Islamic Teachings and Health Issues

1. Dr. Mohamed Albar FRCP. Medical Ethics Center International Medical Center Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Islamic Teachings and Health Issues

2. THE SCOPE OF “TIBBI NABAWI” • Health promotion and disease prevention. • Curative prophetic medicine. • Spiritual and psychological medicine. • Ethics of medical profession. • Special topics medicine. • Manuscripts and books of “ tibbi nabawi”

3. Regulation of Medical Practice The Prophet Muhammad PBUH said: “Anyone who practices medicine without due knowledge is liable.”

4. Regulation of Medical Practice • Islamic jurists since the time of Abdulmalik Ibn Habib (died 236H/853 C.E.) who wrote a book on Tibbi Nabawi declared that: “ to practice medicine the Practitioner: • 1) should be licensed by the Muhtasib that he has sufficient knowledge of his practice; • 2) should obtain the consent of the patient or his guardian if not competent. If he has not fulfilled one or both then he is liable.”

5. If the Practitioner has fulfilled both of these criteria, and the patient died due to no mistake or negligence of the Practitioner, then the Practitioner is not liable. (Iman Shafi in his book Al Om vol.6/186)

6. HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION • Cleanliness of the body. • Ablution and full body washings. • Cleaning after micturition and defecation. • Siwak (tooth brushing) • AVOIDING MICTURITION AND DEFECATION IN : • Sources of water. • Under trees. • Pathways.

7. The problem of Bilharziasisup to 1980s • >200 million • > 1000million suffer from ascariasis and ankylostomiasis • Water and food born diseases:>1000 million suffer annually

8. Ablution (Woodu) is compulsory washing of face hands and feet prior to prayers (5 times daily) • washing whole body, ablution and washing hands, cleaning mouth and nostrils. Cleaning after micturition and defecation. • It is incumbent on every Muslim to have full body wash, at least once weekly (Friday)

9. Tooth brushing (MISWAK) السواك • The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said • Were it not strain to my people I would have ordained the use of siwak at every prayer.

10. Cleaning the Nostrils & mouth • It is recommended to clean nostrils and mouth with water with every woodu. • The mouth and nostrils harbor billions of different microorganisms. • Mouth and nose cleaning is even more important than hand washing.

11. Health promotion and disease prevention • Cleaning of body outside and inside • Cleanliness of places and houses • Cleanliness of courtyards and streets • Avoiding pollution • Taking safety measures: car driving, at work and at home.

12. Car Accidents

13. Traffic AccidentsVictims Annually • U.S.A 60, 000 • U.K. 10, 000 • France 11, 000 • S. Arabia 10,000 • Admissions 40,000 • Infirmity 20,000

14. Pollution & Environment • Islamic View about Conservation of Nature, as found in Qur’ān and Prophet’s (pbh) Traditions (Ḥadīth), • Building jurisprudence or laws (aḥkām al-bunyān), found in jurisprudence compendia and the books that were specifically written on the subject. Most of these books are not known to the historians of science, and consequently not utilized for in-depth studies in related fields. • Market inspection (ḥisba) regulations, in ḥisba manuals. The same can be said about these manuals: most of them are not known to the historians of science. The paper gives a full list of both types of books (building jurisprudence and ḥisba manuals).

15. Rules of nutrition • Good nutritious food • Halal food :its sources, avoid blood, pork, carrion & alcohol. • Avoiding excess and obesity. • Fasting Ramadhan and non obligatory fasting. • Avoiding smoking and drugs of recreation.

16. Active life • physical activity and exercise: • “Teach your children how to shoot, swim and how to ride horses” • Prayers and congregate prayers at the mosques: walking 5 times to the mosque.

17. Obesity

18. Obesity • 50% of Saudi adults are obese or overweight • Epidemic of diabetes in Saudi Arabia and Gulf Countries. • Associated with hypertension , heart disease, increased mortality, osteoarthritis, gall bladder disease. • Increased complication of any surgery. • Increased incidence of many cancers and tumors. • Respiratory Problems. • Obesity Kills 20,000 annually in Saudi Arabia.

