In The
Name Of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful…
Healing Through Quran And
Tradition Of Prophet Muhammad(Pbuh)
What is the Qur'ān?
The Qur'ān is the final Holy Scripture sent down by the 'One
God' Who is the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe. This Qur'an was
revealed to the final Messenger of God – Muhammad, on whom be peace.
This Qur'ān was not sent, in particular, to a specific nation,
community, or to the Muslims alone. Rather, the Qur'ān is a Book of Guidance
revealed by the Creator for the benefit of all humanity.
“This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to
those who fear Allāh.” (The Qur'an 2: 2)
Since this Qur'ān is a source of guidance and reminder from God,
the Owner and Originator of the entire universe, it is obligatory on everybody
on the face of the earth to lead their lives in accordance with the teachings
of the Qur'ān.
Come, let us learn, and practice, what this Qur'ān teaches us
about the cure for all ills and the forgiveness of sins.
When Disease Come Calling
When we, our children, or people close to us, are suddenly
afflicted by disease, our normal life gets affected. We become restless. If we
understand certain basic things and act accordingly, our disease would get
cured. Not just that, but we would also be able to cope with the physical,
mental and financial losses that occur to us in the process.
Why Disease Comes
First, we must address the question: why do diseases come?
Though we may know of several reasons for the same, the most important aspect
that we must understand at the outset is that diseases are either a test, or a
warning, from our Creator. It is like the horse-rider steadying the horse by
pulling the reins and calming it down.
In his day-to-day life, man remains engaged with so many matters
that he is not given to thinking about God or the favours that he enjoys from
God. We are all living very hectic and busy lives with little time to think
about God. Man forgets that the God, who created him, is the sole Owner of his
wealth, body and soul. Man does not realize that he cannot live without the
Mercy of God and fails to thank God for all the blessings God has given him.
This being the reality, disease is one way by which God tries to
warn man and make him think of God. Disease also reminds man of the extent of
God's compassion when he was healthy, and before he fell sick. Thus, disease
reminds man about God and makes him repent for his sins, and transforms him
into a good human being.
Know Our Creator
There is only One God who has created us: the same who remains
with us as compassionate as ever. In the fitness of things, we are thus
required – in gratitude and of necessity – to thank God for the numerous
blessings He has bestowed upon us. That One God is our Creator even as He is
the God of all mankind. We should worship Him and Him alone, for it is only He
who can respond to our prayers.
Attributes of God
In the Holy Qur'an, God describes Himself as follows:
“Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal,
Absolute. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none co-equal, or
comparable, unto Him.” (Holy Qur'an 112: 1- 4)
Hence, our prayers should be directed only to the One who has
the above qualities. It is only with Him that we should plead for ease in our
difficulties and for the removal of our sufferings. We should pray directly to
Him to cure our illnesses completely and at the earliest. Nor should we invoke
God through the agency of any mediator; we should not associate anybody, or
anything, with Him in worship. We should not invoke lifeless idols as gods
besides the One True God and, thereby, degrade God.
“Allah is the one who created you, then provided food for you,
then will cause you to die, and then will give you life. Are there any of your
partners who does anything of that? Exalted is He and high above what they
associate with Him.” (Holy Qur'an 30: 40)
In the Holy Qur'an, God teaches us to invoke Him through the
following prayer:
“It is You we worship and it is You alone we ask for help.”
(Holy Qur'an 1: 5)
If we leave our Creator and worship His creations, it will not
benefit us in any way. In fact, it is a great sin to invoke, or worship, any of
God's creations. Also, such acts would not cure our disease; it will only
invite God's anger upon us.
Reflect upon how God teaches us through the Holy Qur'an, thus:
“(It is He) Who created me, and it is He Who guides me; Who
gives me food and drink, and when I am ill, it is He Who cures me; and He Who
will cause me to die, then give me life.” (Holy Qur'an 26: 78-81)
We must think over the above verses and turn to our Creator in
repentance, asking forgiveness for our sins.
The next thing we must understand is that the life of this world
is but a test.
Worldly Life as a Test
Our present life is a temporary one. Doubtless, this will come
to an end. God has created it but as a test for us.
“He Who created Life and Death, that He may try which of you is
best in deed; and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving.” (Holy Qur'an 67:
2)
We are promised, by none other than the Creator, the Originator
Himself, that a day will come, wherein the earthly world, as we know it now,
will stand completely transformed. When His command for this eventuality is
delivered, everyone who lived and died within the earthly phase - from the
first human to the last – all will be brought back to life yet again on that
Final Day: the Day of Judgment.
In their lives on earth, each individual is provided with a set,
or variable, combination of environment, provisions and facilities. Some are
granted wealth, while others have poverty as their lot; some are of sound
physique, while others suffer physical deficiencies, even deformities. Despite
whatever facilities, or limitations, with which each individual arrives, all
are subjected to test and scrutiny in this earthly life. In addition, we also
have to encounter and deal with various situations of life like peace and
harmony, war and violence, justice or the lack of it, etc. Such are the
vagaries and vicissitudes of earthly life with which each must not only cope,
but also overcome.
The Life Hereafter is the True
Reality
“Every soul shall taste of death; and We test you by evil and by
good, by way of trial; to Us you must return.” (Holy Qur'an, 21: 35)
Whoever lives this life obeying God will have Paradise as their
reward. On the other hand, whoever disobeys God and lives according to one's
own desires, his, or hers, will be the punishment of hellfire.
Our real and lasting life of the Hereafter, which has no end, is
the life which comes after our physical death. That life would be spent, as a
direct consequence of our deeds, either in Paradise or in Hell. There is no
other place, no other abode, except these two.
As such, our opportunity in this life is a once-only
opportunity. Not only is this a once-only opportunity, but it also lasts only
until our physical death in the temporal world.
“Everyone shall taste of death. And only on the Day of
Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away
from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he, indeed, is successful. The life of
this world is only the enjoyment of deception.” (Holy Qur'an 3: 185)
In this temporal world – which is a test – if we lead a
disciplined life by obeying God's commands, and stay away from the distraction
of worldly pleasures, ours will be the Paradise of eternal bliss. But if we
take this test carelessly and live according to our wishes and fancies, we will
only fall prey to hellfire , which could turn out, if God so wishes, to be an
eternal torment .
Is the Hereafter for Real?
If we were to think deeply over the subject, we would realize
that the Life Hereafter is neither an illusion nor a figment of somebody's
imagination. Just consider this - we are all created from a mere sperm-drop
whence we have grown, developed and are now moving around in this world. If we
can accept such a transformation as an objective reality, then the Life
Hereafter, too, need not exist in our minds merely as a hypothesis. The
Qur'an's argument in this connection is quite persuasive:
“Does not man see that it is We Who created him from sperm? Yet,
behold! He (stands forth) as an open opponent! And he makes comparisons for Us,
and forgets his own (origin and) Creation: He says, 'Who can give life to (dry)
bones and decomposed ones (at that)?' Say, 'He will give them life Who created
them for the first time! And He is the All-Knower of every creation!'"
(Holy Qur'an, 36: 77-79)
On the Day of Judgment, each and every person will be shown the
record of their respective deeds – both, good and evil. Those whose record of
good is heavier in God's judgment, will be admitted to Paradise; and those
whose record of evil is the heavier, will find their place in Hell...
