Analgesic effects of sucrose were known to the prophet

EDITOR,--Muslim doctors in Britain will have been interested to read Nora Haouari and colleagues' paper showing the analgesic effects of sucrose.1 Practising Muslims all over the world rub pieces of chewed dates inside the mouth of newborn babies beforecircumcision on the grounds that the last Prophet Muhammad did this many times to newborn children.

Copying the prophet in all his actions (Sunnah) and obeying all his sayings (Ahadith) are basicto our belief, and the medical wisdom of giving dates (which are 70-80% sugar in the form of glucose and fructose) before circumcision is clear. I recommend that the authors should investigate the use of sugar from dates in their trials of sugary substances as analgesia.