Preventing Epidemic Diseases with Islamic Guidelines
Mufti Shamsurahman Frotan
Head of the Islamic Advisory Group
Part 1
Preventive medicine shares a close and robust relationship with social culture and religion. Fortunately, Islamic teachings are rich with preventive values. In recent times, the field of medicine has uncovered various methods for disease prevention. It is now well established that by implementing these methods, the transmission and spread of diseases can be curtailed. Interestingly, the Islamic religion imparted these instructions over fourteen hundred years ago, seamlessly integrating them into its core values and teachings.
The Islamic religion places a strong emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene, urging its followers to take measures against epidemic diseases. However, regrettably, a lack of awareness about these guidelines and values has led many Muslims to neglect preventive measures, resulting in their susceptibility to illnesses and the potential spread of diseases.
First: Personal Hygiene
Purity and cleanliness form the foundation for preventing epidemics and infectious diseases in the lives of Muslims. Almighty Allah has emphasized in this context:
«إِنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ». سوره بقره آیت ۲۲۲
Translation: Surely Allah loves those who always turn to Him in repentance and those who purify themselves.
The almighty Allah has deemed ablution a fundamental requirement for prayer, stating:
«يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ فاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُؤُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَينِ وَإِن كُنْتُمْ جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّرُوا». سوره مائده آیت ۶
Translation: O believers! When you rise up for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of ˹full˺ impurity,1 then take a full bath. But if you are ill, on a journey, or have relieved yourselves, or have been intimate with your wives and cannot find water, then purify yourselves with clean earth by wiping your faces and hands.2 It is not Allah’s Will to burden you, but to purify you and complete His favor upon you, so perhaps you will be grateful.
Entry into Islam is closely linked with purity. It is essential to observe the important pillars of Islam with a sense of purity and ablution. Using a Miswak, which plays a significant role in personal hygiene, is necessary during every prayer and ablution. It is narrated that the Prophet Muhammad said:
«لولا أن أشق على أمتي لأمرتهم بالسواك قبل كل صلاة»
Translation: “Had I not thought it difficult for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use the Miswak before every Salat.”
Additionally, practices such as removing hair from under the armpits and pubic area, trimming nails, and shaving the mustache are recommended means of personal hygiene in the Islamic faith
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
«من لم يأخذ من شاربه فليس منا»
Translation: “Whoever does not trim his mustache, he is not from one of us.”
The focus here is on prioritizing personal hygiene to prevent the transmission and spread of numerous diseases.
Anas bin Malik said:
«وقّت لنا النبي في قص الشارب وتقليم الأظافر ونتف الإبط وحلق العانة ألا يترك أكثر من أربعين ليلة»
Translation: “A time limit was set for us, by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), regarding trimming the mustache, clipping the nails and plucking the pubes; we were not to leave that for more than forty days”
Islam places a strong emphasis on the purity of dishes and food to prevent diseases.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
«إن الله تعالى طيب يحب الطيب، نظيف يحب النظافة، كريم يحب الكرم، جواد يحب الجود؛ فنظفوا أفنيتكم، ولا تشبهوا باليهود. رواه الترمذی أبواب الأدب باب ما جاء في النظافة (حديث رقم:۲۷۹۹ )
Translation: “Allah is good and likes what is fragrant; clean and likes cleanliness; generous and likes generosity; munificent and likes munificence; so, cleanse (your courtyards), and do not imitate the Jews.”
Second: Controlling diseases that spread through the air
The secretions released from the mouth during talking, sneezing, and coughing facilitate the transmission of various infectious diseases, particularly viral ones. As a result, it is advised against breathing on food and drink utensils. Proper emphasis is placed on covering the face and mouth while sneezing or coughing. The Islamic religion promotes adherence to these preventive measures to curb the spread of infectious diseases.
Abdullah ibn Abbas stated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited breathing into the container used for food and water. Narrated by Abu Dawud.
Abu Hurairah narrates that when Prophet Muhammad sneezed, he covered his face with his hands and lowered his voice, as narrated by al-Tirmidhi.
It was narrated from Abu Saeed Al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
إذا تثاءب أحدكم فليضع يده على فيه” رواه مسلم”
Translation: “When anyone of you yawns, let him put his hand over his mouth.”
These traditions serve the purpose of preventing the transmission and spread of diseases, safeguarding both individuals and society from infections. Islam introduced these measures over fourteen centuries ago, and today, the modern world is embracing these preventive tools and devices. Adhering to the teachings of Islam can lead to improved health and a healthy life.