How will Paradise be?
Paradise is the abode of peace, pleasure and contentment.
Therein will be neither sorrow nor suffering, neither evil nor hatred, neither
tiredness nor sickness, neither boredom nor a sense of deprivation, neither
old-age nor death. This is so, for Paradise is, indeed, the place of eternal
happiness and bliss. Therein will be gardens underneath which rivers flow,
fresh springs to drink from, lofty mansions to live in, tasty fruits to savour,
delicious food to indulge one's appetite in and enjoyable drinks to slake one's
thirst with. Indeed, the age of one's youth therein will be forever, for the
simple reason that there is no decay, death, or annihilation, to worry about!
Listen to what God says in the Holy Qur'an:
“Those who believe, and work righteousness – their Lord will
guide them because of their faith: beneath them will flow rivers in gardens of
bliss. Their call therein will be, 'Exalted are You, O Allah,' and their
greeting therein will be, 'Peace!' And the last of their call will be, 'Praise
to Allah, Lord of the worlds!'” (Holy Qur'an, 10: 9-10)
“Circulated among them will be plates and vessels of gold. And
therein is whatever the souls desire and [what] delights the eyes, and you will
abide therein eternally.” (Holy Qur'an 43: 71)
Here is, yet again, the description of Paradise, which the
righteous are promised:
“…wherein are rivers of water unaltered, rivers of milk, the
taste of which never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and
rivers of purified honey; in which they will have from all [kinds of] fruits
and forgiveness from their Lord. (Are these) like those who shall dwell forever
in the Fire, and be given to drink boiling water, so that it cuts up their
bowels?” (Holy Qur'an 47: 15)
“And those who believe and work deeds of righteousness – to them
shall We give a Home in Heaven: lofty mansions beneath which flow rivers, to
dwell therein for ever – an excellent reward for those who do (good)!” (Holy
Qur'an, 29: 58)
Hell, too, is Waiting
On the other side, Hell is also waiting - waiting to take in the
ungrateful, the disobedient, and the transgressing. These are those who
rejected God, His Messengers and His Scriptures. They are the ones who did not
believe in the Day of Judgment and led a carefree life! They will be pushed
into the blazing fire, bristling in rage even when seen from a far distance!
To be sure, the dwellers of Hell will be cast into a life
without death (where death is relatively a greater blessing), a life of severe
hunger and dreadful thirst. Given thorns for food and boiling water for drink –
a drink which will burn their throats – theirs is a residence within the
torment of a blazing fire that burns them over and over again, with no end to
their punishment. Despite all their pleas for respite, their punishment would
not be lightened even by a little, except as God wishes! What an evil place,
indeed!
God forewarns us of this disastrous consequence in His Holy
Qur'an thus:
“Indeed, whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal – indeed, for
him is Hell; he will neither die therein nor live. (Holy Qur'an, 20: 74)
“(They will be) in the midst of a Fierce Blast of Fire and in
Boiling Water, and in the shades of Black Smoke.” (56: 42-43)
“Those who reject our Signs, We shall soon cast into the Fire:
as often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh
skins, that they may taste the penalty: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.”
(Holy Qur'an, 4: 56)
“The Fire will burn their faces, and they will therein grin,
with their lips displaced.” (Holy Qur'an, 23: 104)
“But as for those who defiantly disobeyed, their refuge is the
Fire. Every time they wish to come out from it, they will be returned to it,
even the while it is said to them, 'Taste the punishment of the Fire which you
used to deny.'” (Holy Qur'an, 32: 20)
“Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait, For the transgressors, a
place of destination: They will dwell therein for ages Nothing cool shall they
taste therein, nor any drink, Except boiling water, and dirty wound
discharges.” (Holy Qur'an, 78: 21-25)
“And say, 'The truth is
from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him
disbelieve.' Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls
will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with
water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and
evil is the resting place.” (Holy Qur'an, 18: 29)
Thus, hell is the worst of places to be in – a place of unending
torment; a place of divine chastisement. The only way to safeguard ourselves
from Hell is not only to seek God's forgiveness and lead a life that is
strictly in keeping with God's commandments, but also to constantly strive for
both well before our time in this earthly life comes to an end.
May God protect us all from Hell! May God make us of the people
of Paradise!
Calamities Part and Parcel of
Life
We should understand that calamities and illnesses are part and
parcel of our living life through the woof and warp of existence. They are
simply the instruments of test and trial from our Creator. God Himself mentions
it as such in His Last Revelation:
“Be sure that We shall test you with something of fear and
hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad
tidings to those who patiently persevere.” (Holy Qur'an, 2: 155)
When such hardships come our way, we should learn to bear them
with patience. Instead of complaining, we should accept this aspect of life's
reality and stay calm. May God guide us and help us in such times of trial.
God teaches us how to handle such tough times:
“Who, when disaster strikes them, say, 'Indeed, to Allah we
belong, and to Him we will return.' Those are the ones upon whom are blessings
from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.” (Holy
Qur'an, 2: 156-157)
Once we truly grasp the reality of God's presence and that all
of us belong to God and will surely return to Him, ours will be a state of
complete tranquility and peace of mind. In fact, the disasters which befall us
will actually become a source of merit for us. You may ask in surprise:
“Merit..?” Yes! Look at what the
Messenger of Allah, Muhammad, on whom be peace, said:
“There is no Muslim who is stricken with a calamity and says
what Allah has enjoined: 'Verily, to Allah we belong and unto Him is our
return. O Allah, reward me for my affliction and compensate me with something
better' – but Allah will compensate him with something better.” (Sahih Muslim,
No. 918)
In times of illness, if we bear it with patience, praise God and
seek His forgiveness , God will cure us and make us even more healthier than
before.
The Messenger of God, Muhammad, on whom be peace, once said:
"When a slave is ill, Allah sends two angels to him."
He said, "They look at what he says to his visitors. If he praises Allah
when they come to him, they take that up to Allah, the Mighty, the Majestic –
and He knows best – and He says, 'If I make My slave die, I will make him enter
the Garden. If I heal him, I will replace his flesh with better flesh and his
blood with better blood and I will efface his wrong actions." (Muwatta)
The Need for Medication
In addition to being patient, and in a constant state of
praising God, we should also take the best medications available, for the God
who sent down the disease has also sent down the remedy. The Messenger of God,
Muhammad, on whom be peace, is reported to have said:
“Use remedies. For, indeed, Allah did not make a disease but
made a cure for it, except for one disease.' They (i.e., those with him on that
occasion said, 'O Messenger of Allah! What is it?' He said: 'Old age.'”
(Tirmidhi)
“Every disease has a medication. If the medication for a
particular disease is found, it will be cured with Allah's (swt) permission.”
(Sahih Muslim)
At the same time, we should not use things forbidden by God for
medication, for the Messenger of God , Muhammad, on whom be peace, said:
"Allāh has sent down both the disease and the cure, and He
has appointed a cure for every disease, so treat yourselves medically, but use
nothing unlawful." (Abu Dawũd)
First and foremost, therefore, our recourse must be to God and
in sincere supplications to Him to cure us of the disease completely.
