Hajj Health Guide

7/27/2019 Hajj Health Guide

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/hajj-health-guide 1/59



www.onislam.net

OnIslam.net 1434 AH/2013 All Rights Reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without a prior

written permission of, and with express attribution to OnIslam.net.



www.onislam.net

- 3 -

Table of Content

Talk to OI's Doctors Before Going for Pilgrimage: ........... 7

Going to Hajj? Your Health Kit .......................................... 8

A Green Hajj? .................................................................. 19

Health Preparations in the Muslim Stronghold Nigeria as

Hajj Begins .............................................................................. 25

Issues to Take Care of during Summery Hajj Seasons: .... 32

Sunstroke & Hajj Rituals ................................................. 33 Exhaustion & Hajj Rituals ................................................ 37

Allergy & Hajj Rituals ...................................................... 40

Dermatitis & Hajj Rituals ................................................ 44

Diabetics & Hajj Rituals ................................................... 54



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 4 -

Introduction

Praise be to Allah. We thank Him, the Most High, and seek His Help

and Forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils within

ourselves and that of bad deeds. He whom Allah guides, is truly

guided, and whom Allah leaves to stray, none can guide him.

We bear witness that there is no God but Allah and that

Muhammad is His final Prophet (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him).



www.onislam.net

- 5 -

We ask Allah to bless our Prophet Muhammad, his family, his

Companions, and all his followers, from the beginning of his call to the

Day of Judgment.

{We appointed Abraham to establish the Shrine: "You shall not

idolize any other god beside Me, and purify My shrine for those who

visit it, those who live near it, and those who bow and prostrate. "Andproclaim that the people shall observe Hajj pilgrimage.* They will

come to you walking or riding on various exhausted (means of

transportation). They will come from the farthest locations."}. [22:26-

27].

Hajj is a journey of a lifetime for any Muslim and is one of the five

pillars of Islam. Every year, millions of Muslims make their way to theholy sites in Makkah to perform the Hajj. While the spiritual

experience and thawab are the prime focus of pilgrims, yet the

physical effort needed for the journey made the fifth pillar of Islam

mandatory only upon those able men and women who can physically

(as well as financially) endure it.

But despite good health and able bodies, the physical demand of the journey might take its toll on some people. Health problems might

develop from born diseases; exhaustion might be experienced from

the heat; the cold might set in at night while sleeping outdoors.

Islam maintained that one of the main objectives of its Shari`ah is

protecting people's life and maintaining their health. Human life is so

highly appreciated in Islam that the matters relating to health take

precedence over nearly anything. The single human is the initial core



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 6 -

of any strong Muslim society and thus the person must take well care

of his health.

Some people get worried as Hajj requires immense physical,

spiritual, and emotional preparation. Months prior to deciding and

preparing for pilgrimage, a tremendous impact is made on the hearts

and minds of pilgrims. This process entails sacrifice of time, money,comfort, as well as many physical desires and pleasures and all this

simply for the sake of Allah, with no worldly or selfish motive.

Being psychologically and physiologically prepared for this holy

journey can make you enjoy it to the maximum extent. This goal must

be fulfilled with both psychological and physiological healthiness in

order to get the best outcome out of this blessed journey.

Many Muslim countries follow certain and well-established

programs to prepare their national pilgrims for the awaited travel. This

includes programs of healthcare and recommended lists of

vaccinations which are vital in such million gatherings. OnIslam

produced this book that contains a content which is mainly based on

articles and features provided by reputed doctors and healthspecialists to present useful health information for Muslim pilgrims

before going to their spiritual journey to Mecca and to help them in

being healthy to enjoy this sacred journey with happiness and

comfort.

We ask Allah Almighty to guide us all to what is best in this world

and in the Hereafter, Ameen.



www.onislam.net

- 7 -

Talk to OI's Doctors BeforeGoing for Pilgrimage:

- Going to Hajj?Your Health Kit.

- A Green Hajj?

