Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 14 No. 02 April’15 Review article Health and healing in Islam: links and gaps with (post)modern practices Rahman MT Abstract: Therapeutic interventions deal with healthy living i.e., maintenance of good health, dealing with conditions that requires special care such as child birth and healing i.e., treatment and cure of the sickness. Islam guides mankind to have ultimate faith on Allah Almighty’s approval for healthy living and healing as well as provides guidelines for cleanliness, healthy eating/drinking habits and controlled physical and mental stress. Thus, holistic view of healthy living and healing in Islam is founded both on the faith on the oneness and the almighty authority of Allah as well as physical, social, psychological factors. Revealed scriptures before Qur`an, gave equal emphasis on the same faith and factors. At the same time, different schools of thought of therapeutic interventions deal either with the physical or the metaphysical means of health and healing. This paper will discuss the links and gaps between Islamic principles and practices for health and healing and similar practices in other faith and therapeutic interventions observed in (post)modern community. Keywords: healthy living; health and healing in Islam; modern medicine; integrative medicine DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v14i2.21808 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.14(2) 2015 p.119-129 Introduction mankind has adopted changes hence persuaded Therapeutic interventions deal with the prevention, modified life-style compared to that of 15/20 century treatment and cure of the sickness as well as guide earlier. to maintain good health and to deal with certain Practices based on the principles which were physiological issues that requires special care such revealed at the time of the respective Prophets have as pregnancy and child birth. Mankind has adopted been modified too. Such modifications are apparent various means to maintain proper health to prevent inl ritua practices, socio-economic dealings as well or treat sickness. Maintaining the proper balance of as day-to-day life styles of an individual of a modern human physiology (healthy) depends on the intake of time when compared to those of an individual of the food and drink; cycle of sleep (or resting) and awake time of the Prophets. (or activity), environmental ambiance as well as These changes are also noticeable in respect to the spiritual, psychological and social stability. principles and practices meant for healthy living Divine guidelines were provided for the mankind and healing. For instance, practice of vaccination in succession to lead human life since the arrival (immunization) has become imperative in 21st of Prophet Adam and Eve on earth. In that series century, while the concept of current vaccination was of scriptures, Qur`an was revealed to Prophet unknown at the time of revelations. Furthermore, Mohammad and declared as the final and the consumption of targeted genetically modified completed version of such codes preceded by Taorah (transgenic) food for added nutrition and vitamins () and Injil (Gsopel) revealed to Prophet Musa were unknown as well. On the other hand, concept and Prophet Isa , son of Maryam respectively. of quarantine to restrict spread of infectious diseases The code of life both in the Qur`an Taorah and Injil was being practiced during the time of Prophet are meant to worship the Almighty through rituals Mohammad as he asked neither to enter as well to lead the worldly life as the vicegerent not to come out from a plague inflicted area. Similar (representative) of almighty Allah. In other words, practice of quarantine is being practiced to control fundamental principles of all aspects of life are the spread of Severe acute respiratory syndrome provided in the scriptures. Principles of maintaining (SARS). At the same time, principles and practices good health are also part of those codes. However, of cleanliness and hygiene during the time of Corresponds to: Mohammad Tariqur Rahman, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Ma- laysia (IIUM), Jalan Istana, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. Email: [email protected] | [email protected]. 119 Health and healing in Islam: links with modern practices Prophet Mohammad are acknowledged afflictions such as ailments, Allah the Almighty wants through empirical evidence at modern time. Thus His servants to be in good health. In other words, there are both similarities and dissimilarities in terms good health is considered as blessing. Basis of this of principles and practices of health and diseases principle is derived from the Qur`an and hadith as between the time of the Prophets and at present. highlighted in Table 1. The current chapter will derive four fundamental Principle 3: Allah sent cure for every disease principles of health and healing using using Qur`an Since Allah the almighty wants His servants in good and hadith as the primary source of information. health, He also sent down cure for every disease These principles and related practices will then be except ageing and death. Notably taking medicine compared to identify the links and gaps with different for the cure for a disease is permissible only using forms of therapeutic interventions dominating in the those which are defined halal (permissible) for (post)modern community. At the end this manuscript human consumption. In other words, finding cure will also highlight how a Muslim can accept the in medicine which otherwise would be considered therapeutic interventions developed by people of haram (prohibited) is forbidden. Related lessons other faiths. from Qur`an and hadith to derive this principle are Basic principles of health and healing in Islam highlighted in Table 1. Guidelines for healthy living and healing available in Principle 4: Cure needs divine intervention Qur`an and the descriptions of actions and precepts Medical treatment, even if compulsory, cannot be of Prophet Mohammad described in hadith considered as the sole cause of cure rather it is a signifies combined reliance upon the divine, spiritual, means for healing and merely as an addition with the psychological, physical, social and ecological factors permission of Allah. The curing effect of a medicine, related to human health and healing of sickness. if it is there, is given by Allah. For example, despite Analyzing Qur`anic verses and hadiths related to the eradication or complete cure of certain infectious health and diseases, four fundamental principles diseases are linked with certain drugs or vaccines, can be derived. These four principles can be used to 1,2,3 the sole responsibility of a medicine for the evaluate different models of therapeutic interventions cure/eradication of a disease is denied in Islam. and health and healing described in other revelations. Moreover, the Prophet emphasized that the At this point of discussion it is noteworthy to highlight best supplication is to seek good health (Table 1). that Prophet Mohammad gave utmost These explain the ultimate submission to Allah for priority to the Allah Almighty’s approval for the health and healingIman (faith) is at the centre of all prevention and cure of disease and practiced healthy principles and practices in Islam and other revelations lifestyle for cleanliness, eating habits and control of It might be perceived that these principles are physical and mental stress. He also acknowledged seemingly contradictory (Figure 1). For instance if natural products having medicinal values and took sickness is considered benediction for the believers advice from the physicians. Thus, teachings from (Principle 1) why would Allah wants His servants Islam ensures that for both the maintenance healthy to supplicate for good health (Principle 3). Or, why living (health) and finding cure (healing) of a would He provide cure for every disease (Principle 2) disease need spiritual (faith in the divine authority while He is holding the ultimate approval for the cure and revelations), psychological (providing mental (Principle 4). Such seeming contradictions can be support during sickness) and physical means (such resolved if those are analyzed using the fundamental as honey and cupping). components of faith to accept and follow any divine Principle 1: Disease is a benediction revelations. According to the divine revelations, Sickness is generally considered as the derangements mankind has the obligation to have Iman in (i) Allah, of physiological or psychological events and the Almighty creator and His supreme authority over perceived as a negative manifestation. In Islam everything in the universe (ii) His angels (iii) His however, sickness is primarily a test to the believers revelations (iv) His Messengers (v) on the Judgment and provides expiation for sins thus a benediction day (vi) in destiny, that the good and the evil are from Allah. This principle is derived based on the from Allah and (vii) life after death (life hereafter). lessons from Qur`an and hadith highlighted in Table While disease is considered benediction for the 1. believers (Principle 1) good health is considered as Principle 2: Good health is a blessing a blessing (Principle 3). Therefore, the question may Despite the fact that each believer will be tested with arise if an individual should seek for and make effort 120 Rahman MT Table 1. Derivation of basic principles of health and healing in Islam [Translation of the relevant part of Qur`anic verses and hadith are quoted] Reference from Qur`’an and Hadith Lessons Principle 1: Sickness is benediction And (remember) Ayyub (Job), when he cried to his Lord: ‘Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy. [Al-Qur`an, 21:83] Or you think that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty, ailments and were so Disease is test for the shaken that even the Messenger and those who had faith with him said, ‘When will the believers.