Thereafter, we should consult the relevant doctor and undergo the necessary
treatment. At the same time, we should firmly believe that cure comes from God
alone. Moreover, it is necessary that we patiently endure whatever pain and
stress we may face during the course of our treatment. It is in this
combination – of sincere faith and unfettered effort on our part – that the
whole success of the countering cure lies.
Granted the above conditions, we should also remember that
cleanliness is also an important factor in the maintenance of our health and
freedom from diseases. It is a critical prerequisite to keep our body, dress,
food and surroundings clean and free of filth and impurities – especially urine
and excrement. Not without reason has it been mentioned in the Qur'ān that God
loves those who keep themselves clean. The Messenger of God, Muhammad, on whom
be peace said:
“Verily Allāh, the Exalted, is pure and accepts only that which
is pure. Allāh has commanded the believers to do that which He has commanded
the Messengers. The Exalted has said, 'O Messengers! Eat of the good things and
do right.' And the Exalted also said, 'O believers! Eat of the good things that
we have provided for you.'” (Sahih Muslim)
Says the Holy Qur'ān:
“O you who believe! Eat from the good things which We have
provided for you and be grateful to Allāh, if it is [indeed] Him that you
worship.” (2: 172)
Illnesses and the Forgiveness
of Sins
In reality, illness is a means by which God forgives us our
sins. We need to realize, and appreciate, this aspect of our illnesses. So when
we fall ill, we should look back on our past sins, as also the sins we are
committing now, and plead for God's forgiveness. However, for our sins to be
forgiven by God, our repentance should be such that:
= We recognize and acknowledge our sins as, indeed, being
violations against God's commands.
= We wholeheartedly repent before God for our sins and implore
Him for His Forgiveness.
= We do not commit the same sin, or sins, again.
At the same time, if we have done some harm to others, or have
hurt someone, we should ask forgiveness or make amends with the concerned
person. This is very important, for unless the concerned person forgives us, we
cannot be certain of God's forgiveness as well.
While actively seeking God's forgiveness is a definite
requirement, it is equally, if not more, critical for us to ensure that our
efforts to earn a livelihood are along permitted lines and that our earnings –
through which we partake of a greater portion of our life's sustenance – are,
therefore, pure and accepted of by God. We say this is a critical
consideration, for if our prayers to be answered by God, the food we eat, the
clothes we wear etc should all be from sources permitted by Him. If they are earned through prohibited ways
like stealing, cheating, bribery, prostitution, usury etc our prayers will not be answered. In this
connection, it is pertinent to remember that the Messenger of God, Muhammad (on
whom be peace), once said:
“The man who, having journeyed far, is uncombed and dusty and
who stretches out his hands to the sky (saying): 'O Lord! O Lord!' (while) his
food was unlawful, his drink was unlawful, his clothing was unlawful, and he is
nourished with unlawful things, so how can he be answered?” (Sahīh Muslim)
What if the Illness takes Time
to Get Cured?
Precisely because our life in this world is a test, diseases
that afflict us may take their own time to go away. Our duty, in such
instances, is to remain steadfast and patient, in the clear conviction that
through such forbearance, we seek the good pleasure of God – the best goal
ever. There can be no better outcome than this, for God will then grant us His
forgiveness for our sins and thus purify us for our patience in such difficult
times. The Messenger of God, Muhammad, on whom be peace, once said:
“Do not curse fever, for it expiates the sins of the posterity
of Adam just as a furnace removes the impurities of iron.” (Sahīh Muslim)
Sometimes, even with the best medications available, the disease
may still persist and take us to the brink of death. Even when in such dire
straits, we should not lose our patience, and faith, in God. Even when the
disease becomes too severe and painful to bear, we should neither pray for
death, nor should we take the extreme steps of committing suicide or availing
euthanasia (mercy-killing). To be sure, if the pain and suffering turns
unbearable just before death, it may only mean that God intends to take back
the one suffering to Himself in a state wherein all his, or her, sins are
washed away. The Messenger of God, Muhammad, on whom be peace, said:
“None of you should wish for death because of a calamity
befalling him; but if he has to wish for death, he should say: “O Allāh! Keep
me alive as long as life is better for me, and let me die if death is better
for me.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Thus, by holding on to patience and firm belief in God, we can
emerge victorious from the trials of an unbearable and painful illness.
Verses of the Qur'ān to be
Recited during Illnesses
In addition to taking proper medical treatment, we can also
recite certain verses of the Qurān. God Himself mentions about the excellence and
benefits of the Qurān, thus:
“Say, 'It is, for those who believe, a Guidance and Cure."
(Holy Qur'ān, 41: 44)
“And We send down of the Qur'ān that which is a healing and a
mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrong-doers except in
loss.” (Holy Qur'ān, 17: 82)
“O Mankind! There hath come to you a direction from your Lord
and a healing for the (diseases) in your hearts, and – for those who believe –
a Guidance and a Mercy.” (Holy Qur'ān, 10: 57)
Thus the verses of the Qur'an are a source of mercy and have
great healing in them. What follows below are a few such verses of the Qur'an
which may be recited during times of illnesses; but, in reciting these verses
in times of need, one should be sincere and not associate partners with God, by
calling upon anyone – or anything – other than Him. Anyone can recite these
verses by himself or herself to seek healing provided he or she take the
following oath and abide by it
thereafter...
'Ash-hadu an lā-ilāha
illa-Allāh, wa Ash-hadu anna Muhammadur Rasũlullah.' (i.e., 'I bear witness
that there is no deity truly worthy of
worship except Allāh, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of
Allāh.')
First Chapter of the Holy
Qur'ān
The first chapter of the Holy Qur'ān, called al-Fāthiha,
contains seven verses. If one recites this chapter, knowing its meaning and
with firm belief, it will serve as a great remedy for illnesses. Presented
below are the verses of this chapter transliterated into English:
1. Bismillahir Rahmānir Rahīm
2. Al-Hamdu Lillāhi Rabb-il-Ãlamīn
3. Ar-Rahmān-ir-Rahīm
4. Māliki Yawm-id-Dīn
5. Iyyāka Na'budu wa Iyyāka Nasta'īn
6. Ihdin as-Sirāth-al-Mustaqīm
7. Sirath alladīna an-Amta Alayhim, Ghayr il Magdhũbi Alayhim,
wa la Dhāllīn. (Ãmīn)
Meaning of the Chapter al-Fāthiha:
1. In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
2. All praises and thanks be to Allāh, the Lord of the 'Ãlamīn
(mankind, jinn and all that exists).
3. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
4. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of
Judgement (i.e., the Day of Resurrection).
5. You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for
each and everything).
6. Guide us to the Straight Way.
7. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not
(the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray. [Ãmīn
(i.e., 'please accept our prayers')].
An Important Note
The above verses are taught by God Himself. If we look closely
at the fifth verse again, we see that it stresses the importance of worshipping
nothing and nobody save God alone. It also underlines the fact that we should
ask help only from God and not from others. Here, ours is a pledge to God that
we will worship none but Him and Him alone. Indeed, if our prayers are to be
accepted, we need to have internalized this reality and accepted it
wholeheartedly.
A Special Verse of the Holy
Qur'ān
A very special verse in the Holy Qur'an is the Ãyat-ul-Kursi'.
