In recent years, a small number of violent radicals, operating under the umbrella of the Islamic faith, have given the public a distorted view of the Islamic faith. One of the core beliefs of the Islamic faith is the health is a gift, emanating from the God. To those who follow the faith, they believe that next to faith itself, health is the second greatest blessing. Their belief is firmly centered around an understanding that good health is a state of grace, brought on by the divine. Muslims believe that the concept of one’s health should be viewed as a constantly changing and renewing entity, overseen by Allah. It follows, then, that the Islamic faith would be rich in traditions involving a variety of healing practices. Among these is a strong belief in the power of certain foods to promote well-being and good health. Barley, a staple of traditional Islamic culture, is thought to cure kidney problems as well as relieve a grieving heart. And following an illness, it is thought that eating a bread made from a mix of barley and beet roots would help bring back the patient’s strength and vitality. Dates are another traditional food for Muslims, and in fact most fasts are broken by enjoying dates, or dried grapes if no dates are available. They were thought to be cleansing to the body, a claim which modern science verifies by their high fiber content. And as a traditional source of energy, dates are high in sugar. Thus they make the ideal food with which to break a fast, when the body would be low in blood sugar and crave a good source of energy. And pregnant women of the Islamic tradition often have used dates to help prepare them for childbirth. Muslims also believe that honey was proscribed by Allah as a tonic for a variety of ills. Traditionally used to help treat sore throats and stomach ailments, modern science shows us that honey also can help stop bacteria from growing in the mouth, can help blood to circulate better, and even used to treat skin irritations and minor burns. The olive is another food that figures prominently in the Koran. In addition to its usefulness in maintaining good general health, olives are also knows for their nutritive value to the skin. And some even claim the olive oil can alleviate hemorrhoids. And once again, modern dieticians extol the virtue of this ancient food. The Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oils, has been show to help maintain good health and promote a stronger circulatory system. Throughout history, various religions have relied on certain foods to help maintain their followers’ good health. The Islamic faith is rich in these traditions, especially surrounding the fasting month of Ramadan. Islam also preaches other methods of healing with religious overtones. Among their beliefs is a prohibition against alcohol and mind-altering drugs. This complete ban comes from the understanding that behavior is controlled by the brain. Bad behavior is normally stopped by feelings of shame. Alcohol and drugs lessen or eliminate this shame reaction, causing the person to perform acts they normally would avoid. To learn more about healing practices as they relate to the Islamic faith, visit your local mosque. Most have community outreach programs, and their programs often include information healthy living as Muslims. If you don’t have a mosque near you, you may want to contact your local library or university to help you find local resources. Or, check the Internet; there is a wealth of information available on Islam and the healing arts.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Islam and Spiritual Healing
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In recent years, a small number of violent radicals, operating under the umbrella of the Islamic faith, have given the public a distorted view of the Islamic faith. One of the core beliefs of the Islamic faith is the health is a gift, emanating from the God. To those who follow the faith, they believe that next to faith itself, health is the second greatest blessing. Their belief is firmly centered around an understanding that good health is a state of grace, brought on by the divine. Muslims believe that the concept of one’s health should be viewed as a constantly changing and renewing entity, overseen by Allah. It follows, then, that the Islamic faith would be rich in traditions involving a variety of healing practices. Among these is a strong belief in the power of certain foods to promote well-being and good health. Barley, a staple of traditional Islamic culture, is thought to cure kidney problems as well as relieve a grieving heart. And following an illness, it is thought that eating a bread made from a mix of barley and beet roots would help bring back the patient’s strength and vitality. Dates are another traditional food for Muslims, and in fact most fasts are broken by enjoying dates, or dried grapes if no dates are available. They were thought to be cleansing to the body, a claim which modern science verifies by their high fiber content. And as a traditional source of energy, dates are high in sugar. Thus they make the ideal food with which to break a fast, when the body would be low in blood sugar and crave a good source of energy. And pregnant women of the Islamic tradition often have used dates to help prepare them for childbirth. Muslims also believe that honey was proscribed by Allah as a