Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Traditional Islamic Medicine

Muslims turn to the Qur'an and Sunnah for guidance in all areas of life, which may include health and medical matters. The Prophet Muhammad once said that "Allah did not create a disease for which He did not also create a cure." Muslims are therefore encouraged to explore and use traditional and modern forms of medicine, with faith that any cure is from Allah.
Traditional medicine in Islam is often referred to as Medicine of the Prophet (al-tibb an-Nabawi). Muslims often explore the Medicine of the Prophet as an alternative to modern therapies, or as a supplement to modern medical treatment.
Here are some traditional remedies that are a part of Islamic tradition.
Note: One should always consult with a medical professional before attempting any treatment. Some herbs may be harmful in certain conditions and in certain amounts.


Monday, March 3, 2014

Medical Ethics in Islam

In our lives, we often face difficult decisions. Sometimes these decisions are a matter of life and death. Should I donate a kidney so that another may live? Should I turn off life support for my brain-dead child? Should I mercifully end the suffering of my terminally ill, elderly mother? If I am pregnant with quintuplets, should I abort one or more so that the others have a better chance of surviving? If I face infertility, how far should I go in treatment so that I might, Allah-willing, have a child? As medical treatment continues to expand and advance, more ethical questions come up.
For guidance on such matters, Muslims turn first to the Qur'an. Allah gives us general guidelines to follow, that are constant and timeless.