Preventive Healthcare in Islam

Abstract

This paper examines health protection from an Islamic perspective. It

specifically highlights the features of preventive medicine in Islamic Shari’a

in comparison with its 21st century counterpart. Islam has not left one stone

unturned pertinent to medicine and healthcare. There are numerous texts which

refer explicitly or implicitly to this kind of medicine. The paper began with

preventive legislations for healthcare on which integrated/ comprehensive

preventive medicine, on the individual and community levels, builds on.

These include cleanliness, purity, forbiddance of badness and avoidance of

smoking health risks. Further, Islam has made it taboo to keep dogs at home,

except for necessity. It has asked for a lab medical test before marriage and

slaughter of animals in accordance with the Islamic tradition and accident

prevention measures. It has set conditions for burial procedures. In addition,

Islam has introduced the hisba system to ensure health protection when it

comes to foodstuff industry and pharmaceuticals as well. The paper also dwelt

on health procedures to prevent infectious diseases. These included isolation

and quarantine measures, principle of banning some foods and drinks, like

pork and alcohol, patterns of instinct control and call for sterilization and

caution from pollution. The paper then examined the role of ibadat (actions of

serving Allah) in health protection and impact of iman (belief/ conviction) on

cure from diseases, God willing. The paper concluded with some important

results and recommendations.