Question: Electrocauterization which does not burn, does this fall into the prohibition*?
Answer: “What is apparent is electrocauterization is from the way of fomentation. It is like hot water which is placed in a vessel then poured on the body. So it gives it heat and does not burn. It is better than cauterization if it leads to a benefit. This is because the body remains upon its [original] form”.
[Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood no. 435]
*Translator’s Note:
One of the Ahadith that speaks against cauterization is the following:
جَابِرًا، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ إِنْ كَانَ فِي شَىْءٍ مِنْ أَدْوِيَتِكُمْ شِفَاءٌ فَفِي شَرْطَةِ مِحْجَمٍ أَوْ لَذْعَةٍ بِنَارٍ، وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَكْتَوِيَ
Narrated Jabir:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If there is any healing in your medicines then it is a cupping operation, or branding (cauterization), but I do not like to be (cauterized) branded.
[Bukhari no. 5704]
Electrocauterization is mainly used to “prevent or stop bleeding after an injury or during surgery, remove abnormal tissue growth, prevent infection” [https://www.healthline.com/health/electrocauterization#Overview1]
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
