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Islam is a code of life. Muslims do not practice only
during the weekends or festive seasons; rather religion is an ongoing part of
daily life. Islam is organised in a spiritual and moral way, taking into
account humankind’s innate needs and desires. The tenets of Islam are derived
from the Quran and the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad, known as the
Sunnah, These two sources of revelation are a guide, or a manual for life.
Although, it may, at first, seem like a rather strange analogy;
let us compare Islam’s life instructions with the manual that comes with a
computer. Imagine buying a new laptop without ever having seen any of the
technological advances of the last several decades. Would you know where the
on/off button was? If you managed to turn the computer on would you know how
to look after it, do a system restore, run an anti-virus scan, or generally maintain
it? Without a manual, the computer would be not much more than a useless piece of
technology.
The computer’s designers also designed a manual or guide,
knowing that without specific instructions the computer would not be put to the
best possible use or do what it was designed to do. Technology usually comes
with guarantees and warranties that become useless, unless you follow the
manufacturer’s instructions. Therefore because we want to get the best
possible use from our expensive technology we read the manuals and follow the
guidelines.
Islam also offers a specific set of instructions that
come with a guarantee, a promise of eternal Paradise. There is no ‘use by’
date on this guarantee and it allows unlimited extensions. If you make a
mistake or ‘click’ the wrong button the instructions clearly advise you how to
make amends and restore normality. God designed and created humankind for the
specific purpose of worshipping Him and sent Prophets and Messengers with
specific guidance to make our task easy. However, without God’s guide to life,
humankind can become lost and adrift in a world that does not make a lot of
sense or offer any real security and contentment. Lives are lived without purpose
or meaning and many people eek out an existence that provides little or no real
sense of having a life worth living.
The traditions of Prophet Muhammad teach us to cherish
good health and realise its true value as one of God’s countless bounties.
“And when your Lord proclaimed, “If you give thanks, I will
give you more; but if you are thankless, lo! My punishment is dire.” (Quran
14:7)
Islam’s holistic approach to health includes treating
our bodies with respect and nourishing them with, not only faith, but also with
lawful, nutritious food. A major part of living life according to the
Creator’s instructions is implementing a suitable diet. Choosing wholesome
food and avoiding the unwholesome is essential to good health. God says in the
Quran, “Eat of the good things which We have provided for you.” (Quran 2:173)
“Eat of what is lawful and wholesome on the earth.” (Quran 2:168)
The Quran contains many verses of advice about healthy eating
that relate to the interconnectedness of physical and spiritual health. Encouragement
to eat only good and pure food is often combined with warnings to remember God
and avoid Satan. Healthy eating not only satisfies hunger but also has an
effect on how well we worship.
“O mankind, eat from whatever is
on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan.
Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.” (Quran 2:168)
If one becomes obsessed with food or indulges in too
much unwholesome or junk food he or she may become physically weak or
distracted from his primary purpose of serving God. On the other hand, if one concentrated
exclusively on spiritual endeavours and neglected their health and nutrition,
weakness injury or illness would also result in failure to carry out obligatory
worship. The guidance found in the Quran and the traditions of Prophet
Muhammad advise humankind to maintain a balance between these two extremes.
A healthy diet is balanced with a mixture of all the
foods God has provided for His creation. The variety satisfies all the body’s needs
for carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, proteins, fats and amino acids. Numerous
verses of Quran mention the foods God has provided for us to nourish and
maintain our bodies. It is not an exhaustive list of dietary requirements but
rather a general idea of the types of food that maintain a healthy body and
prevent illness.
“He created cattle that give you warmth, benefits and food to
eat.” (Quran l6:5)
“It is He who subdued the seas, from which you eat fresh fish.”
(Quran 16:l4)
“It is He who sends down water from the sky with which He
brings up corn, olives, dates and grapes and other fruit.” (Quran 16:11)
“In cattle too you have a worthy lesson. We give you to drink
of that which is in their bellies, between the undigested food and blood: pure
milk, a pleasant beverage for those who drink it.” (Quran l6:66)
“There emerges from their bellies a drink,
varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a
sign for a people who give thought. .” (Quran 16:69)
“And it is He Who produces gardens trellised and untrellised,
and date palms, and crops of different shape and taste (its fruits and its
seeds) and olives, and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and different (in taste).
Eat of their fruit when they ripen...” (Quran 6:141)
“…and from it (the earth) we produced grain for their
sustenance.” (Quran 36:33)
God has also provided us with a list of foods that are
forbidden and apart from these everything else is considered lawful.
“Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead animals - cattle-beast
not slaughtered, blood, the flesh of swine, and the meat of that which has been
slaughtered as a sacrifice for other than God...” (Quran 5:3) “...and
intoxicants.” (Quran 5:91-92)
While sweets and junk food are not forbidden they must
be eaten sparingly as part of a balanced diet, designed to maintain optimum
health. Many of the most common chronic illnesses today derive from unhealthy
eating habits. Coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and
depression have all been linked to inadequate diets. The traditions of Prophet
Muhammad praise moderation as a way of maintaining good health and the Quran
stresses the need to strike a balance between any extremes.
True believers need healthy bodies and minds in order to
worship God in the correct way. To maintain a sound mind, a pure heart and a
healthy body special attention must be paid to health. The heart and the mind
are nourished by remembrance of God, and worship performed in a lawful way, and
the body is nourished by partaking of the good and lawful food God has
provided. Attention to diet and nutrition is a part of the holistic health
system inherent in Islam.
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