tonic for a variety of ills. Traditionally used to help treat sore throats and stomach ailments, modern science shows us that honey also can help stop bacteria from growing in the mouth, can help blood to circulate better, and even used to treat skin irritations and minor burns. The olive is another food that figures prominently in the Koran. In addition to its usefulness in maintaining good general health, olives are also knows for their nutritive value to the skin. And some even claim the olive oil can alleviate hemorrhoids. And once again, modern dieticians extol the virtue of this ancient food. The Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oils, has been show to help maintain good health and promote a stronger circulatory system. Throughout history, various religions have relied on certain foods to help maintain their followers’ good health. The Islamic faith is rich in these traditions, especially surrounding the fasting month of Ramadan. Islam also preaches other methods of healing with religious overtones. Among their beliefs is a prohibition against alcohol and mind-altering drugs. This complete ban comes from the understanding that behavior is controlled by the brain. Bad behavior is normally stopped by feelings of shame. Alcohol and drugs lessen or eliminate this shame reaction, causing the person to perform acts they normally would avoid. To learn more about healing practices as they relate to the Islamic faith, visit your local mosque. Most have community outreach programs, and their programs often include information healthy living as Muslims. If you don’t have a mosque near you, you may want to contact your local library or university to help you find local resources. Or, check the Internet; there is a wealth of information available on Islam and the healing arts.
In recent years, a small number of violent radicals, operating under the umbrella of the Islamic faith, have given the public a distorted view of the Islamic faith. One of the core beliefs of the Islamic faith is the health is a gift, emanating from the God. To those who follow the faith, they believe that next to faith itself, health is the second greatest blessing. Their belief is firmly centered around an understanding that good health is a state of grace, brought on by the divine. Muslims believe that the concept of one’s health should be viewed as a constantly changing and renewing entity, overseen by Allah. It follows, then, that the Islamic faith would be rich in traditions involving a variety of healing practices. Among these is a strong belief in the power of certain foods to promote well-being and good health. Barley, a staple of traditional Islamic culture, is thought to cure kidney problems as well as relieve a grieving heart. And following an illness, it is thought that eating a bread made from a mix of barley and beet roots would help bring back the patient’s strength and vitality. Dates are another traditional food for Muslims, and in fact most fasts are broken by enjoying dates, or dried grapes if no dates are available. They were thought to be cleansing to the body, a claim which modern science verifies by their high fiber content. And as a traditional source of energy, dates are high in sugar. Thus they make the ideal food with which to break a fast, when the body would be low in blood sugar and crave a good source of energy. And pregnant women of the Islamic tradition often have used dates to help prepare them for childbirth. Muslims also believe that honey was proscribed by Allah as a tonic for a variety of ills. Traditionally used to help treat sore throats and stomach ailments, modern science shows us that honey also can help stop bacteria from growing in the mouth, can help blood to circulate better, and even used to treat skin irritations and minor burns. The olive is another food that figures prominently in the Koran. In addition to its usefulness in maintaining good general health, olives are also knows for their nutritive value to the skin. And some even claim the olive oil can alleviate hemorrhoids. And once again, modern dieticians extol the virtue of this ancient food. The Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oils, has been show to help maintain good health and promote a stronger circulatory system. Throughout history, various religions have relied on certain foods to help maintain their followers’ good health. The Islamic faith is rich in these traditions, especially surrounding the fasting month of Ramadan. Islam also preaches other methods of healing with religious overtones. Among their beliefs is a prohibition against alcohol and mind-altering drugs. This complete ban comes from the understanding that behavior is controlled by the brain. Bad behavior is normally stopped by feelings of shame. Alcohol and drugs lessen or eliminate this shame reaction, causing the person to perform acts they normally would avoid. To learn more about healing practices as they relate to the Islamic faith, visit your local mosque. Most have community outreach programs, and their programs often include information healthy living as Muslims. If you don’t have a mosque near you, you may want to contact your local library or university to help you find local resources. Or, check the Internet; there is a wealth of information available on Islam and the healing arts.
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