It reads as follows:
“Allāhu lā ilāha illa Huwa al-Hayy ul-Qayyũm. Lā Ta'akhuthuhu
Sinatun wa lā Nawm. Lahu mā Fis
Samāwā ti wa mā fil-Ardh. Man thallathī
yashfau indahu illā bi-idnih. Ya'alamu mā bayna aydīhim wa mā khalfahum. Walā
yuhītũna bi shayim min ilmihī illā bi mā shā. Wasia Kursiyyuhus samāwāti
wal-Ardh. Walā yaũduhu hifthuhuma wa Huwa al-Aliyy ul-Adhīm.” {Holy Qur'an, 2:
255}
[“Allāh! There is no God but He,-the Living, the
Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all
things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there who can intercede in His
presence, except as He permits? He knows what (appeareth to His creatures as) before
or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except
as He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no
fatigue in guarding and preserving them, for He is the Most High, the Supreme
(in glory).” (Holy Qur'an, 2: 255)]
This verse protects us from all the subtleties of evil. In their
ability to choose and reason, the humans are not alone in Allah's creation.
Like them, the Jinns, too, form such a community of created beings. Invisible
to human eyes, the Jinn, too, live in communities. Moreover, like humans, they,
too, have the male and the female, the good and the evil as also believers and
disbelievers in God. In fact, we are told that Iblīs 'was from among the Jinn.'
The Messenger of God, Muhammad, on whom be peace, said:
“Whoever recites Ãyat-ul-Kursi in the morning and evening, he
will be protected from the evil of the Jinns.” (Hākim)
The Prophet's Practice
“The Prophet's wife, Aisha (May God be Pleased with her),
reported that when the Prophet, on whom be peace, went to bed every night, he
used to cup his hands together and blow over them after reciting the following
chapters of the Qur'an: al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and An-Nās, and then rub his hands
over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head,
face and front of his body. He used to do that three times. When he became
seriously ill, she used to recite (Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Naas) and rub
his hands over his body hoping for its blessings.” (Bukhari}
Let us now understand what the above narration means. The first
chapter mentioned in the above narration is Sũrah al-Ikhlās , which is the
112th chapter of the Holy Qur'an. This chapter dwells on the characteristics
and attributes of God. This chapter also reminds us in unambiguous terms that
we are supplicating to the very real and Almighty, All-Powerful, one and only
God Who has none co-equal with Him
The chapters, al-Falaq and an-Nās, constitute the 113th and
114th chapters of the Holy Qur'ān respectively. These chapters help in
protecting us from sorcery, black magic, witchcraft and the evil eye. So
whoever recites these chapters will be protected from those evils by God's
will.
The main point which the Qur'an makes here is this: to protect
ourselves from evil of any kind, we should pray to God directly, and not seek
mediators, or intercessors, with Him. In fact, seeking the help of mediators or
intercessors will not help us in the least in any way. God alone is the Knower
of the Hidden and the Manifest, and it is He, and He alone, who has power over
all things. Thus, we should firmly believe that no harm can touch us without
His knowledge or permission.
Now, taking up the chapters, al-Ikhlās, al-Falaq and An-Nās, one
by one:
Chapter al-Ikhlās (Holy Qur'ān: 112)
1. Qul Huwa Allāhu Ahad (i.e., “Say: 'He is Allāh, the One and
Only [God]'”),
2. Allāhus Samad (i.e., 'Allāh, the Eternal, Absolute').
3. Lam Yalid, wa Lam Yũlad (i.e., 'He begets not, nor was He
begotten').
4. Walam Yakullahu Kufuwan Ahad (i.e., 'And there is none comparable
unto Him').
Chapter al-Falaq (Holy Qur'ān: 113)
1. Qul Aghũdhu bi Rabbil Falaq. (i.e., “Say: 'I seek refuge with
the Lord of the Dawn'”)
2. Min Sharri mā Khalaq. (i.e., 'From the mischief of created
things')
3. Wa min Sharr-i-Ghāsiqin idha Waqab (i.e., 'From the mischief
of Darkness as it overspreads')
4. Wa min Sharr-in-Naffāsāti fil Uqad (i.e., 'And from the evil
of the witchcrafts when they blow in the knots')
5. Wa min Sharr-i- Hāsidin idha Hasad (i.e., 'And from the evil
of the envier when he envies')
Chapter al-Nās (Holy Qur'ān: 114)
1. Qul Aũdhu bi Rabbin Nās. (i.e., “Say: 'I seek refuge with the
Lord and Cherisher of Mankind'”)
2. Malik-in-Nās (i.e., “the King of Mankind”)
3. Ilāh-in-Nās (i.e., “the God of Mankind”)
4. Min Sharr-il-Waswās-il-Khannās [i.e., “From the mischief of the Whisperer
(of Evil), who withdraws (after his whisper)”],
5. Alladhi yuwas wisu fī Sudũr-in-Nās (i.e., “Who whispers into the hearts of
Mankind”)
6. Minal Jinnati wa an-Nās (i.e., “Of Jinns and men”)
Some supplications taught by the Prophet, on whom be peace, are
as follows:
1. What to Say when you Feel
Pain in your Body
Put your hand on the place where you feel pain, and say: “Bismillāh”
(i.e., “In the name of Allah”), thrice. Then say: ”A'ũdhu billāhi wa
Qudratihi min Sharri mā Ajidu wa Uhādhiru” (i.e., 'I seek refuge in Allāh and
in His Power from the evil of what I find and of what I guard against')
seven times. (Sahīh Muslim)
2. Supplication for the Patient
Say: “Adhhib-al-Ba's, Rabb-an-Nās, Ishfi' wa Ant-al-Shāfi, lā
Shāfi illā Anta.” (i.e., “Remove all harm, O Lord of the people! Give cure, for
You are the Curer. There is none that gives cure except You.") (Sahīh
Bukhāri)
3. How to Seek Protection for Children
Say: “Uīthukumā bi Kalimātil-lāhit-Tāmmati min kulli Shaytānin wa
Hāmmatin, wa min kulli 'Aynin lāmmatin.” (i.e., “I seek protection for you in
the Perfect Words of Allāh from every devil and every beast, and from every
envious, blameworthy, eye.”) (Sahīh Bukhari)
In fact, the Prophet, on whom be peace, used to supplicate using
the above words for his two grandsons, Hasan and Hussain.
4. Invocations when Visiting the Sick
Say: “As'alullāh al-'Adh'īma, Rabb-al-'Arshil-'Adhīmi, 'an
Yashfiyaka” (i.e., “I ask Almighty Allāh, Lord of the Magnificent Throne, to make
you well.”) seven times. (Tirmidhi)
5. Protection from Poisonous Snakes, Scorpions etc.:
Say: “A'ũdhu bi Kalimātil-lahit-Thāmmāthi min Sharr-i-mā
Khalaq.” (i.e., “I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allāh from the evil of
what He has created.”) (Sahīh Muslim)
Upon Getting Cured
By the Mercy and Grace of God, if we get cured, how should our
attitude be? We should continue to seek forgiveness from God and thank Him
much! We should also give charity to the poor and the needy. We should never
forget God's Grace on us and we should not commit the sins, or evil actions, we
used to do earlier. Importantly, we should not worship Idols, graves or any of
God's creation. This is because worshipping something/ someone other than God
is the greatest sin and it is also an unforgivable act. The only recompense for
this is permanent hellfire!
