Health Guidelines From Qura'n And Sunnah (1/2)

This article is not about the glory of Islamic Medicine of past 1000 years  which produced great physicians like al-Razi and Ibn-Sina. This article is also not about virtues of honey, the center point of discussion in most of the articles written these days on Islamic Medicine. This also is not an article saying that since science has now confirmed certain Qur’anic statements, therefore Qur’an must be a divine book. To the contrary, we begin with the belief that all Qur’anic statements are true, science has confirmed some of them in the past, and will confirm the rest in the future. If science has not confirmed it yet, it needs to examine its data more deeply, or may be repeat the experiment, rather than question the authenticity of Qur’an.

The Qur’an is not a book of medicine or of health sciences, but in it there are hints which lead to guidelines in health and diseases. Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) has set as an example to the mankind so his traditions in matters of health and personal hygienic are also a guide for his followers.

We start our discussion with the following verse:

"Everything good that happens to you (O Man) is from God; everything bad that happens to you is from your own actions". [Surah An-Nisa’, 4:79]

Therefore, the pathology (disease) is defined by the famous pathologist William Boyd as physiology (natural state) gone wrong. It is our tampering with natural process that leads to unnatural outcomes.

Human body can be compared to some degree with a machine created by man. The fascinating tape recorder has many mechanical and electronic parts but life does not come to it till electrical current is passed through. Similarly, in the components of human body there arc the anatomic parts and fluids but also the spirit (the soul). As the care of a machine requires keeping it clean, giving it some rest, and passing electricity of proper voltage, and using it carefully and wisely, so are the requirement for the body and of the body as whole.

Before we come to the physical care of human body, let us talk about the spiritual care.

The spiritual care

The spiritual care involves the acts of worship. The problem is that Iman cannot be translated into belief, nor Salat into prayer, Nor Wudu into washing hand, face and feet nor; Sawm into fasting nor Sakat into charity nor Hajj into pilgrimage to Mecca. They are entitles in themselves.

A. Iman:

The belief in God is the first and foremost important need for spiritual stability. Belief in God includes belief in his all attributes, his angels, his books, the day of judgement, the heaven and hell and belief that - all good and bad is within his reach. Imam Rumi has called faith being superior to prayers. In illness, according to Imam Ghazali, the awareness of God increases and man becomes closer to God by realizing his own weakness. Without true belief, neither our prayer, nor charity, nor fasting nor pilgrimage will be accepted. The essence of belief is to rid ourselves of all false Gods around us, or within us, and to worship no one except God Alone.

B. Salat:

The health aspects of Salat

I. Wudu: Washing all the exposed areas of the body, hand, feet, face, mouth, nostrils etc. 5 times a day is a healthy preventive procedure. Hand washing is being emphasized more and more in hospitals now in order to prevent spread of germs. However non-Muslims did not know that hand- washing is so important - it has been ordered in Qu'ran (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:7) 1400 years ago. And for complete cleanliness bathing is advised in (Surah An-Nisa’, 4:43)

2. Recitation of Qur’an: Has a healing effect on body, mind and heart. These healing effects are due to the effect of sound (Echo) and the meaning. The letter Alif resounds unto the Echoes to heart and the letter YA resound unto Echoes to the pineal gland in the brain.

"O Mankind: There has come to you a direction front your Lord and a healing for the (disease) in your hearts - and for those who believe a guidance and mercy!!" [Surah Yunus, 10:57]

"We sent down in the Qur’an that which is healing and a mercy to those who believe: to the unjust it causes nothing but loss after loss". The movements in Salaat are mild, uniform, and involve all muscles and joints. The caloric output is desired to keep the energy balance." [Surah Al-Isra’, 17:82]

C: Zakat (Charity):

The word itself means purification and growth. Here it is meant to imply the purification of legitimately earned wealth. Many of our crimes are committed with money or for love of money, and in the love of money one becomes violent in behavior.

“And he is violent in his love of wealth:” [Surah Al-‘Adiyat, 100: 8]

In Islam the ownership of wealth belongs to God. We are the disposer of that trust. Therefore, this concept establishes peace at heart and our behavior in the loss of money or unusual gain, in either way, we thank God.

D. Sawm:

The Islamic fasting: Islamic fasting is prescribed as way training of our mind, and body in self-restraints.

"O you who believe is prescribed to you, as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you can learn self-restraint." [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:183]

Therefore, during the period of fast one may not only get rid of nibbling food, coffee and smoking but also of anger and excessive sexual passion.

In fact, the fast not only gives rest to stomach but also stabilizes the secretion of hormones which control our behavior.

E. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca):

The morale is Prophet lbrahim's submission and absolute surrender to God's will, the opportunity for repentance, and the social and political gathering of the Ummah depicting brotherhood, and equality. However this can be used for programming and testing us for physical endurance, a requirement for all able men and women. The long walks, the heat, the sun, the thirst, the physical exercise, etc. is to remind us of the day of judgement. We should perform Hajj when young and physically well rather than wait for the old age. We should keep ourselves in good shape before and years after the Hajj.