- Health

Preparations in

the Muslim

Stronghold Nigeria

as Hajj Begins.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 8 -

Going to Hajj? Your Health Kit*

Hajj is a lifetime

journey for which the

faithful hearts are

longing. Indeed, it is a

great favor Almighty

Allah has bestowed

upon His servants so

that they can draw

closer to Him and

have their sins

forgiven.

As the

performance of Hajj

requires physical,

psychological and

financial ability, it’s

highly important for

all the would-be

pilgrims to be awareof all the health aspects of Hajj.

What is the best age for performing Hajj? What are the health

aspects necessary to bear in mind during this season? What is the best

*

By Dr. Amira Ayad.



www.onislam.net

- 9 -

nutrition that would aid our bodies during Hajj rituals? How to avoid

dehydration and other health problems outdoors?

Should we be afraid from an outbreak of SARS-like virus during the

current Hajj season?

Fear and panic are the number one enemy of your immune system. It

is highly important not to panic or worry. Stress and worry are provento greatly undermine our immunity.

Enjoy the moment and cherish your spiritual journey with a deep

belief that: "Never will we be struck except by what Allah has

decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allah let the believers

rely." (At-Taubah 9: 51). This of course does not mean neglecting to

take our precautions and follow the worldly means for prophylaxisand/or healing. For more on those, please refer to question 3 below.

And, remember, as long as you are fit, the viruses won't stand a

chance in shaa Allah, so start taking care of your health early on

before departure. Eat healthy, exercise, get enough sleep and rest,

and follow the prevention methods to the best of your ability.

What are the vaccinations required for Hajj?

There is one mandatory vaccine for all Hajj travelers, the

Meningococcal Vaccine, you can't take your KSA visa for hajj without

proof of vaccination.

Some physicians recommend additional other vaccines like

Pneumococcal Vaccine, which is recommended for adults above 65

years and other vulnerable groups like people with chronic diseases

like diabetes, heart diseases (except high blood pressure), lung



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 10 -

diseases (including asthma), and compromised immunity individuals.

You should also make sure that you are up-to-date with your polio

vaccination (check with your physician if a booster dose is needed).

The US CDC (Center of Disease Control) further recommends a

seasonal Influenza vaccine to reduce the risk of flu, but this remains a

personal choice. It is essential to take the vaccines at least 2 weeks

before travelling.

I’ve heard about the spreading Coronavirus in KSA. How can we

immunize ourselves against it?

Coronaviruses are large group of viruses related to the one causing the

common cold. Some of them however could cause serious illnesses

like SARS virus spread in 2003.

WHO (World Health Organization) and CDC recommend general

measures of self-care and hygiene as a protective measure. Same as

all flu and common cold viruses, a healthy, body with a healthy

immune system can easily deal with them. I believe that our body has

the tremendous ability of self healing and regeneration.

During the season of Hajj, due to large crowds, the spread of

respiratory diseases is very common. Most of these are common

known viruses that our body either already has the immunity from or

can take care of like a common bout of cold or flu. Still, prevention is

better than cure, so when you are in a crowded area put a face mask,

take good care of personal hygiene. Wash your hands often, use

disposable tissue papers, and avoid touching your eyes and nose. And

of course, whenever you can, keep your distance from people who

look sick.



www.onislam.net

- 11 -

Eat healthy food rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. You can take

Vitamin C supplements (500-1000 mg) for further protection, start at

least a week before you leave and continue taking it while there.

Vitamin C fights cold viruses, protects mucus membrane, and

promotes the production of interferon, the body’s own natural anti-

viral protein.

Raw honey with freshly squeezed lemon is great for sore throats and

coughs or even as prophylactic every morning.

Zinc strengthens immunity and its lozenges are reported to relieve

symptoms and reduce the duration of common colds and sore throats.

Take echinacea extract to boost your body’s natural defense

mechanism (It is available at most health food stores and pharmacies -

make sure to get the alcohol-free extract not the tincture).