God mentions in Holy Qur'ān, thus:
“And when harm touches men, they cry sincerely only to their
Lord (Allāh), turning to Him in repentance, but when He gives them a taste of
His Mercy, behold, a party of them associate partners in worship with their
Lord.” (Holy Qur'ān, 30: 33)
God gives a severe warning to those who go back to worship
something/ someone other than God, forgetting God's Mercy and Favour on us:
“When distress seizes you at sea, those that you call upon -
besides Him - leave you in the lurch! But when He brings you back safe to land,
you turn away (from Him). Most ungrateful is man!“ (Holy Qur'ān, 17: 67)
“Do ye then feel secure that He will not cause you to be
swallowed up beneath the earth when ye are on land, or that He will not send
against you a violent tornado (with showers of stones) so that ye shall find no
one to carry out your affairs for you? (Holy Qur'ān, 17: 68)
“Or do you feel secure that He will not send you back a second
time to sea, and send against you a hurricane of wind and drown you, because of
your disbelief? Then you will not find any helper therein against Us.” (Holy
Qur'ān, 17: 69)
At no point in our lives should we forget the plain reality that
we were created by God only to worship Him alone and none else. It is certain
that we will return back to Him after our death in this world, and we will then
have to provide an account of each and every action of ours – be it a good deed
or a bad deed. Whatever our preoccupations in this life, we should not be
distracted from the basic truth that the everlasting Life Hereafter is waiting
for us.
In fact, illness is just a timely reminder for us, to remind
ourselves of death and that we will soon return to our Creator!
A Simple Fact
A college student who dedicates himself, studies hard and
sacrifices entertainment to focus on studies – comes through his exams with
flying colours and moves on to achieve great success in life! On the other
hand, a student who is careless in studies and spends his time in enjoyment and
entertainment fails badly in his exams and can therefore look forward only at a
bleak and dismal future.
Similarly, whoever obeys God's commandments and leads a
righteous life in this world, which is a place of trial, will be rewarded with
Paradise. On the other hand, the one who leads his life according to his whims
and fancies, in disobedience to God's commands, will be punished with Hellfire.
So, as people of wisdom, we should understand the seriousness of this truth and
live our life based on God's instructions, so that we may ultimately enter
Paradise, and not the eternal damnation of Hell!
Conclusion
The God who created us, and provides us with sustenance, is full
of mercy for us. He wants us to succeed in His various tests and, thereby,
enter Paradise. Illness constitutes one such test. Therefore, whenever we fall
sick, we should submit ourselves and turn back to our Creator. This is the only
way to succeed in this test.
God says in the Holy Qur'ān:
“Verily, We sent (Messengers) to many nations before you. And We
seized them with extreme poverty (or loss in wealth) and loss in health with
calamities so that they might believe with humility.” (Holy Qur'ān, 6 : 42)
How do we humble ourselves before God? The answer is: we need to
follow what God has instructed in His Book (the Holy Qur'ān) and what His
Messenger – Muhammad, on whom be peace, has informed us about. This is the only
way to success!
“We send down (stage by stage), in the Qur'ān, that which is a
healing and a mercy to those who believe: to the wrongdoers, it causes nothing
but loss after loss.” (Holy Qur'ān, 17: 82)
“O mankind! There has come to you a good advice from your Lord
and a healing for the diseases) in your hearts,- and for those who believe, a
guidance and a Mercy.” (Holy Qur'ān 10: 57)
=====================
Islam …. a holistic approach to health
The word Islam denotes peace, security, safety as it does
submission and surrender to Almighty God. This security is inherent in
the submission to the our Creator. When a person submits to the will of
Him he will experience an innate sense of security and peacefulness. He
must also understand that He is the Creator of all that exists or
will come to exist, and has power over all things. With this surrender
and understanding comes peace – real, easily attainable, and everlasting peace.
One who surrenders thus is called as ‘Muslim’ in Arabic language.
A Muslim
strives to obey God’s commandments and does so by following God’s guide to life
- the Quran, and the authentic teachings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad.The
Quran is a book of guidance and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad explain and
in some cases expand on that guidance. Islam, as a complete way of life,
stresses the importance of maintaining good health and offers the ways and the
means to cope with ill health.
Through His infinite mercy, God has provided
us with a holistic approach to life, one that covers all aspects, spiritual,
emotional and physical. The comprehensiveness of Islam allows every
aspect of life, from sleeping and washing, to praying and working, to be an act
of worship. One who is truly submitted to God is grateful for the
countless blessings in his or her life and wants to thank and praise God for
His generosity, kindness and mercy. Prophet Muhammad explained that we
should be thankful to God in every situation, whether we perceive it to be good
or bad. The reality is that God is just, therefore, whatever situation a
believer finds himself in, he knows there is goodness and wisdom embedded in
it.
Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) said,
“Indeed amazing are the affairs of a believer! They are all for his
benefit. If he is granted ease then he is thankful, and this is good for
him. And if he is afflicted with a hardship, he perseveres, and this is
good for him.” (Muslim)
====================
Health
aspects in Islamic prayer
After a person testifies to or affirms their
belief in Allah and His messenger Mohammad the next important step is to pray.
Muslims pray in the early morning before
sunrise, in the middle of the day, in the afternoon, at sunset and at night.
Muslims pray in obedience to God because they believe God created
humankind for no other purpose except to worship Him. Thus the epitome of
worship is prayer. God is the most kind and the most merciful so, as we
would expect, the benefits embedded in the prayer are for us and us
alone. God does not need our prayers but we surely need the benefits we
attain from praying. The benefits are spiritual, emotional and physical
and the most important is establishing a connection to our Lord, the Most
Merciful.
Ablution
Cleanliness is Half of Faith
The Messenger of God (pbuh) said: “Purity (cleanliness) is half
the faith.” [Muslim]
For the most important and fundamental pillar of Islam, five daily
prayers, God has prescribed cleanliness of the body, cleanliness of the dress
and cleanliness of the place of worship as preconditions.
God Almighty has ordained in the Quran that the purpose of the
commands to acquire cleanliness or purity before every prayer is God’s desire
to keep us clean and pure for which we should be grateful to Him.
“Allah does not wish to
place you in difficulty, but to make you clean and complete His favour upon
you, so that you may be grateful.” [Quran 5:6]
The Holy
Prophet (pbuh) has stated "The key
to paradise is Prayer , and the key to Prayer is cleanliness."
(Muslim).
Here
cleanliness means that the place of Prayer and the person’s clothes, should be
clean. Furthermore, the person should be clean from the greater and smaller
impurities - i.e. he should not be in need of a bath (Ghusl) and should
be with ablution (Wuzu).
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “The angels of mercy
do not enter a house in which there is an image, a dog or a person in a state
of greater impurity (Janabah)." (Abu Dawood).
Prior to obligatory or voluntary prayer a person must assure that he is
in a state of cleanliness, he does this by performing either wudu (often translated as ablution) or
ghusl (a full bath). Wudu rids the body of minor impurities, and ghusl
cleanses the body of major impurities. Ghusl must be performed after
sexual intercourse or any sexual activity that releases bodily fluids.