19. 80% of Diseases & Ailments due to: • Wars and sectarian conflicts. • Pollution and environment. • Fast food and food industry. • Smoking of tobacco. • Indulgence in alcohol and drugs. • Sexually transmitted diseases. • Lack of exercise and sedentary. • Mental , emotional and physical stress.

20. Mental and social peace • Prayers, almsgiving, zakat, reading Quran etc… • Prevention of usury. • No social discrimination and no racial barriers. • social justice and equity. • 86 wealthiest persons have more income than 3500 millions poorest people.

21. Healthy marital life • No fornication , adultery or sodomy. • Avoiding sex during menstruation • Avoiding extra genital sex and engendering fidelity. • No sexual transmitted diseases

22. The Concept of Family in Islam • “ And Allah has given you mates of your own kind and has given you, through your mates children and grand children, it has provided for you sustenance out of the good things of life.” Sura 16: 72

23. Islam and Early marriage • Marriage is my sunnah (path). That who avoids my path is not from me ( people)” (Al Bukhari & Muslim) • Marry the kind & fertile, I will be proud of your numbers in the hereafter” (Abu Daood & Nasaiy) • No celibacy in Islam

24. Sex outside wedlock • Premarital & extra Marital sex is not allowed. • Sodomy and Lesbianism and perverted sex. • Pornography & prostitution is banned. Those who run the business are harshly punished • The victims are exonerated “Do not force your girls (Slaves) into Prostitution in order to get wordly gain. Allah is most merciful & forgiving”. Sura 24:33.

25. Plurality of the Family • The document of Int. Conference on population (ICPD), Cairo, 1994 supported the concept of plurality of family including sodomites, lesbians, and single parents. • This will end in the complete disintegration of family & society. • It is considered a crime to attack homosexuality by western and international law.

26. STDS : INCIDENCE 2008 • HIV/AIDS 35 million living 35 million-dead • Annual infection 2 million • Annual death 2 million • Gonorrhea 63 million (annual) • Non-Gono (Chlamydia) 89 million (annual) • Syphilis 12 million (annual) • Herpes genitals 45 million (In US alone) • HPV (genital warts) 20 million (In US alone) & 5.5 million new cases annually • Ca cervix 500,000 (280,000 deaths annually • Trichomoniasis 170 million globally • PID 1 million (in US alone)

29. Cervical cancer • Cervical cancer, in women, is the second most common cancer worldwide, next only to breast cancer. In India, cervical cancer is the most common woman-related cancer, followed by breast cancer. • Every year cervical cancer is diagnosed in about 500,000 women globally and is responsible for more than 280,000 deaths annually. • Each year, about 12,000 women get cervical cancer in the U.S.

30. Global summary of the AIDS epidemic December 2008 Number of people living with HIV in 2008 Total 33.4 million [31.1 – 35.8 million] Adults 31.3 million [29.2 – 33.7 million] Women 15.7 million [14.2 – 17.2 million] Children under 15 years 2.1 million [1.2 – 2.9 million] Total 2.7 million [2.4 – 3.0 million]Adults 2.3 million [2.0 – 2.5 million]Children under 15 years 430 000 [240 000 – 610 000] Total 2.0 million [1.7 – 2.4 million]Adults 1.7 million [1.4 – 2.1 million]Children under 15 years 280 000 [150 000 – 410 000]

32. Islamic Jurisprudence conference (OIC) Resolutions and recommendations on HIV and AIDS (1993/1995) Since sodomy, fornication and prostitution are the main source of HIV infection, the Muslim governments should provide every effort to implement the Islamic rules and teachings regarding morality and fidelity, and should guard against obscenity and immorality in the media and communities.