Finally, you can ask your physician to prescribe an antibiotic for you to

carry along in case of need. A broad spectrum antibiotic like

ciprofloxacin or amoxicillin will do the job. I do not recommend taking

it as prophylactic, just keep it with you to take it if respiratory infection

symptoms start to surface. If the symptoms are severe, though, you

might consider seeing a physician. But as I said earlier, it is highly

important not to panic. Stress and worry are proven to greatly

undermine our immunity.

Every time I go to Hajj or Umrah I return to my homeland extremely

sick with a very harsh case of flu, although I always take the

influenza vaccination before traveling. Shall I stop taking

vaccinations? And what makes it ineffective that way?



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 12 -

Taking the vaccination is totally a personal choice and its effectiveness

is also a personal reaction no one can predict. You have to weigh the

advantages and disadvantages and decide for yourself.

Common cold and influenza are caused by more than 200 different

viruses that cause various degrees of upper respiratory tract

infections. These viruses have the ability to readily mutate (i.e. alter

their genetic makeup) constantly creating new strains that pose new

challenge on our immune system and make permanent immunity

against flu impossible.

Influenza vaccines deliver inactivated (i.e. containing dead viruses) or

attenuated (i.e. containing weakened viruses) dose of influenza

viruses. The shot is aimed at boosting our body’s immune system to

synthesize the required antibodies for fighting against the upcomingflu.

The problem is, among those hundreds of strains of flu viruses, only

three could be included in the vaccine shot. Pharmaceutical

companies have to take a calculated ‘guess’ on the most possible ones

to appear in the flu season. And, since the vaccines need around 11

months from development till they reach the consumers, and given

the fact that the flu viruses have a tremendous ability to readilymutate into new strains, we cannot be certain that these are the right

three strains any more.

Again, as I told you, vaccination remains your personal choice

although, I have to mention that it is highly recommended by the

WHO and CDC.



www.onislam.net

- 13 -

Personally, I did not take the vaccine when I performed hajj, neither

did my husband on his 2 pilgrimages or any of his Umrah trips. In some

of those, we caught bad flu that managed to take its course and heal

alhamdulellah but did not stop us from continuing our rituals, and in

other cases, we did not fall ill, alhamdulellah.

So, it is totally up to you to decide which course to take. Just in any

case follow all preventive and immune boosting measures you can

(refer to question 3). And remember our Prophet's saying: ""No

fatigue, no disease, no sorrow, no sadness, no hurt, no distress befalls

a Muslim, even if it was the prick he received from a thorn, but that

Allah expiates some of his sins for it" (Bukhari & Muslim). So, even

your flu bout, if any, won't go in vain in shaa Allah.

What is the suitable age to perform Hajj rituals?

As Allah told us, performing hajj starts to be an obligation on every

Muslim at the age of puberty if he/she is capable (financially,

physically and psychologically). So, due to its physically demanding

rituals, it is best to perform it when we are still young and fit. There is

no specific age of course, but I guess the twenties and thirties seem to

be the best choice as during that time we are grown up yet young

enough to withstand the physical and emotional stress and of courseunderstand, heed, enjoy and cherish the spiritual benefits.

Still, I have to say here that I have met many people in their forties

and fifties healthier and more fit than their younger counterparts. So,

in the end, the health and vitality is the best determinant rather than

the age.

What is the maximum number of hours or minutes I could stay outdoor under the direct sun?



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 14 -

This largely varies according to the temperature and according to your

body's personal ability. My advice is to stay in the shade whenever

possible, wear a sun block (I prefer a physical sun block not a chemical

one), sunglasses, and carry an umbrella in the area where shade is not

an option. Most importantly, listen to your body, and don't ignore any

early signs of dizziness, headache, drowsiness or fatigue. Drink plenty

of fluid, water is the best hydrating liquid of course, so carry with youa small bottle of water at all time. And, avoid prolong exposure to the

sun.

Thank God I took the meningitis vaccine. But I need to know what

could cause its infection for me during rituals and what are the side

effects of its vaccine as my friends made me afraid of it.

Meningitis is a bacterial infection of the membranes covering the brainand spinal cord meninges). It is a very serious disease, yet it is not

highly contagious, alhamdullelah. Both viral meningitis and

bacterial meningitis can be spread through direct contact with nose

and throat secretions that's why personal hygiene is extremely

important especially in crowded places like during hajj.

