَّتِهِ، وَفَضْلِهِ وَمَعُونَتِهِ.
(زاد المعاد، ج ٤، ص ٩، مؤسسة الرسالة)
[13] See Al-Tibb Al-Nabawī: Fasl fī al-Mahādhīr
[14] See Zād al-Ma`ād: Fasl Tibb al-Abdān, Fasl al-Tadāwī, Fasl Anwā`i `Ilājihī ﷺ
[15] Pesticide illness is a grouping of symptoms and diseases that can be caused by exposure to pesticides in the workplace, home, and other places in the environment.
Exposures to pesticides may cause a wide variety of both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) health affects, depending upon the type of pesticide and the amount of exposure. Signs of acute poisoning may include diarrhea, pinpoint pupils, rashes, nausea, headache, and vomiting. Some pesticides may cause eye, skin, or throat irritation. Chronic exposure (greater than 1 year) to some types of pesticides may aggravate asthma symptoms; other types may increase the risk for certain types of cancers and birth defects, or cause damage to the genetic and immune systems.
[“Pesticide Illness”, CDPH, accessed on March 09, 2015, http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HEALTHINFO/DISCOND/Pages/PesticideIllness.aspx]
Laboratory studies show that pesticides can cause health problems, such as birth defects, nerve damage, cancer, and other effects that might occur over a long period of time. However, these effects depend on how toxic the pesticide is and how much of it is consumed. Some pesticides also pose unique health risks to children.
[“Pesticides and Food: Health Problems Pesticides May Pose”, EPA, accessed on March 09, 2015, http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/risks.htm]
Beyond Pesticides, an environmental and public health group, decided to put together the Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database to raise awareness about the dangers of pesticides and to urge policy changes to get these chemicals removed from use.
"A read through of the scientific literature on pesticides and major preventable diseases afflicting us in the 21st century suggests that one of the first responses called for is an all out effort to stop using toxic pesticides," explained Jay Feldmen, executive director of Beyond Pesticides.
[“Pesticides may be a leading cause of major diseases”, Natural News, accessed on March 09, 2015, http://www.naturalnews.com/029550_pesticides_disease.html]
[16] The presence of contaminants in water can lead to adverse health effects, including gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders. Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people whose immune systems are compromised because of AIDS, chemotherapy, or transplant medications, may be especially susceptible to illness from some contaminants.
[“Water-related Diseases and Contaminants in Public Water Systems”, CDC, accessed on March 09, 2015, http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/water_diseases.html]
“Water Sanitation Health”, WHO, accessed on March 09, 2015, http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/diseases/diarrhoea/en/
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