MEDICINE
"And We reveal of the Qur'aan that which is a healing and a Mercy for believers"

Medicine, like other sciences, drew it's nourishment from the Quraan and its philosophy of life. And like other sciences, the principal of harmony and balance also worked through and influenced the science of medicine.

The whole study of Medicine is also related to the Islamic faith through the injunctions of the Holy Quraan and Hadith of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) concerning hygiene and better and healthy living. In short, the Islamic Shariah has issued directions regarding ablution, cleanliness, general hygiene, dietary habits, healthy foods and many other elements affecting the body and it's health.

There is certainly another intimate link between medicine and Islam. The human body is considered to be the formal residence of the soul (Ruh) and therefore closely related to both the spirit and the soul. Thus both soul and spirit, are intimately related to and are dependent upon the physical body of man because the former cannot exist in this world without the latter. Secondly, man has to maintain his outward form as well as his inwardly in a good and healthy condition to exist at all. Therefore the health and care of the body becomes an important matter both for medicine and religion, in order to keep man outwardly and inwardly in a healthy condition.

The anatomy and physiology of the human body provided a wide field of study for philosophers, theologians and physicians. Quranic studies further encouraged the study of the human body, it being one of the signs (Aayat) of the Creator. Man being the supreme and noblest creation, the study of his physical body was therefore considered necessary and important for the proper understanding of Allah's Wisdom. The Quraan has invited man to look into the matter of his own creation in order to find the Wisdom of Allah and to understand the purpose of the whole creation.

It is necessary to keep the physical body very healthy so that spirit and soul may also remain healthy in order to achieve spiritual attainment as well as material.

Let us briefly examine some of the health regulations prescribed to us by the Quraan and Sunnah:

1) The dietary regulations plays an important role in Islamic medicine. Islam has prohibited certain foods because of their ill-effects, and allowed all other pure, good and clean things. Allah says, "O Believers! Eat of the good and pure things that we have provided for you and render thanks to Allah, if it is (indeed) He whom you worship." (2: 172)

As regards the criterion for judging whether a thing is pure or not? It should be noted that all those things are pure which are not unclean according to any principle of Islamic Law, or which are not offensive to good taste or have not universally been regarded as repugnant by cultured people. After stating this general principle with regard to permissible foods, the Quraan specifies the prohibited foods in these words "He has only forbidden you dead meat and blood and swine flesh and that food over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked" (16 :115)

These four things are absolutely forbidden in Islam for reasons known to Allah. However, research on these things have shown that some of them are injurious to human health - as dead meat, blood and swine meat, and some are harmful to moral health as well - flesh of swine, and still others to spiritual health as food over which the name of any other than Allah has been invoked.

2) Alcohol is also prohibited because of it's harmfulness is greater than it's benefits. The physical, moral, social and spiritual evils of intoxicants and gambling are clearly referred to in the Quraan as the filthy work of Shaitaan.

3) The Quraan has also given very useful tips regarding a balanced diet which contains every useful ingredient necessary for the growth and repair of the human body, including protein, fat, calcium, iron, salts etc.

The most balanced diet consists of meat, especially roast fat, calf or fish, fresh milk, cheese and fruit. The Quraan makes indirect references to the importance of animal protein in human diet on various occasions. "There came our Messenger to Ibrahim with glad tidings, They said, 'Peace'. He answered, 'Peace! and hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf". (11.69).

Then the Quraan also mentions the meal of fowls "And the flesh of fowls, any that they desire". (56:21)

Fish is also considered to be food of very high protein and very important for human consumption. The Quraan refers to this fresh food in these words, "It is He who has made the sea to be of service that may you eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender". (16:14).

The Quraan then refers to the importance of animal protein in general in the human diet. "And the castle He created for you, from them you derive warmth and numerous benefits, and their meal you eat". (16:5).

The usefulness of fresh milk is stressed in these words. "And in the cattle there is truely a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies". (23:21)

The benefits of fruit as good nourishment is described in these words, "And of the fruit of the date-palm, and grapes, you get out wholesome drink and also good nourishment". (16:67)

The Quraan mentions the great medicinal uses of honey for mankind "And your Lord taught the bee to build it's cells on mountains on trees and inhabitants." (16:68).

Honey seems to possess immense medicinal value for various diseases. It is extremely effective and useful for heart diseases and provides top-grade, ready made glucose for body weaknesses. Very good for the eyes, that if used regularly, young people can get rid of their spectacles in a few years.

Honey has also been used for preparing and preserving other medicines. Because it does not rot, which is why it is a substitute for alcohol, good for common colds, blood diseases, digestion and so on. In fact the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) recommended the use of honey for a great many illnesses.

Abdullah Bin Masoud (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) reports Messenger (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) as saying, "Make use of the two remedies, honey and the Quraan".

So in short, the ingredients of honey show that it is being useful in these ways:

a) As good nourishment.
b) As a protective measure
c) As a medicine for various kinds of diseases.

It's ingredients are calcium, sulphur, carbon, phosphorous, iron, magnesium, chlorine, sodium, potassium and iodine.

SURGERY

There is no verse of the Quraan which specifically mentions surgical and anatomical operations as such but by implication and interpretation, a few scholars reported to have taken this verse in this context, "Have we not expanded your breast" (94: 1-3).

This is given further support by an incident which occurred during the time of the Prophet's (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) childhood when two men clothed in white threw him down and opened his belly and searched therein and stretched it apart.

There is a possibility the above incident might well have initiated surgical medicine in the early phase of Islamic civilization and might have encouraged many physicians to take the line of medicine. Famous physicians like Ibn Sina, Ibn Al-Quff and so on were encouraged performing surgical operations.

CONCLUSION

A little reflection on the aayats of the Qur'aan will show that the central theme of the Islamic faith – unity – Tawheed covers every aspect of human life and every field of human study. Tawheed is the essence of the science and you cannot proceed even a step forward without referring it in one one way or another, because Allah is the starting and finishing point of everything. This is the great distinguishing point between a Muslim scientist and a non-Muslim scientist. Therefore, the former sees everything and all knowledge spring from Allah and must be referred back to Him.

Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)

Islamic Information

Source:  Jamiatul Ulama (Kwazulu-Natal)