Meningococcal vaccine has been there for a long time now, and has

proven to be relatively safe. Like any medicine, of course, it may havesome side effects, but has not shown to cause any serious harm. The

rare side effects include symptoms appearing directly following the

vaccination like jerking or seizure-like movements.

These usually subside by rest for 15-20 minutes after the shot. Some

people getting the vaccine could show redness or pain at the injection

area which usually disappear within 1 or 2 days. In very rare cases,



www.onislam.net

- 15 -

allergic reaction has been reported directly after the shot and this

should be dealt with by the physician giving the vaccination.

What are the health precautions necessary to bear in mind while

eating or drinking in Mecca and Medinah?

Unfortunately diarrhea is one of the common diseases encountered

during hajj. The most important precaution is to drink only bottledwater (or of course Zamzam water from the mosque) and do not eat

food that has been exposed to sun or heat for long time. You can eat

packaged food like biscuits and crackers, fresh fruits or vegetables

after thorough washing and cooked food if it is freshly cooked and

served hot.

Follow all regular hygiene measures: washing hands very well, washing

your fresh vegetables or fruits thoroughly, cover all your food...

If you contacted diarrhea, note that the most essential measure is

proper hydration. If the diarrhea is severe, consult a physician,

meanwhile take a rehydrating salt (available over the counter in all

pharmacies) to avoid dehydration.

Which one is more hygiene and safer to use during Hajj, the flush

toilet or the squat one?

Usually the squat one is safer especially in crowded areas. It is less in

contact with the person using it so it is less likely to transmit diseases.

In both cases, though, it is good to carry a sanitizer and your own

toilet paper. Try to get the least possible contact with the toilet and

needless to say wash your hands thoroughly after use.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 16 -

I performed Hajj 4 times so far Elhamdulillah, yet when I return

home, I always go into a very bad psychological condition and

depression that lasts for two months or so. What can I do?

Hajj is a highly spiritual journey. It touches the heart and soul much

more than it affects the body and this of course is the main purpose. I

am not sure of the reason behind your depression, though. Is it the

feeling of homesickness to that holy place? Or is it because you are

back to the usual life stresses and challenges you were temporarily

relieved from? Or maybe it is because you worry if your hajj had been

accepted by Allah SWT? You need to sit and reflect on the origin of

your depression.

Knowing the source is essential for us to deal with the problem. You

may want to sit with a friend or consult a trusted scholar orpsychologist to clear up some issues. Most importantly, don't

surrender to your depression, seek repentance and ask Allah

forgiveness, adjust your intention and He SWT will help you through

your challenging times.

On the physical level, mild depression could be resulting from

deficiency in essential fatty acids and the neurotransmitter serotonin.

You can take fish oil supplements (or DHA or flaxseeds- all are goodsource of essential fatty acids) and 5HTP (5-hydroxytreptophan) a

natural supplement that helps restoring serotonin level and boosting

the mood.

Vitamin D deficiency could also have a hand in this. Go outdoors, get

exposed to the sun whenever you can and eat lots of fatty fish.

Why doesn’t Saudi Arabia require a Hepatitis C vaccination?



www.onislam.net

- 17 -

Unfortunately, there is no vaccination in the world for Hepatitis C so

far.

Can I take my baby with me to Hajj or this could be unsafe for her

immunity?

I do not recommend it. The highly crowded place is a high risk of

transmitting disease especially for a baby with still-to-develop immunesystem. And, another real risk is the pushing around during many of

the rituals and the unavoidable human stampede that you sometimes

encounter.

Is the chemical composition of Zamzam water different from other

well waters?

Yes, many researches show the high quality and purity of Zamzamwater compared to other waters, but, personally, I think there is much

more into it than chemistry and much more than what we can explain

with our current technological and scientific instruments. As I studied

energy medicine for years, I see the instant shift in water energy when

we simply say a prayer or mention Allah's name while holding the cup.

