Living Healthy in Islam

Abstract

This paper will explain the importance of living healthy and happy. The paper defines health and answers questions about Islam’s relationship with health and vice versa. The methodology is based on a qualitative approach, where the Qurʾān (the sacred book for Muslims) and the prophetic teachings are used for Islamic references, and scientific studies for medical references. The first section covers: relationships and smiling lead to health and happiness, hope, joy, gratitude, stress, depression, anxiety, grief, anger management, OCD, substance abuse, screen addiction, social media, gaming, family role, meditation therapy, suicide, resilience, and patience. The second section covers: exercise, sleep, cupping, marriage, sex, intermittent fasting, breastfeeding, hygiene, Prayers, smoking, holistic medicine, spiritual and therapeutic interventions. Other sections are: prevention, healthy weight, food, drinks, eating habits, honey, olives, vinegar, black seed, and forbidden items. Islamic lifestyle leads to a healthy life and vice versa. Declarations and Statements I declare that this paper has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree other than Master of Arts (Islamic Studies) at the International Online University. There are no known conflicts of interest associated with this paper and there has been no financial support for this work. This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. 1. Table of content...............................................................4 1.1 Acknowledgements............................................5 2. Introduction...................................................................6 2.1 Background and importance.................................6 2.2 Statement of the problem ....................................6 2.3 Research questions ............................................7 2.4 Aims and objectives ...........................................7 2.5 Methodology...................................................7 2.6 Significance of the study......................................8 2.7 Limitations .....................................................8 3. Review of literature..........................................................8 4. Psychology and mental health.............................................10 4.1 Relationships lead to health and happiness................... 10 4.2 Smiling promotes health and happiness........................11 4.3 Hope, joy, and gratitude..........................................13 4.4 Stress, anxiety, depression .......................................13 4.5 Grief and anger management...............................................16 4.6 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder................................17 4.7 Alcohol and substance abuse....................................19 4.8 Screens addiction, social media, and gaming..................21 4.9 Family role..........................................................23 4.10 Meditation therapy................................................24 4.11 Suicide..............................................................25 4.12 Resilience and patience..........................................25 5. Lifestyle......................................................................27 5.1 Exercise and walking............................................27 5.2 Sleep...............................................................29 5.3 Cupping..............................................................................30 5.4 Marriage and sex life............................................31 5.5 Fasting and intermittent fasting.................................33 5.6 Breastfeeding......................................................34 5.7 Washing and hygiene.............................................34 5.8 Prayers from a health perspective...............................37 5.9 All types of smoking..............................................40 5.10 Holistic medicine................................................43 5.11 Spiritual and therapeutic interventions........................44 6. Prevention.....................................................................46 6.1 Controlling the spread of contagious disease..................46 6.2 Obesity .............................................................47 7. Food and drinks..............................................................49 7.1 Eating habits.......................................................49 7.2 Black seed.........................................................50 7.3 Honey, olives, vinegar............................................52 7.4 Forbidden food, drinks, substances............................53 8. Results and Discussion ....................................................55 9. Conclusion...................................................................56 10. Bibliography...............................................................58