33. Causes of this Scourge & Plague • Pornography widespread • Free sex glorified by media exposed as right • Prostitution became a recognized respected profession • Sodomy & Perverted sex became a personal preference • Premarital and extra marital sex accepted as norm • Early sexual activity: sex by eight or its too late

34. Causes of this Scourge & Plague 7. 100 million street children 8. Rape as a sign of manhood and racial discrimination 9. Huge business in sex industry almost by trillions of dollars 10. Widespread use of alcohol & drugs of recreation 11. Widespread travel 12. The widespread use of contraceptives

35. Behind all this • Unrelenting search for pleasure – Epicurism, Hedonism • Secularism and diminishing role of religions • Some religions accepted the modern attitude of free sex, condoned fornication, adultery, sodomy & all types of perverted sex • Clergy involved in child abuse & porno

36. The Sex Committee British Council of Churches • Blessed premarital & extramarital sex. • Called for permissive measures for abortion and contraceptives for minors. • It deplored the attitude of the Holy Bible against sex. (Time magazine 1966).

37. Teaching about Adultery “You have heard that it was said: Do not commit adultery but now I tell you any one who looks at a woman with lust is guilty of committing adultery with her. So, if your right eye causes you to Sin, take it out and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose a part of your body then to have your whole body thrown in to Hell.” (Matthew 5:27-29)

38. Alcohol

39. Alcohol O you who believe intoxicants and gambling, dedication of stones, and divination by arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handwork. Eschew each abomination, that you may prosper. By means of intoxicants and gambling the Satan seeks to sow enmity and hatred among you, and turn you away from remembrance of God, and from Prayers. Will you not then desist” (Sura 5:90-91)

40. Alcohol Tareq Ibn Suwaid asked the Prophet about wine mixed with the medicaments. The Prophet said: “Never. It is a disease and not a cure.: (Muslim(

41. Royal College of Physicians: A Great & Growing Evil Alcohol problems are more easily prevented than treated. Alcohol related disease is not confined to a relatively small number of individuals with “Skid row” problems of social and physical disintegration. Alcohol can cause illness at much lower levels than previously thought. Regular consumption of 6 gm of alcohol a day, is associated with an increasing risk of sickness from high blood pressure, strokes, liver disease, infertility and diseases of the nervous system. In women, half that amount puts them at increasing risk of developing illnesses.

42. Royal College of Physicians: Hospitalization due to alcohol consumption: In Britain & USA: 20% of all acute male admissions to medical wards are associated with alcohol. • 1/3 of patients attending casualty department are due to alcohol. • Up to 40 % of patients in general hospital beds are problem drinkers. • 60 % of elderly people admitted to hospitals because of confusion, repeated falls at home, recurrent chest infections and heart failure have alcohol problems. Elderly widowers are the most vulnerable.

43. June 27, 2009Vodka kills as many Russians as a war, says report in The Lancet • Half of all deaths among Russians in their prime years is due to alcohol addiction. The scale of the carnage was comparable to a war. • The Lancet, said that three quarters of deaths among men and half of deaths among women aged 15-54 were attributable to alcohol abuse. • The mortality rate in Russia in this age group was five times higher for men and three times higher for women than in Western Europe.

44. 3 March 2014 • Drinking yourself into anaesthetized state 'is now socially acceptable': NHS boss says intensive care swamped by alcohol cases • Last year 1.2m patients went to A&E after drinking too much alcohol • Dr Bob Winter, head of NHS critical care, warned off licenses too cheap • Said 'front-loading', drinking before going out, is dangerous trend

45. Royal College of Psychiatrists (1987) • Most casualties (from alcohol) are generated by the numerically much larger “lower risk” consumers (mild to moderate drinkers) in the community. • Liver cirrhosis and even suicide rates are directly connected to alcohol consumption. 25% of acute male admissions to medical wards were due to alcohol misuse, and even higher figure of acute surgical emergencies. • There is 25 fold increase for admission to psychiatrist hospital due to alcohol intake in England and Wales in the last 25 years.

46. WHO Report on Crimes of Violence and Alcohol Statistics in 30 countries showed: • 86 % of murder crimes were under the effect of alcohol • 50 % of rape • 50 % of road traffic accidents

50. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome • The most important cause of congenital malformation. • Microcephaly (small brain) • Micrograthia (small jaws) • Micropthalmic (small eyes) • Cardiac defects • Growth and mental retardation