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Islam And Medicine
Hasan Ghaznawi, M. D.
lslam is the religion of all times and places.It is a
perfect system of temporal values.
By practicing its laws Muslims all over the world not only
attain spirituality but the pinnacle of all other glories
and gain the wealth of health.
There
is a great inter-relationship between modern medicine and
some of our Islamic teachings.
Every
word of Qur'an is in fact an experience of great reality and
science is just an effort made towards this reality.
Knowledge is limitless and its horizons are constantly
expanding with every strike of progress disclosing fresh
informations and according to Qur'an knowledge is a
comprehensive text and it involves all branches of science,
religion, technology, agriculture, engineering and medicine.
It is definitely a miracle of our sacred religion that it
expands on all branches of human knowledge. This is known
from the following quotation from Qur'an:
"We
have revealed to you the Scripture so that it might be a
clear evidence for every thing."
In the
following paper I have tried to elucidate that the guide
lines given in the Quran and Sunnah concerned with the
promotion of physical health of humans have been duly proved
by years of modem medical science research all over the
world. Some of them I am going to deal with in this paper.
PRAYERS:
In Sura
Moon "God deprecates those who are careless in their prayers
offer them only for show." The blessed Prophet told us
"Prayers are certainly health promoting."
Although the real purpose of prayers is the worship of God
yet there is a large number of additional benefits also.
EXERCISE:
As we
eat three times daily we need exercise to lessen the
cholesterol in the body which increases in blood after
meals, thickens blood and leads to the deposition of slit in
the arteries.
In
addition to saving us from the sins and elevating us to the
heights of spirituality prayers are great help in
maintaining our physical health. They keep our body active,
help digestion and save us from muscle and joint diseases
through regular balanced exercise. They help the circulation
of blood and also mitigate the bad effect of cholesterol.
Prayers play a vital role in acting as a preventive measure
against heart attack, paralyses, premature senility,
dementia, loss of control on sphineters, diabetes mellitus
etc.
Collateral circulation plays a major role in decreasing the
danger of heart attack in patients. Patients above 55 years
of age in which this type of circulation is developed have
less severe attacks. It is possible to speed up the
development of collateral circulation by regular and
balanced exercises which is present in the prayers are not
only potent, preventive measure against coronary heart
diseases but also help in the development of collateral
circulation in those people who have already suffered from a
heart attack or are prone to it.
Heart
patients should offer-the five obligatory prayers regularly
as they get the permission from their doctor to leave bed.
The
arrangement of prayers is such that those at the time of
empty stomach are brief but those after meals are longer and
give more exercise to the body.
During
the month of Fast (Ramadan) the additional twenty Rakaat
(Tarawih) are added to the late evening prayers because more
than normal food is usually consumed after breaking fast.
The
performance of prayers put almost all muscles of the body in
action. Different groups of muscles are activated while
performing prayers. During Sajda blood supply to the brain
is improved. One of the useful methods to strengthen the
muscles of the knee joints to mitigate the strain on knees
in osteo arthritis is the regular exercise of these muscles
during prayers.
HEART:
This
vital organ of the body has to be always healthy and
efficient as it is responsible for the circulation of blood.
Diseased heart results in deterioration of the healthy body.
This knowledge we obtained after centuries of scientific
research yet it was simply told to us fourteen hundred years
ago by our great Prophet (peace be upon him).
"Verily
in the body there is such apiece of flesh that if it remains
alright the whole body keeps well but if this piece of flesh
develops some defect the whole body becomes unhealthy.
Behold,- this piece of flesh - it is heart." (Bokhari,
Muslim ...
SIESTA:
It was
the habit of our blessed Prophet to sleep for a while after
lunch, his companions also followed this practice. This
short nap gives relief to the vital organs of the body like
heart and brain.
MODERATION IN FOOD:
Both
Qur'anand Hadithhave touched this topic, Qur'antells us in
Ayah 30 of Sura Al Airaf:
"O
children of Adam, look to your adornment of every place of
worship and eat and drink but not prodigal Lo! He loveth not
the prodigals."
Strenthening this order, the Prophet has strictly forbidden
over eating in the following Haith:
"It is
enough to eat few morsels of food to keep one's back
straight."