This energy had been recorded under the electron microscope by the

Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto who saw water molecules ascarrier of information. So imagine how would be the energy of the

water that our Prophet PBUH told us about: “Zamzam water is for

whatever is intended in drinking it" (Ibn Majah, Ahmed & Hakim).

My old mum is going to Hajj with me this year, what are the health

prerequisites for her? How to take care of her properly during Hajj?



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 18 -

Same general precautions as all of us regarding food selection, hygiene

and sun exposure, but with special stress on some important points

for old age:

- Hydration is very important in advanced age as old people get

dehydrated very quickly and usually without noticing it. And especially

avoid un-necessary sun exposure.

- Avoid crowded places. Try not to perform the rituals in the peak

hour. And, whenever possible for you to do it in her place, it will be

better (like in rajm-throwing the stones- for instance).

- You can ask for wheel chair for tawaf ... if needed, just ask her not to

over-stress herself.

I’m on medication for high blood pressures, what are the things toavoid during the pilgrimage?

First you should bring sufficient (or even some reserve) quantity of

your medication and remember to take them on time. If your

medication involve diuretics like thiazide and thiazid-like medication, it

is important to remember to hydrate well as you are at more risk of

losing body water. As per usual anti-hypertension recommendations

reduce salt in your food and if possible bring along your meter tomonitor your blood pressure during your travel. If this is not possible,

you can usually measure it at local pharmacies or medical centers

upon any sign of disturbance.

Avoid stress and overexertion and avoid too much sun exposure. Eat

plenty of leafy green vegetable (thoroughly washed) and fresh fruits

and vegetables.



www.onislam.net

- 19 -

A Green Hajj?*

[And proclaim to

mankind the Hajj.

They will come to you

on foot and on every

lean camel, they will

come from every deep

and distant mountain

highway. ](Surat Al-

Hajj 22: 27).

An estimated three

million pilgrims

respond to this

proclamation,

traveling to the sacred

city of Makkah for the performance of Hajj and ‘Umrah. For many

pilgrims, greyed by the years of sacrifice, their wait had come to an

end. For others, this wondrous journey is about to commence again.

The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is performed by every Muslimwith the financial and physical ability to fulfill this sacred act. With a

sense of anticipation, pilgrims leave behind their families traversing

land, sea and air towards the pinnacle of this life altering passage - the

plain of ‘Arafah.

A Trail of Waste

*By Najma Mohammed.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 20 -

As the sea of pilgrims pour from the streets of Makkah toward Mina,

Muzdalifah, and ‘Arafah, fulfilling the rites of Hajj over a period of

either five or six days, they leave behind them a trail of waste.

Thousands of buses, spewing carbon monoxide, crawl along the

scorching desert roads, carrying dusty, tired, joyous pilgrims. Mostyears, white-hot heat beats down upon umbrella clad heads. Thirsty

hands reach for water, leaving behind them about 100 million plastic

bottles on the Hajj sites each year.

Walking from the plain of ‘Arafah in February 2001, my happy heart

was aching as I waded through mounds of discarded packaging and

rotting food, thrown away with little concern or care. How could this

be?

This journey, exemplifying mercy, humility and self-discipline lifts the

humbled human spirit to dizzying heights and draws away the barriers

of ethnicity, gender and class uniting every soul with creation, in

praise and glorification of the Most Merciful Creator. As the number of

pilgrims performing Hajj increases each year, it is becoming clearer

that the challenges, including the impact upon nature, will become

even greater.

For the government of Saudi Arabia, catering for the needs of millions

of pilgrims is undoubtedly a difficult task. Efforts to meet and improve

pilgrims' health and safety, transport and accommodation continue

unabated. This includes the development of a light rail system which

will transport pilgrims between the Hajj sites, set for completion in

1433A.H (2012 C.E).



www.onislam.net

- 21 -

This initiative which will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of

the Hajj should be commended. However, construction efforts,

moving at neck-breaking speed, are altering the landscape of the

sacred cities of Makkah and Madinah forever.

