Islam is one religion that guides an individual not only on the way one should worship and develop beliefs but also on how to lead a healthy life. Health and hygiene are two very crucial aspects of Islam as well as of human existence.
The Quran and the Hadith, the one describing the life of the Prophet, both preach a lot about health and offer guidelines about preventative, curative restorative aspects of health. The Prophet (SAWS) said;
‘Allah (SWT) created disease and treatment, and He made for each disease a treatment. So, seek treatment but do not use haram.”
The Islamic lifestyle preaches a healthy way of living life and all need to understand it and stay healthy to live long. Whether it takes exercise or HealthKart nutrients to keep you fit and healthy, one should indulge in such practices but maintain distance from haram.
In this post, we shall discuss the Islamic lifestyle and how Islam promotes health. We shall also learn the importance of food in Islam and the concept of halal.
To conclude, we will be discussing some health tips from the Prophet (SAWS) himself.
What is the Islamic lifestyle?
Islam guides Muslims to live in a certain way and it can be summed as Islamic Lifestyle. As per Shariah (Islamic Law), there are certain things haram in Islam which include stealing, lying, committing adultery, gambling, eating pork, and drinking alcohol. Shariah also guides on how men and women with Islamic beliefs must dress modestly and should not indulge in any activity that would hurt the sentiments of others. Muslims must respect parents, help the poor, have faith in God, kindness, honesty, and do hard work.
When it comes to health and nutrition Islam teaches a very specific way of leading Muslim life. Muslims must be very precise when choosing, obtaining, or consuming any food items and must avoid forbidden or haram items such as blood, dead animals, and pork.
Islam has been very particular about the health aspect of life. As per the Prophet (SAWS),“Wealth is appropriate to a God-fearing person, but good health is better for the God-fearing than wealth”.
He (SAWS) further added, “He of you who finds himself enjoying good health, secure in his community and has his daily sustenance, is as if he had the whole world at his fingertips”.
A true Muslim must be true to his Islamic belief and say dua, perform namaz and do wudu. Islam teaches healthy habits to boost hygiene and promote the health of the mind and body.
Right from encouraging people to have a healthy breakfast too, including True Basic nutrition supplements in the diet, Islam has a broad concept of health and wellness to teach.
Why is being healthy important in Islam?
Leading a healthy and happy life does not happen with any accident, but is fostered by your daily habits. It is very important to establish your relationship with health and consume fresh or buy from brands that sell fresh example Big Basket grocery online.
The Prophet (SAWS) always taught us to pay attention to health as he believed that healthy bodies have healthy souls. He would say “The example of the stomach is like a pond. There are outlets in all directions from it. If the stomach is healthy then the rest of the body will be healthy”. He (peace be upon him) also said: “A stomach is a place of diseases”.
Islam promotes health as health is the key to a human who can lead a faithful life, offer the best to his family and friends, as well as value and follow the beliefs of Islam and teach them to its offspring.
Islam teaches to take care of oneself as a whole person and pay attention to health. Right from following the commandments of Allah to eating healthy and fresh food, a Muslim must ensure that he/ she is maintaining his/ her full health. Allah has made a Muslim responsible for his/ her body and one must protect it by all means.
Importance of food in Islam
God has given food to humans for their health, life, and ability to perform his duties [26].
As before said, a Muslim must be very specific about the food he eats for the ways it has been procured or consumed. There is a wide range of food that is forbidden in Islam but there are also several rules that teach Muslims to eat fresh, healthy, and just right.
A healthy body is a god’s gift and a Muslim must be able to preserve and protect it. Health is considered a basic human right in Islam and because food plays a key role in maintaining health, it is believed to be the very basic pillar to be taken care of.
Food boosts the physical perspective of the body and makes our body strong, heals us, and prevents us from any diseases.
Food is a blessing to be enjoyed and shared (24:61). The type of food a Muslim should eat, eating habits, and its peculiar benefits are of great importance in Islam.
Islam promotes healthy food habits because:
It helps a Muslim in maintaining health and wellness
It helps in improving performance both mentally and physically
It provides us with the right energy to be up and working all-day
It reduces the risk of disease in our bodies
It is a natural way to protect the body and also restore in case of any illnesses.
One must look for quality when choosing food and must buy from reliable brands such as Tata food products, GlaxoSmithKline consumer range, and similar brands.
What is the Halal concept?
Halal is an Arabic term that implies anything permissible or acceptable in Islam. When it comes to food, it is considered the Islamic dietary standard that must be followed with utmost devotion.
As per Quran, all the food items are Halal except those which are specifically labeled as Haram in The Quran.
“O you who believes! Eat of the good things where with we have provided you, and render thanks to Allah if it is He whom ye worship. (Chapter II, Verse 172)”
The following verses from the Quran highlight haram food items:
“He has forbidden you only carrion, blood, and swine flesh, and that on which have been invoked any other name besides Allah’s…….” (Chapter II, Verse 173)
“Forbidden unto you (for food) are carrion and blood and swine flesh, and that on which hath been invoked the name other than Allah, and the strangled, and the dead through beating, and the dead through falling from a height, and that which hath been gored to death, and the devoured of wild beasts, saving that which ye make lawful (by slaughter) and that which hath been immolated to idols and that ye swear by the divining arrows. This is an abomination….” (Chapter V, Verse 3)
The crux is that Islam teaches one to eat healthily and thus the concept of Halal was introduced. Halal in terms of food and diet, tells what is healthy to eat and what not.
Prophet Muhammad’s (SAWS) Health Tips
Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) was dedicated to his health and offered a wide range of rules and teachings to the world when it comes to health, covering all of those in a small article won’t be possible. However, we have combined the best of his health tips to offer you guidance.
1 Do not consume Alcohol
Both Quran and Prophet (SAWS) preached not to consume alcohol or any other intoxicating substance for that matter. Alcohol leaves a man in a state where he is no more capable of taking care of himself. Science also proves that alcohol is the key reason for a wide range of problems related to health.
2 Do not eat Pork
Pork is known to be the most dangerous meat when it comes to the ability to introduce viruses and diseases to the body. As pigs eat dirt and filth, they aren’t expected to have a healthy body to offer a Muslim the right nutrition.
3 Eat a moderate Diet
The Quran says “Eat and drink, but be not excessive” and Prophet (SAWS) followed the same. He taught not to overindulge in food as it is the way to a healthy or unhealthy body and life. It is taught that a Muslim must fill “one-third of the belly with food, another third with drink and leave one-third empty for easy breathing.”
4 Always keep covered the Food
As food kept open, can be easily contaminated and hence must be stored & covered at all times.
5 Maintain Physical activity
The more you sit idle the higher are your chances to catch diseases or mobility issues. Moreover, you will become fat which leads to a wide range of problems of mental and physical nature. The Prophet (SAWS) used to ride a horse, wrestle, and also race with his wife Aisha (RA).
6 Eat Healthy Food
The Prophet (SAWS) told us to eat healthy food items and mentioned a few that he recommends, this includes dates, honey, green vegetables, oats, barley, grapes, pomegranate, and more.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) once said, in the Hadith “Your body has a right over you”. Being neglectful towards your health would be the worst sin you would ever commit as a Muslim.