Ghusl is also performed at the completion of a woman’s menstrual period or post
partum bleeding.
Ritually cleansing the body by performing wudu includes washing the
hands, rinsing the mouth and nose, washing the face, washing the arms up to the
elbows, wiping the head (and beard), washing the ears, including behind the
ears and washing the feet up to and including the ankle. A person does
not have to repeat this ablution for every prayer unless he has broken his wudu
by one of the following methods; urinating or defecating, breaking wind, eating
camel meat, falling asleep while lying down, losing consciousness, directly
touching the genital area or becoming sexually excited sufficiently to emit a
discharge
Interestingly enough, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) also encouraged doing ablution before going to bed. Washing important
motor and sensory organs such as the hands, arms, eyes, legs, mouth and
genitals before sleep using cool water relaxes the body preparing it for a deep
sleep.
Muslims
are encouraged to ablute not only before praying or going to bed, but also when
entering the mosque, making the call to prayer, delivering a sermon, after
visiting a graveyard, after touching or carrying a dead person and also before
reading the Quran.
We
are also encouraged to ablute while being in a state of anger for the cooling
and refreshing effect of the water, as we are told that anger is from the devil
who is made out of fire and can therefore be put off by water.
Besides
understanding the benefits of ablution. One should never take things at face
value, and must have strong faith that everything that Allah prescribes has a
wisdom behind it that we may or may not know.
Purpose of prayer:
The Arabic word for prayer is salah and interestingly it is a word that
denotes connection. Prayer is our way of connecting with and maintaining
a connection with God. Prayer at fixed times serve as a reminder of why
we are here and helps to direct a person’s thoughts and actions away from sin
and onto the remembrance of God.
Prayer comprises of both physical movement and mental
concentration. It includes the posture of standing, deep bowing,
prostrating (touching the forehead on
the ground) and sitting. The movements or postures have been compared to
other exercise regimes and there is no doubt that five times per day, a Muslim
is engaging in a moderate exercise regime that encourages good blood
circulation, regular calm controlled breathing and general suppleness.
Although not physically over demanding it is a mild form of physical exercise
done consistently.
It is important to perfect all of the movements of the prayer,
rather than haphazardly rushing through them because each movement has a
purpose. From the opening Takbir (saying Allahu Akbar or God is Great) to begin the prayer
the movements and postures are of both physical and spiritual benefit for
us. Standing calmly and gathering our thoughts improves posture, balance,
and self-awareness, as well as normalising blood pressure and breathing.
However, takbir also
denotes that the prayer has begun and all matters relating to this world are
left far behind. A calm meditative state is achieved and a
connection is made. In the few minutes it takes to pray, each
person stands before God in full submission. We gain peace, tranquility
and numerous health benefits.
Bowing stretches and tones the muscles of the lower back, thighs,
legs and calves, and abdomen. The physical benefits of prostration are
many; prostration can help maintain the lymph and skeletal systems and the
prostrate, bladder and adrenal glands. The placement of the
forehead upon the ground causes an increased blood supply to the brain and has
been cited as having a good effect upon memory, vision, hearing, concentration,
and other cognitive abilities. As the person praying moves through the
positions of prayer, standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting, it assists in
general good health by stimulating the large intestine and aiding
detoxification and digestion.
The position of prostration, when the forehead touches the ground
is exclusively associated with the Islamic form of prayer. It is the apex
of a person’s prayer and it is mentioned in the authentic traditions of Prophet
Muhammad as the position in which a believer is as close to God as it is
possible to be. "The nearest one comes to his Lord is when he is
kowtowing.” This is the supreme benefit in the different postures of
prayer and it is a mercy from God that so many other physical benefits are also
associated with prayer. God asks us to worship Him and then rewards us
with countless blessings beyond the supreme benefit of pleasing our Creator.
Over the years many have suggested that the Islamic prayer
contains benefits associated with yoga and tai chi however it would be more
correct to say that these health regimes incorporate many of the health
benefits contained in the prayer. It is logical to think that the One who
created us also gave us the means with which to keep ourselves healthy and
strong both in belief and physical attributes related to the mind and
body.
Health benefits of Islamic fasting
Ramadan is the month in which the
Quran was revealed. Muslims fast during the entire month of Ramadan to express
their gratitude to God. They do not eat or drink and avoid conjugal relations from dawn
till sunset.
Muslims do not fast because of medical
benefits but because it has been ordained to them in the Quran. The medical
benefits of fasting are as a result of fasting. Fasting in general has been
used in medicine for medical reasons including weight management, for rest of
the digestive tract and for lowering lipids. There are many adverse effects of
total fasting as well as so-called crash diets. Islamic fasting is different
from such diet plans because in Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or
inadequate calorie intake. In addition, the fasting in Ramadan is voluntarily
taken and is not a prescribed imposition from the physician.
Ramadan is a month of self-regulation
and self-training, with the hope that this training will last beyond the end of
Ramadan. If the lessons learned during Ramadan, whether in terms of dietary
intake or righteousness, are carried on after Ramadan, it is beneficial for
one's entire life. Moreover, the type of food taken during Ramadan does not
have any selective criteria of crash diets such as those which are protein only
or fruit only type diets. Everything that is permissible is taken in moderate
quantities.
The only difference between Ramadan and
total fasting is the timing of the food; during Ramadan, we basically miss
lunch and take an early breakfast and do not eat until dusk. Abstinence from
water during this period is not bad at all and in fact, it causes concentration
of all fluids within the body, producing slight dehydration. The body has its
own water conservation mechanism; in fact, it has been shown that slight
dehydration and water conservation, at least in plant life, improve their
longevity.
The physiological effect of fasting
includes lower of blood sugar, lowering of cholesterol and lowering of the
systolic blood pressure. In fact, Ramadan fasting would be an ideal
recommendation for treatment of mild to moderate, stable, non-insulin diabetes,
obesity and essential hypertension.
There are
psychological effects of fasting as well. There is a peace and tranquility for
those who fast during the month of Ramadan. Personal hostility is at a minimum,
and the crime rate decreases. This psychological improvement could be related
to better stabilization of blood glucose during fasting as hypoglycemia after
eating, aggravates behavior changes. Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“He who does not stay away from
indecent language and evil acts (during the period of fasting), God is in no
need of his giving up food and water.”
=======================
Islamic
Diet & Manners
Islamic nutritional practices (including every other action) are
expected to be predominantly determined by the injunctions and regulations of
Islam as outlined by the Holy Qur'an and explained by tradition of the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH).
Cleanliness and Hygiene
Cleanliness and hygiene in Islam are emphasized to the extent
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported by Ibn Hayyan to have said: "Cleanse
yourself, for Islam is cleanliness." In another Hadith the Prophet (PBUH)
is reported to have said, "Cleanliness invites towards faith, and faith leads its
possessor to the Garden (Paradise)"
Cleanliness in food handling, cooking, preserving, processing,
etc. is highly recommended and emphasized besides an overall cleanliness of
body, clothing, home, and surroundings.
Miswak (brushing)
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) laid special emphasis on cleaning the
teeth, hands, and hair. He (PBUH) was particularly careful in the observance of
Miswak (brushing teeth). Miswak is an Arabic word meaning tooth cleaner. It is
made of wood and the Prophet (PBUH) recommended its use with every ablution
(washing for prayer) five times a day and before and after every meal.
