Islamic teachings and World Health Day

In 1948, the WHO decided for the first time to celebrate a day and since 1950, April 7 of every year has been celebrated as World Health Day. 

 Under the auspices of the WHO, surveys are carried out in the whole world and the people are made aware of disease which is the most likely to be the most dangerous.  Preventative measures, the causes of the disease, etc. are also conveyed to people and efforts are made to spread awareness in the whole world, especially in the remote areas. 

 

Islam has given utmost importance to health and has declared it a great ni’mah. 

 Translation of Hadith:  It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Amr bin Maimoon that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) advised a person thus: You consider 5 things a respite before 5 things.  Your life before your death, leisure before business, affluence before need, youth before old age and health before sickness.  (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaiba, Hadith No: 34319)

 The importance of health in Islam can also be understood with the fact that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) declared a strong Momin (believer) to be better than a weak one.  As given in Sahih Muslim, Hadith No: 6945.  An expression in Urdu can be directly traced back to this: Health is a thousand-fold blessing. 

In Islam, aims and objectives have been given preference over customs and traditions.  “World Health Day” is being celebrated since 1950, whereas 1400 years ago, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) gave such teachings, which assure health.  The whole concept of Taharah (ritual purity), Wudhu, Ghusl (bath), rules of cleaning oneself after relieving oneself, the manners of eating and drinking, Salaat and fasts is such that when these are included in one’s daily routine, the chances of disease are greatly reduced.  In other words, this is a “Health Certificate”.

 There are many acts in the Shariah, which are Islamic rules and forms of worship, which are in themselves not only provide comfort, but are also precautions and preventative measures against diseases. 

 If humanity follows these teachings of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), then diseases will be greatly reduced in the society. 

 
Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri

[Naib Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia,

Founder/Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center]