Health: An Islamic Perspective
Muslims view Islam as a very beneficial religion, not just in a moral sense to help govern society, but also when it comes to the aspect of health.
Let’s look at ten ways Islam helps you stay healthy.
Eating slowly
There is an Islamic teaching that encourages Muslims to actually take their time to eat (Slow down, chew your food properly before you just gulp down and swallow everything). This is because it takes your brain some time to actually register that your stomach is full.
“It takes approximately 20 minutes from the time you start eating for your brain to send out signals of fullness.” “There’s a ton of incredibly promising intermittent fasting (IF) research… blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugars improve…” [1]
So, eating slowly helps make sure that you don’t consume any excess food before your brain gets the signal that you’re full.
Another benefit that’s noted on top of not overeating is that you can actually enjoy your food a lot more, and you know I’ve experienced that because when I chew my food and just enjoy it and just take my time with it, I love it more.
Moderation in diet
It is another principle in Islam. This is something that is greatly stressed. So, not having too much as well as not having too little. Not just when it comes to food, but like anything in life.
“Eat and drink, but do not waste. Surely He does not like the wasteful.” Quran, 7:31
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“A human being fills no worse vessel than his stomach. It is sufficient for a human being to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his spine straight. But if he must (fill it), then one third of food, one third for drink and one third for air.” Sunan Ibn Majah 3349, Book 29, Hadith 99
So definitely you don’t want to starve yourself, and you want to eat enough so that your body does get the nutrients, but you also don’t want to eat too much.
“Moderation in eating suggests dietary habits that avoid excessive consumption. Eating a moderate and varied diet can help with weight loss, weight control, hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol and help you stay healthy.” [2]
So, everything in moderation. Again, this principle applies to not just food, but other aspects of life as well.
Waking up early
“Early to bed, and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”[3] Benjamin Franklin
The Prophet Mohammed (Peace and Blessing be Upon Him) as a matter of fact, used to get up and prayed very early. On one occasion he was reported to say these words:
“O Allah, bless my nation in their early mornings (i.e., what they do early in the morning).”
Another passage about waking up early in the Hadith:
“When he sent out a raiding party or an army, he would send them at the beginning of the day.”
He said: “Sakhr was a man engaged in trade, and he used to send his goods out at the beginning of the day, and his wealth grew and increased.” Sunan Ibn Majah 2236, Book 12, Hadith 100
This is also another principle that Muslims look to as some good business advice.
Disease Control
Muslims believe that this stems all the way back to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) over 1400 years ago. If you weren’t even familiar with the term pandemic, by now I’m sure all of you have probably gotten tired of hearing that term.
It’s reported that The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said these words:
“If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place.” Sahih al-Bukhari 5728, Book 76, Hadith 43
Kind of sounds like quarantine and social distancing.
It’s also reported that he said these words:
“Those with contagious diseases should be kept away from those who are healthy.” Bukhaari (6771) and Muslim (2221)
Again, that’s a very important health principle, because if somebody is infectious, of course one of the best options is to isolate them so that the disease doesn’t spread until they get better.
Alcohol consumption
Alcohol and other intoxicants are forbidden in Islam. Alcohol causes many different diseases in the body. It damages your liver and reduces concentration. It can also lead to diseases like cancer as well as Alzheimer’s disease. So, because of all the negative aspects of alcohol consumption, this is why it’s forbidden in Islam.
“You who believe, intoxicants and gambling, idolatrous practices, and [divining with] arrows are repugnant acts- Satan’s doing- shun them so that you may prosper.” Quran, 5:90
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“Every intoxicant is Khamr and every intoxicant is forbidden” Sahih Muslim, Book 36, Hadith 92
Ablutions (Wudu, Gusl)
Ablutions, known as Wudu or Ghusl are considered to be very important aspect when it comes to prayer in Islam. On a regular basis, it’s even said that Muslims cannot perform prayers with having a body that’s not clean or even in a place that’s dirty.
So, before prayer you have to wash yourself. Of course, it is a good practice to just make sure that you wash away all the dirt and bacteria. So, on top of these spiritual symbolism in this practice, it also gives a good practice to just keep your body washed and clean.
“Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who keep themselves purified.” Quran, 2:222
Hygiene
Washing your body, keeping your mouth clean, brushing your teeth, using some mouthwash or whatever, putting on some deodorant, keeping yourself just really nice and well-groomed really helps to reduce any kind of disease or bacteria festering on your body or inside of your body.
“Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) got up for Tahajjud prayer he used to clean his mouth (and teeth) with Siwak” Sahih al-Bukhari 1136, Book 19, Hadith 17
Muslims are also advised to make sure that they keep their fingernails cut as well, because you know, bacteria can get caught under them.
Exercising
The Quran doesn’t specifically mention any kind of exercise to do, but it’s believed that the Prophet Muhammad’s was completely filled with all sorts of different recommendations to make sure that you stay active. He advised Muslims to actually teach their children how to do things outside like go swimming, how to ride a horse, how to shoot bow and arrows.
“Umar wrote to AbuʼUbaidah bin al-Jarrah [saying]: Teach your children swimming” Musnad Ahmad 323, Book 2, Hadith 229
There’s also a lot of emphasis put on doing other physical activities around the house, cleaning up in the kitchen, just doing everyday chores, cutting firewood, whatever, just staying active.
Prayer
This is something that’s not necessarily seen as something that can actually keep you healthy. But according to Muslims just that repetitive physical movement and activity that you’re doing while you’re praying it actually reduces your chances of developing lower back pains if you do it properly.
Also, it’s reported that studies have shown that doing prayers actually helps to eliminate anxiety. And we all know that anxiety can actually affect our body in a negative way.
Fasting
“O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you — as it was for those before you1 — so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺… it is better for them. And to fast is better for you, if only you knew.” Quran, 2:183–184
Fasting is something that is obligatory for all healthy adult Muslims to do during the month of Ramadan. Fasting helps you to balance out your diet, improve blood cholesterol, reduce gastric acidity and also prevent constipation and other types of digestive issues.
“There’s a ton of incredibly promising intermittent fasting (IF) research… blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugars improve…” [4]
Of course, do not fast in excess because if you do that it can prove detrimental although there are some benefits that can come out of fasting.
Final Thoughts
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) once said:
“There are two blessings in which many people incur loss. (They are) health and free time (for doing good)” Riyad as-Salihin 97, Introduction, Hadith 97
The Quran is not a book of health science or of medicine, but it shows strongly that health is one of the most important blessings that a human being can have.
“Time and health are two precious assets that we don’t recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.” Denis Waitley
So appreciate what you have and take care of your health.