The excellence of Miswaak
The
Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “If I had not found it hard for my
followers or the people, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth
with Miswaak for every Prayer."
The
Holy Prophet (pbuh) also said: “Make the (brushing with) "Miswaak"
a must - for it cleans the mouth, and the Lord also gets pleased. (Musnad
Ahmed)
Eating Habits
Eating like all other acts of a Muslim is a matter of worship and
begins in the name of Allah. Bismallah. Islam reminds Muslims that food
and drink are the provision of Allah for survival and for maintaining good
health. The following habits were recommended by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and
are practiced by Muslims all over the world:
Washing hands before and after eating:
The Prophet Muhammad ( Pbuh) said: "The blessings in the meal
is by washing before and after it." [Sunnan Abu Daud]
Supplication before each meal:
"Bismillahi wa ala
barkatillah."
"In the name of Allah and with the blessings of Allah."
Supplication after each meal:
"Al hamdu lil lahilladhi
at‘amana wa saqana waja-alana minal muslemeen."
"Praise be to Allah the One Who gave us the food and the drinks. Praise be
to Him Who made us Muslim."
The Prophet Muhammad ( Pbuh) said: "Verily, Allah taala is
pleased with His servant when he eats a morsal and praises him, and when he
takes a drink and then praises him (Al-Hamdulillah)." [Abu Daud]
Eat With the Right Hand:
Ibn 'Umar reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as
saying: When any one of you intends to eat (meal), he should eat with his right
hand. and when he (intends) to drink he should drink with his right hand, for
the Satan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand. [Muslim ::
Book 23 : Hadith 5008]
Do Not Eat in Gold or Silver Vessels:
'Abd al-Rahmin b. Abu Laili reported that Hudhaifa asked for water
and a Magian gave him water in a silver vessel, whereupon he said: I heard
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not wear silk or
brocade and do not drink in vessels
of gold and silver, and do not eat in the dishes made of them (i. e. gold and
silver), for these are for them (the non-believers) in this world.
[Muslim :: Book 24 : Hadith 5140]
Respecting Food and Never Complaining :
"The Prophet Muhammad ( Pbuh) never ever complained regarding
any food, if he liked it he ate it, if did not he left it." (Sunnan Abu
Daud)
Eating less:
Overeating is discouraged and wasting of food is condemned.
"O children of Adam! Look
to your adornment at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not
prodigals. Lo! He loveth not the extravagant " (Quran 7:31).)
One of the main principals of good health is a balanced diet.
Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) emphasized the behavior of eating less as a method of
preventing sickness and diseases. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is reported to have
said:
"Eat less you will be
healthier." (Hadith)
"Nothing is worse than a
person who fills his stomach. It should be enough for the son of Adam to have a
few bites to satisfy his hunger. If he wishes more, it should be: one-third for
his food, one-third for his liquids, and one-third for his breath."
(Tarmazi, ibn Majah and Hakim)
The Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) said: "The disbeliever eats till
he fills seven intestines but the believer eats to the fill of one
intestine."
[Jami of Tirmidhi]
The Prophet Muhammad ( Pbuh) said: "Eating too much is
misfortune." [Shuab al-Iman of Bayhaqi]
Eating slowly:
Eating slowly is recommended for good health as it facilitates the
food being thoroughly chewed and hence easier to digest.
Moderation:
Islam lays down the basis of dietary regulations as well as the
limits within which man can satisfy his physical needs and desires without
endangering his life and mental health. Islam motivates people to seek the good
of the Hereafter as well as of this world in a balanced way. It teaches us to
enjoy the pleasures of life, including food, in a moderate way, not becoming a
slave to his desires or losing sight of the ultimate spiritual goal. Prophet
Mohammed (pbuh) did not permit Muslims to undertake fast which might be harmful
and lead to weakness or illness, even though fasting is considered and act of
worship.
'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As
told of God's messenger, "Have you not been informed, 'Abdullah, that you
fast during the day and get up at night for prayer?" When he replied that
this was so, he said to him, "Do not do it. Fast and break your fast, get
up for prayer and sleep, for you have a duty to your body, your eye, your wife,
and your visitors. May he who observes a perpetual fast never fast! Fasting
three days a month is equivalent to a perpetual fast. Fast three days every
month and recite Qur'an every month."
A Muslim is advised to avoid extremes and to choose a moderate
course in all his affairs, including his eating habits. "Eat of
the good things we have provided for your sustenance, but commit not excess
therein." (Qur'an 20:81)
We are also encouraged to enjoy life within certain limits which
are drawn from the Shari'ah (Islamic rulings) which was built on the Islamic
'Golden Rule', "Do not harm or be a cause of harm", whether for oneself or others. We are
cautioned to avoid greed and to enjoy the pleasures of sharing, especially in
regard to eating.
Sharing food:
= Sharing food with relatives, friends, neighbors, the needy and
destitute is a part of Islam. We are required to show compassion, grace,
gentleness, and consideration for others. When eating in a group, if quantities
are limited, share from your plate with the others.
The Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) is reported to have said, "A plate
for one is enough for two, and a plate for two is enough for four.
Eating together:
The benefits of enjoying meals together applies whether it's a
family sitting down together, a husband and wife dining out, or a young couple
getting to know one another. The Prophet (pbuh) emphasized the importance of
this when he said, "Eat together and not separately, for the blessing
is associated with the company." (Ibn Majah).
The Companions of the Messenger ( Pbuh) complained: 'O Prophet
Muhammad, we eat but are not satiated.' The Prophet Muhammad ( Pbuh) said:
'Perhaps you eat separately?' They replied that they did. He ( Pbuh) said: 'Eat
your food together and say Bismillah before you start, that will bring blessings
into your food.'" [Abu Daud]
Drinking Habits
It is recommended not to drain a glass of liquid in one continuous
draught. The pharynx serves as a common passageway for both food and air, and
the pathways for these cross. Intervals while drinking are also recommended to
avoid choking. Sitting down while drinking is also recommended.
The Holy Prophet said, "Do not drink water in one gulp (or
one breath) like a camel, but take it in two or three installments (with breaks
for breath). Take the name of Allah (recite "Bismallah") when you start drinking and praise
Him (say "Alhamdullillah")
when you finish. (Tirmizi)
Remembrance of God to keep away Satan:
The Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) is reported to
have said, "If a person takes the name of Allah (i.e., recites Bismillah
or Assalamu Alaikum) when he enters his home and when he eats, Satan tells his
companions, "Let us go. There is no room for you to pass the night in this
house nor food." If he enters his house without calling to Allah, Satan
says to his companions: "You have at least secured lodging." Then if
he does not remember Allah at the time of eating also, Satan says, "You
have secured both lodging and food." (Muslim)
=======
Prophetic
remedies in brief
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has
recommended some remedies and commented upon the nature and value of various
foods and spices. As the statements and actions
of the Prophet (pbuh) are outcome of divine inspiration, they stand as guiding
principles for us in all walks of life including health. Health benefits will accrue to anyone who
sincerely follows these recommendations as they are perfectly in accord with
human nature
It must be also
remembered that it is not simply the eating of one or more foods that influence
our health but there are many other aspects of behavior that bear upon health,
like fasting, prayer, giving of alms, and other practices--and these other
factors may have a greater total impact on health than any foods.
