Islamic Teachings Concerning Health and Hygiene
Steps to Exercise
Islam uniquely stands out among the religions of the world in one aspect. It gives matchless instructions for the cleanliness of the body and declares physical purity as a rst step towards the achievement of spiritual heights. One wonders at the arrangement and completeness of these instructions. One cannot help but bow one’s head in adoration of Allah, the Gracious, for giving us a complete and unmatched world in the form of the Holy Qur’an in which we see no imperfection, however far we may search. Every time this Book speaks, it lls us with untold wisdom and new subtleties.
Furthermore, Allah the Gracious gave us the Holy Prophet who was an embodiment of the Holy Qur’an. He left the example of his life and conduct for all humanity, irrespective of colour, creed or nation, to follow in his footsteps. His is the way to progress in the difcult paths of life. Before his example, no one could even imagine achieving such goals.
The relationship that the Holy Prophet has shown to exist between the body and the soul, has not been revealed by any prophet or saint before, and even the philosophers and wise men had no access to this knowledge. Taking a leaf from the perfect teachings of this incomparable Prophet, his erstwhile devotee, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Promised Messiah , explains:
“It should be understood that according to the Holy Qur’an, the natural state of man is intimately related to his moral and spiritual states. So much so that even his eating and drinking habits affect his moral and spiritual states…. That is why the Holy Qur’an emphasises the physical cleanliness, and physical moderation for prayers, inner cleanliness and devotions. After
Steps to exercise -V3.indd Sec1:14 05/05/2006 17:42:07 careful consideration, one concludes that this is the true philosophy and that physical organs have great effect on the soul.
(Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam, pp. 18-19)
He states further:
“So far as our eating, drinking, sleeping and awaking are concerned, they are essential physical actions and they affect our spiritual well-being. Our physical gure is manifestly related to our humanity…. The relationship of body and soul is such that one cannot explain it easily. Careful observation shows that the body is mother to the soul.” (Ibid., p.21)
Further, Hadhrat Promised Messiah says:
“Our experience shows that various diets denitely affect the faculties of mind and soul.”
Therefore, Islam does not present any ctional philosophy that may consider spiritual and physical faculties as unrelated. Islam does not present any spiritual schedule that is dissociated from the physical. This great religion starts the reformation of the soul with the reformation of the body. Like all the spiritual teachings, this teaching is also based on such ne points of wisdom that even the physical experts have never been able to visualise; and it was left to that great Prophet, fourteen hundred years ago, to teach the world what he learnt from Allah the Gracious.
As the above quotations from the Promised Messiah make clear diets certainly affect the faculties of mind and soul. We should start the Islamic teaching about physical hygiene by differentiating between the ‘permissible’ and ‘non-permissible’ foods. Islam forbids Muslims from eating the esh of all such animals that can be harmful to spiritual or physical well-being, and permits all other meat of the animals that are not harmful to health, but with the proviso that they are slaughtered according to the principles of health and hygiene. Those animals that died from injuries, killed by other animals, asphyxiated or died from natural causes are not allowed to be eaten even if the animal in question is permitted for food. It is a compulsory condition that before slaughtering, the name of Allah must be pronounced. This action reminds man that all health and safety precautions are worthless unless they are aided by Divine assistance and protection. There are innumerable points of danger by the time food reaches human consumption and so limited is our power of resistance that all our precautions are futile without the Grace and Mercy of Allah. This is the reason why you are commanded to recite the name of Allah not only before slaughtering but also before eating and consuming any edibles. It is frequently mentioned in the Traditions of the Holy Prophet that
Steps to exercise -V3.indd Sec1:15 05/05/2006 17:42:07 not only did he pronounce the name of Allah before eating and drinking, he also used to enjoin his Companions to do the same. The conduct and traditions of the Holy Prophet carry very ne points of wisdom. Food not only affects the spiritual and physical state of man, it also affects his mental state. Whatever is dominant in the mind at the time of eating or drinking affects the heart and soul as well. If the mind is inclined towards Allah and becomes a nucleus of purity, the effect of the food consumed in that state will also be righteous.
The proof of this preposition is also available from medical research. Medical practitioners, when advising frail and week patients, advise them to resist irritation and remain happy while eating their meals so that food can be digested in better manner.
Conditions of ‘Purity’
Islam not only establishes the type of food but also lays down restrictions on the condition of edibility. Permissible foods that may be in a state that is injurious to health or may have adverse effects on the society are disallowed. All fruit and meat that have started to rot or the food that may give unpleasant or bad odour, is forbidden in spite of being permissible. Hadhrat Jabber narrates that the Holy Prophet said,
“he who eats from that smelly plant (referring to onions and garlic) should not come near our mosques. The angels also feel harmed from everything that harms human beings.” (Bokhari and Muslim).
However, cooked onion is not included in this instruction because it does not cause any mouth odour that could cause discomfort to others. It is stated on Hadhrat Aisha’s authority that the last meal that the Holy Prophet of Islam ate contained onion as a part of the recipe.
Therefore this condition of permissibility is not only concerned with edibles but also it is enjoined to pay attention to the state of edibility. There are ne points of wisdom in this teaching. Before we enlarge on this however, it is important to talk about some issues concerning purity and cleanliness of the body to maintain a proper sequence.