"If you
must eat more, be sure that only one third of your stomach
is filled with food, one third is left for water and the
remaining one third for air."
"A
Muslim eats in one intestine (stomach) whereas a non
believer eats in seven intestine."
It has
been proved beyond doubt that over eating is the root of
many diseases and also responsible for premature senility.
It produces obesity, predisposes to dangerous diseases like
diabetes, Menitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease and
paralysis.
DIABETES MELLITUS:
This is
due to insulin deficiency. Overeating gets the special cells
of the pancreas (islets of Langerhans) over worked so it
cannot meet the increased demand for insulin . Those cells
may get tired, atrophy and causes difficiency of insulin .
PARALYSIS, CORONARY HEART DISEASE & PREMATURE SENILITY:
Their
basic course is the narrowing of the coronary arteries.
Paralysis is the natural result of blocking of an artery in
the brain, should this happen in the heart Myocardial
infarction results. Premature senility is installed when
majority of the arteries in the body get narrowed.
Slit in
the form of cholesterol and triglycerides is deposited in
the arteries. Over eating increases blood cholesterol
levels. Pork and beef contain high cholesterol values while
on the other hand birds have the least amount. Qur'an
mentioned that birds meat is one of the specialties of
Paradise.
Olive
has been repeatedly mentioned in Qur'an, and statistics
shows that heart attacks occur more in Northern Italy where
they use butter and margarine for cooking than in Southern
Italy where olive oil is generally used.
Patients suffering from narrowing of the coronary artery
usually develop the heart attack after a heavy meal.
FORBIDDEN ARTICLES OF FOOD:
1.
Blood:
Ingested blood on reaching the intestine is acted upon by
various bacteria normally present there resulting in
poisonous products like ammonia which is toxic to the
liver.Therefore,God has forbidden us to eat or drink blood
and has prescribed such a method for slaughtering animals
that most of their blood is shed.
2.
Pork:
There
are two harmful worms harbored by pigs, one is
"TAENIASOLIUM" which on ingestion passes to the brain and
causes epilepsy. The other one is"TRICHINELLASPIRALIS"which
passes to the muscles and brain causing muscular swelling
and pain and also epilepsy. Pork has more fat and
cholesterol than any other meat.
3.
Alcohol:
Numerous diseases have been attributed to alcohol like
dyspeptic trouble, peptic ulceration, cancer stomach,
pancreatitus, cirrhosis liver, vitamin deficiency and
coronary heart disease.
CIRCUMCISION:
One of
the criteria of Islam is that every Muslim should be
circumcised. This is medically suggested now a days as a
toxic substance called Smegma may collect under the
redundant skin causing cancer of the genitalia in both man
and his wife, inflammation of the penis, phthisis, sticking
of the redundant skin over the urethral opening leading to
difficulty in urination.
WASHING AFTER DEFECATION:
This
beneficial habit saves us from Pilonidal sinus which is an
abscess with hair inside occurring near anal opening.
Pylonephritis: This is more in women due to the proximity of
the urethral opening to the anus so toilet paper while being
used may bring germs like E. coli to the urethra.
ABOLUTION:
A pre
requisite of prayers yet one of the most hygienic procedure
as it usually keeps the exposed parts of our body clean and
also the parts of entry like mouth and nose thus avoiding
Infection.
PREVENTION OF INFECTION:
Infection may be transmitted through dirty hands or dirty
food.
Hands:
It is essential to wash our hands before and after meals.
Our blessed Prophet told us:
"It is
a blessing to wash your hands before and after meals" (Abu
Daud & Tirmizi)
He has
also advised us not to clean our hands with a towel before
meals as they may convey infection from one person to the
other particularly viral diseases like infective hepatitis
or bacterial infection like Typhoid dysentries and cholera.
Or
Prophet said "Whosover gets up from slumber should not dip
his hand in any utensil unless he washes them three times,
who knows what things he has been touching during sleep."
(Bokhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, Nisai)
ARTICLES OF BEVERAGES:
These
articles should be handled with great care. If the food is
in open utensil they should be covered to avoid
contamination. Stressing this our Prophet said "Cover up the
utensils and tie the mouth of the water skins." (Bokhari,
Muslim)
He
said, "Why did you not cover the utensil carrying the milk
even if-it was with a piece of wood."
