Maintenance of Health (1/4)

1. Health is not only a great blessing of God but also a valuable trust from the Almighty. Regard your health as of great value and take every care to safeguard it. Health once lost is hard to recover. As the little worm eats into the books and destroys great libraries, similarly a little negligence or an ordinary sickness ruins the life. To neglect the rules of hygiene and to be indifferent towards the proper maintenance of health is callous, even as it is an act of ingratitude to the Almighty. The essence of human life is reason, morality, faith and knowledge. It is only the physical health which ensures the proper functioning of human faculties of reason, morality, faith and knowledge. In fact, physical health is the basic factor is the development of mind and the growth of reason; it is also a pre-requisite for the performance of sublime acts of morality and the discharge of religious obligations. A weak and sick body has a feeble mind whose faculty of reason cannot but be unsound and utterly hopeless. When life is devoid of longing and ardour; when there is no courage and the will is weak; when the passions have cooled down and are exhausted — such spiritless existence is a drag on the infirm body. The true believers have to perform lofty deeds in life and discharge heavy responsibilities of state. It is imperative, therefore, that they should have robust physique, sturdy intellect and sound mind, firm will, high morale and a life full of spirit, enthusiasm and sublime passions.

Healthy and spirited individuals make dynamic nations and such nations by offering supreme sacrifices in the struggle for existence achieve a pre-eminent position and are a living symbol of the value and dignity of fife.

2. You should always be cheerful, glad, alert and active. Make your life well-ordered, elegant, and healthy by means of good living, cheerful manners, joyful smiles and lively disposition. Avoid sorrow, anger, grudge or anxiety, envy, jealousy t slander, narrow-mindedness; don’t lose your spirits and keep your mind clear of all complexes. These moral ills have an adverse effect on the digestive system and a defective digestive system is the major cause of poor health. The Apostle of God  (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)  observed:

"Lead a simple life; adopt moderate habits and keep yourself cheerful". (Reported by Mishkat)

The Holy Prophet  (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)  once saw an old man who was dragging on supported on either side by two of his sons, The Holy prophet  (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)  enquired: "What has happened to this old man.” The people told him; "This man had vowed to travel to the House of God on foot”. The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed: “It is not the will of God that this old man should torment himself” and then urged the old man to ride towards his destination.

'Umar (God be pleased with him) once saw a youth walking along slowly like a sick man. ‘Umar (God be pleased with him) stopped the youth and enquired; "What sickness afflicts you"? He replied; "I am not ailing". Thereupon 'Umar (God be pleased with him) took hold of a whip and threatening him with it said to the young fellow: "Walk on the way energetically with firm foot." 

The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to walk with a firm foot and stepped on the ground as if he were descending a slope.  'Abdullah b. Harith (May God be pleased with him) reports:

"I never met a man who smiled more often than the Prophet of God". (Reported by Tirmidhi)

The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught the following prayer to his people and you should say this prayer more often:

“Allahumma a'udhu bika min-al-hammi wal-huzni  wal'ajzi wal-kasli wa dala'iddaini wa ghdlabat-ir-rijal.”

“O Allah I seek refuge in Thee from the anxiety and grief, from inability and sloth, from the burden of indebtedness and the domination of men.” [Reported by Bukhari, Muslim)

3. Do not lift more burden than your strength can bear. Do not waste your physical energy. It is obligatory that you should save and protect your physical strength and use it with moderation according to your capability.

 ‘A'isha (God be pleased with her) reports that the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed:

 “Act as much as is within your strength, for the Lord will not feel wearied but you will get weary". (Reported by Bukhari)

Abu Qais (God be pleased with him) reports that he went to see the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was delivering a sermon.   Abu Qais stood waiting in the sun. At the bidding of the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) he stepped into the shade. (Reported by Al-Adab Al-Mufrad)

The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade that a person should be standing in a position where a part of his body is under the shade and, the other part in the sun.

A lady of the tribe Bahla, Mujiba (God be pleased with her) relates:

"Once my father called on the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to seek religious knowledge. Having learnt some important matters about religion, my father returned home. A year later, he again went to see the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Holy Prophet found it impossible to recognize his visitor. Upon this, my father submitted, “O Prophet of God! Don't you remember me?” The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “No, I do not recognise you. Introduce yourself”. My father submitted: "I belong to the tribe of Bahla: I came to see you last year also”. The holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed: "Why are you in such a bad shape?  When you came here last year you were in a much better state and looked fine". My father replied: "Since our last meeting, I have been continuously observing fasts. I eat only at night", The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed: "It was utterly needless for you to torment yourself and ruin your health". Then the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) urged my father, “You should keep fasts during the whole of the month of Ramadan and in addition observe fast for one day during each month". My father submitted; “O Prophet of God (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you)! Permit me to keep more fasts". The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) enjoined; “You should observe two fasts during each month". My father asked permission for more. The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "You can keep three fasts during each month". My father entreated for a further addition in the number of fasts. The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: "Well then, you may observe fasts during sacred months each year and then leave a gap. You may follow this course every year.” While observing this, the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) made a sign with three fingers, joined them and moved them apart.

The point that the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) wanted to bring home to his visitor was that he should observe fasts during the months of Rajab, Dhulqa’dah and Dhulhijjah and leave a gap in fasting during the intervening years). The Prophet of God (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has affirmed:

"It does not behave a believer to degrade himself". The people enquired: "In what manner does a believer degrade himself?" The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed: "He subjects himself to intolerable sufferings and thus degrades himself”. [Reported by Tirmidhi]