How do Islam's recommendations guarantee good health

How Do Islam’s Recommendations Guarantee Good Health?

Islam is a comprehensive religion that has left nothing untouched - learn how Islam's recommendations guarantee you good

 Islam is a comprehensive religion that places emphasis on all aspects that are ought to change one’s life for the better, with health being one of the aspects it has considered. Islam cares for humans’ way of eating, drinking, sleeping, cleaning, and curing. Moreover, one of the objectives of Islamic sharia law is to achieve well-being, hence Islam has legislated a number of rules and etiquettes to guarantee good physical and mental health. Let’s figure out together: how do Islam’s recommendations guarantee good health?

Physical Health:

  • Islamic diet:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

No man fills a container worse than his stomach. A few morsels that keep his back upright are sufficient for him. If he has to, then he should keep one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for his breathing.” (Hadith) [1]

Here in this saying of the Prophet, Islam put a rule for the best diet, indicating that man is not meant to eat a lot, in addition to bearing in mind that food is not a target in itself, but it is a means to keep him alive. Have you ever thought about the serious impacts of overeating? If not, here are some of these impacts:

  • When you eat, your body uses some of the calories you consume for energy. The rest are stored as fat. Consuming more calories than you burn may cause you to become overweight. 

 

  • Overweight and obesity increase your chances for cancer and other chronic health problems.

 

  • Overeating — especially unhealthy foods — can take its toll on your digestive system. Digestive enzymes are only available in limited quantities, so the larger the amount of food you eat, the longer it takes to digest.

 

  • Overeating can even impact your sleep. Your circadian clock, which controls your sleep cycles, causes your sleep and hunger hormone levels to rise and fall throughout the day. Overeating can upset this rhythm, making it hard for you to sleep through the night. [2]

 

 So, this Islamic diet guarantees you good health and good shape, given that you fill one third of your stomach with food, one third with drink, and leave the last third for your breath. 

 

  • Islamic way of drinking: 

 Islam has accounted for the importance of drinking water, so the Prophet recommended “providing drinking water” as the best charity. Moreover, Islam has set some etiquettes for when we drink:

  • Anas said that God’s messenger used to breathe three times in the course of a drink. (Bukhari and Muslim.) In another narration, Muslim added that he used to say,

    It is more thirst-quenching, healthier and more wholesome.” [3]

 

  • Anas reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) disapproved the drinking of water while standing.[4]

 

  •  Sleeping habits:

Sleeping is one of the essentials that man can’t survive without and that is integral to maintaining physical and mental health. Islam emphasizes that sleeping is an essential means to renew man’s power to be able to go on in his\her life. God said in the Holy Qur’an

and made your sleep for rest,” [Qur’an, 78: 10] (5)

  • The Prophet said:

    When any one of you goes to bed, he should take hold of the hem of his lower garment and then should clean (his bed) with the help of that and then should recite the name of Allah for he himself does not know what he left behind him on his bed, and when he intends to lie on the bed, he should lie on his right side”. [Hadith] (6)

 

  • Regarding cleaning the bed before going to sleep, recent research has found that cleaning the bed rids it of many microbes and germs. Regarding sleeping on the right side, it is proved that the pressure relief of right-side sleeping regulates blood flow, which stabilizes the heart rate and blood pressure. Whether you’re suffering from a heart condition or not, a stable heart rate and blood pressure can help you sleep and improve overall health. [7]

 

Islamic Tips for Public Health:

  • The Prophet recommended closing our houses’ doors to maintain our safety, as he said,

    Shut your doors and mention Allah’s name…” [Hadith] (8)

 

  • He (peace be upon him) recommended to turn off lights, “put out your lamps.” Moreover, he told us not to leave fire lit while we are sleeping to protect ourselves from fire and its horrible consequences,

    Do not keep the fire burning in your homes when you go to bed.” [Hadith] (9)

 

  • To protect ourselves from the harms of insects and microbes, he recommended, “… tie up your water-skins and mention Allah’s name, cover your vessels with anything and mention Allah’s name”. [Hadith] (10)

Conclusion

To conclude, Islam has put rules for everything to guarantee man a balanced, healthy life. If you are seeking good health, follow Islam. 

 


References:

(1) Prophet’s Saying ‘Hadith’

(2) What happens when you overeat?

(3) Prophet’s Saying ‘Hadith’

(4) Prophet’s Saying ‘Hadith’

(5) Verse [87: 10] of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning)

(6) Prophet’s Saying ‘Hadith’ 

(7) Right vs. Left Side Sleeping: What’s the Best for You?

(8) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith)

(9) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith) 

(10) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith)

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