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: The Prophet (pubh) said,
"Healing is in three things: A gulp of honey, cupping, and branding with
fire (cauterizing). But I forbid my followers to use (cauterization) branding
with fire." (Bukhari)
HONEY:
= God Almighty says in the
Quran thus: "Your Lord revealed to the bees: "Build dwellings in
the mountains and the trees, and also in the structures which men erect. Then
eat from every kind of fruit and travel the paths of your Lord, which have been
made easy for you to follow." From inside them comes a drink of varying
colours, containing healing for mankind. There is certainly a Sign in that for
people who reflect" (Quran 16: 68)
= The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Make use of
the two remedies: honey and the Quran." (Tirmithi)
The Prophet (PBUH) has also told us of the healing found
within honey for a variety of medical problems, including stomach ailments.Honey
offers incredible antiseptic, antioxidant and immune boosting properties for
our body and health. It not only fights infection and helps tissue
healing but also helps reduce inflammation and is often used for treating
digestive problems such as indigestion, stomach ulcers and gastroenteritis.
CUPPING
Cupping (hijama) is the
best remedy recommended and used by Prophet Muhammad(pbuh). He said, "Indeed
the best of remedies you have is cupping (hijama)…" [Bukhari (5371)].
Cupping (hijama) is the
process of applying cups to various points on the body by removing the air
inside the cups to form a vacuum. Blood gathered
at those points are removed by slight incisions made by using sharp blades.
Thus the 'harmful' blood which is believed to be the cause for the various
diseases is removed and health is restored in the patient.
He also
said that the angels he met during Mi’raj said to him, "Oh
Muhammad, order your Ummah (nation) with cupping (hijama)." [Sunan Tirmidhee ].
BLACK
CUMIN - A CURE FOR ALL THINGS
Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) has
said: “In the black seed is healing for every disease except death.” (Sahih
Bukhari)
Within
Arabo-Islamic culture, the black seed (also known as kalonji in India) has been
prescribed for various ailments including fever, asthma, chronic headaches,
diabetes, digestion, back pain, infections and rheumatism. In fact, since its
rise in popularity in the Seventh century the black seed has remained a staple
of family medicine within the Muslim world. The black seed is believed to have
100 components and is a significant source of fatty acids, proteins,
carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Oil extracted from black seed is also
available now a days, which can be consumed directly or mixed with other
drinks.
Olive oil
The Prophet said, “Eat olive oil and anoint
yourselves with it, for it comes from a blessed tree”.
According
to another narration, Prophet (pbuh) said, “Eat the olive oil and apply it
(locally), since there is cure for seventy diseases in it, one of them is
Leprosy.” (Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Daarimi)
Olive oil also contains vitamins E and K, and polyphenols,
which provide a defense mechanism that delays aging and prevents
carcinogenesis, atherosclerosis, liver disorders, and inflammations. Oleates in
the oil also promote bone formation in children and protect the bones of the
elderly.
Barley:
Narrated
'Ursa: Aisha,wife of Prophet (pbuh) used to recommend At-Talbina (a porridge
made out of barley) for the sick and for such a person as grieved over a dead
person. She used to say, "I heard Allah's Apostle saying, 'At-Talbina
gives rest to the heart of the patient and makes it active and relieves some of
his sorrow and grief.' (bukhari)
Dates:
Messenger
of Allah (pbuh) used to break his fast with some fresh dates, before he prayed;
if there were none, then with dried dates (tamarat). If there were none of
these then he would take a drink of water. [Ibn Hanbal, Musnad III. 164]
Abu
Buradah reported from Abu Musa, who said: `I had a new-born baby; I took him to
the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, who called him Ibrahim.
The Prophet chewed a date then he took it and rubbed the inside of the baby's
mouth with it.' collections of Bukhari and Muslim
Figs:
They
are mentioned in the Qur'an to identify their distinct health benefits among
other fruits: "By the fig, and the olive." [95:1]
It
is a fruit from paradise and a cure for piles. Figs are higher in fiber than
any other fresh or dried fruit per serving. They are rich in potassium,
calcium, magnesium and iron, and are an excellent source of polyphenols
(plant-based chemicals thought to play a role in fighting disease).
Milk:
“And
verily! In the cattle, there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that
which is in their bellies, from between excretions and blood, pure milk;
palatable to the drinkers.” (Qur’an 16:66)
‘Abdullah bin Masood r.a.
narrated that God’s Messenger said: “Drink cow milk, for cows graze on
every kind of plant.” (Sunan)
Narrated
Ibn ‘Abbass, r.a., God’s Messenger said that the fat of milk was bad for the
feverish and for those who suffer from headache.It is recommended
to rinse one’s mouth with water after drinking milk.
Water
The
Prophet said: Do not drink water in one gulp (or one breath) like a camel, but
take it in two or three installments (with break for breaths); take the name of
Allah (i.e. recite Bismillah) when you start drinking and praise Him (say
Alhamdulillah) when you finish (Tirmidhi,)
Whenever a
lady suffering from fever was brought to Asma' bint Abu Bakr, she used to
invoke Allah for her and then sprinkle some water on her body, at the chest and
say, "Allah's Apostle used to order us to abate fever with water." (Bukhari)
Vinegar:
Jaabir
bin Abdullaah reports that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) asked his family for a
condiment and they replied, "We do not have anything but vinegar". So
he called for it and began to eat, saying, "How good a condiment is
vinegar".(Muslim)
Umm Sa'd reports that Prophet (pbuh) said,
"What an excellent condiment is vinegar. O Allaah bless vinegar, for it
used to be the condiment of the Prophets before me. No house will be destitute
that has vinegar." (Sunan Ibn Maajah)
Cucumber
The
Messenger of Allah (pbuh) used to eat cucumber with fresh dates. (Tirmidhi)
The
cucumber has the following health benefits: Quenches thirst, Calms an inflamed
stomach, Beneficial for pains of the bladder, Its seeds are diuretic
Salt
The Prophet said, "Salt is the master of your food. God sent down four
blessings from the sky - fire, water, iron and salt" (Ibn
Maja).
Points to remember…
= This short life is a test, whose winners are awarded with
Paradise and losers with Hell in the life hereafter. Occurrence of disease is a part of this test.
= When a disease comes we are asked to take medication along with
the prayer. Prayer has to be addressed only to the Almighty God who is the
Creator and Cherisher of our body as well as the world around us.
= Only He deserves our worship and can answer our prayers. Praying
to anyone or anything other than Him is useless and sin as it is an act of
ingratitude. We should turn back to Him sincerely, asking forgiveness for our
past sins.
= Holy Quran, the last revelation from God Almighty sent through
His last Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is addressing the whole mankind. The Qur’an
along with the life example of Prophet Muhammad offer total guidance for man in
all walks of his life including mental and physical health. If this guidance is
followed it ensures healthy and peaceful life here and in the life hereafter.
= The way life prescribed by God Almighty through His Book and His
Messenger is called ‘Islam’. Meaning of this Arabic word is peace. Its another
meaning is obedience or discipline. Thus Islam means peace achieved by following
the disciplined life as ordained by our Creator.