DENTAL HYGIENE:
Particular stress has been laid by our Prophet on this as it
is very important in the prevention of disease. He attached
great importance to "Miswak" a twig of a tree used for
brushing teeth. "If I had not thought this to be an
unbearable hardship for my followers I would have prescribed
the use of Miswak before every prayers." (Bokhari, Muslim)
According to modern dentistry the best method of using a
Miswak or a tooth brush is up and down the length of the
teeth and this exactly the way our Prophet used his Miswak.
KHILLALA:
The
blessed Prophet said "Whosoever eats should pick bits and
pieces from in between his teeth."
It is
beneficial act so that those do not rot and produce disease.
HEATSTROKE:
Covering the head and neck as our Prophet used to do,
mitigate the danger of hyperpyrexia which is due to
imbalance of the heat control centre situated in the hind
brain, which may lead to death.
TREATMENT OF FEVER:
Death
occurs if the temperature of the body exceeds 106 degrees
irrespective of the cause. Medically speaking the first line
of treatment is to lower the temperature by cold water, ice
sponging or even immersing the patient in cold water. On
this Prophet said:
"The
fever is related to the Hell. Application of cold water
keeps it away." (Ibne Maja)
CONSTIPATION:
The
blessed Prophet advised that while defaecating keep pressure
on the left foot (Tibrani). In squatting position this
maneuvers will cause pressure on the descending colon.
Medically this helps evacuation of feaces from the
descending colon thus relieving constipation, particularly
when muscles of the abdomen are weak.
DISEASES OF DIGESTION:
Several
Hadiths pertaining to this were said:
"It is
unbecoming to eat in the Bazar (Market)."
"Whosoever eats earth aid his death." (Tibrani)
" Use
curry with food even if it is in the form of water. "
(Tibrani).
"Vinegear is a very good curry."
"The
best curry is common salt."
Salt
depletion through perspiration during summer is increased
thus it is obligatory to use common salt during this period.
Our
Prophet liked pumpkin (one of the vegetables) as it is
easily digested and less likely to produce flatulence.
Our
Prophet said. "It is not right to eat your food quickly,
besides this one should eat from what lies nearest to one" (Bokhari,
Muslim)
EPIDEMIC PREVENTION:
Hygiene
is very important. Cleanliness prevent infection entering
the citadel of human body and this guards us against ill
health and epidemics- God ordered our Prophet in Sura Al-Muddassir:
"O,
Prophet keep your apparel clean and meticulously avoid filth
and rubbish."
Our
Prophet said, "God Almighty is himself pure and likes
purity, God himself is clean and likes cleanliness."
(Tirmizi)
"God
Abnighty dislikes dust, dirt and disheveled hair."
"Avoid
three things which are cursed. To urinate at the source of
water, in the shade, in the pathways."
(ibne
Maja)
"No one
should pass water in standing water."
(Bokhari,
Muslim, Abu Dawood)
"If any
one of you yawns,,cover your mouth with hands."
(Muslim, Abu Dawood)
One
should avoid coughing, sneezing, yawning or laughing with
fully open mouth near other persons as the breathed out
bacteria may spread in the atmosphere and be conveyed to
other persons.
STREET AND ROADS:
Town
planning is based on broad and airy roads so that there is
no obstruction to the flow of traffic and to avoid
congestion which helps of communicable diseases. Our blessed
Prophet fourteen hundred years ago said "keep the breadth of
the streets seven arms length.
ACUPUNCTURE:
Ibis
was mentioned in the authenticated Hadith as an effective
treatment of several disease. Research work is being carried
out in China and other parts of the world to use acupuncture
as a method of treatment.
There
are other aspects of medicine which have been dealt with in
Islam for example:
1.
Quacks should not treat patients.
2.
Treatment and prevention of disease have been recommended
and practiced by the Prophet.
3. When
you visit a patient do not stay long.
There
are many priceless gems of knowledge in the Qur'an and
Hadith from which man can benefit immensely. These are but
brief facts of medicine which have been mentioned before in
Qur'an and Hadith and there is a lot more to be discovered
and studied.
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