Preparing for Ramadan via health preservation

By Harun Razaq

One of the topics that are usually treated by Islamic preachers when Ramadan approaches is how to prepare for the blessed month. This preparation comes in different forms and one of it is through health preservation. Sound health is one of the most crucial needs of all human beings at any stage in life. The performance of religious obligations which is the purpose of man’s creation on earth depends on sound health.

Without it, man cannot enjoy his life. In fact, health is an invisible treasure and best grace that Allah granted to his slaves which man must appreciate at all times. Some of our ancestors such as Shykh Hafiz Ibn Kathir in his Tafsir of Qur’an explained “the delights in Qur’an 102 verse 8 that man shall be questioned on the day of judgment on sound health and other favours.

Also, Ibn Abba (R/A) reported that the Messenger of Allah said: Two favours are treated unjustly by most people: health and free time. This means that the people are not showing gratitude for these two favours. (Tafsir Ibn Kath
ir)

Islam values sound health greatly that a Muslim is exempted from certain act of ibadah (worship) during sickness, travel or when he or she is short of certain health provision. This should not be interpreted to mean that a Muslim is allowed to discard ibadah during the aforementioned period as some people used to do today.

The Islamic guidance on health preservation derived from the Qur’an and Sunnah and compiled by Allamah Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyyah in his Tibbun nabawiy (The Prophetic Medicine) maintained that it depends on good arrangment of food, drink, clothes, inhabitation, air, sleeping, movement, rest, marriage affair etc. It is important to note that each of these has a laid down rules in Islam.

The food and water must be halal and not haram. It should be taken according to Sunnah: for example to wash the hands, sit on the mat, mention the name of Allah before and after; to take dinner before sleeping and not to sleep immediately after taking dinner; to eat nourished food such as meat, honey, fruits etc and not to drink water immediately after a meal etc.  The cloth must such that can be easily worn and be removed. Male cloth must not be too long to the extent of covering the ankle and must not be too shut to the extent of exposing the body to the heat or cold etc.

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