Suspended in Practice

Amid this frenzy of development, it is imperative that due attention be

given to the impact on the Haramayn (Arabic for "two holy places")

and their surroundings, proclaimed as inviolable sanctuaries in which

injury and disturbance of wildlife, as well as native vegetation, is

prohibited.

While the scant regard towards the environment and wastefulness is

surprisingly conspicuous during the pilgrimage, Hajj is a journey

imbued with spirituality and one in which there are special injunctions

against the destruction of flora and fauna within the sacred precincts

of the Haramayn.

According to authentic reports, the sacred precincts of Makkah were

put in place by Prophet Ibrahim, as instructed by the angel Jibreel

(peace be upon them), while Prophet Muhammad (peace andblessings be upon him) designated the protected area in Madinah.

Within the sacred precincts of the Haramayn, both

the muhrim (pilgrim in a state of ihraam) and non-muhrim are

prohibited from killing game and cutting native vegetation. During the

Hajj, the muhrim has to pay a penalty for killing game and removing

vegetation while the non-muhrim incurs a sin, but need not pay apenalty.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 22 -

In addition to these specific injunctions pertaining to the interaction

with the natural environment, Allah exhorts pilgrims to refrain from

unbecoming behavior during Hajj (See Surah al-Baqarah 2: 197). He,

Most-High, also states that the best provision for the pilgrim is taqwa,

the attitude of reverence and awareness of Allah, which should

temper all human actions, including interaction with creation.

Today, hunting remains prohibited in the Haramayn but all other

injunctions have been 'suspended in practice'. Development, which

should proceed with adherence to these 'environmental' standards,

taking care not to damage or injure fauna and flora and preserving

natural habitats as far as possible, is ravaging the natural environment.

Hajj potentially represents the opportunity to implement the ideal

pattern of interaction between humans and the Creator, as well as

with other humans and the non-human worlds. The Hajj should

therefore be a model of social, economic, political and environmental

best practice.

In the words of Othman Llwellyn: "By demonstrating the highest

standard of environmental excellence, as embodiments of harmonybetween humanity and nature and as an expression of human

stewardship (khilafa), they have great potential to spread

environmental consciousness throughout the Muslim world."

Creating a Green Hajj



www.onislam.net

- 23 -

Both a revival of the exemplary ecological ethics of Islam and a

rejection of the culture of conspicuous consumption and wastage is

required. Plastic packaging seems to 'grow on trees' in the Hejaz and

all of ones purchases, from a misbahah (Arabic for Dhikr Beads) to

a sajjadah (Arabic for prayer rug) come in a plastic bag.

Valiant efforts at waste management are made harder, not necessarilyby the volume of pilgrims, but by the widespread attitudes of

carelessness and extravagance. When one considers Islam's emphasis

on cleanliness, moderation and simplicity, heightened during Hajj, it is

even more difficult to understand this attitude.

It is therefore not surprising that one of the main priority areas of the

burgeoning environmental movement in the Muslim world is the

greening of the Hajj. In the proposals of the seven year action plan on

climate change, which culminated in the Istanbul Declaration and the

establishment of MACCA (Muslim Association for Climate Change

Action) four years ago in July 2009, creating a green Hajj was identified

as a priority area.

The introduction of rail transport is a noteworthy beginning. However,

the intent of MACCA is to introduce a range of eco-friendly initiatives,over a 5 to 10 year period, which will reinstate the Hajj as a model of

environmental behavior.

This will be spearheaded by a media and communications program

which aims to raise environmental awareness of pilgrims in the same

manner as they are instructed about the rites of pilgrimage. The aim,

according to Dr. Mawil Izzi Dien, a stalwart of the environmental



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 24 -

movement in the Muslim world, is to help Muslims enter the "true

spirit of Hajj".

Respect for all life, mercy and compassion to all beings, and justice

towards all of creation is a part of the pilgrim's apparel at all times. As

pilgrims intensify and renew their commitment to implementing these

principles both during and after Hajj, they should uphold theresponsibility of caring for the earth, avoid wastage and excess, and

refrain from harming the community of life of which we all form a

part. Let there be no harm in this blessed journey!



www.onislam.net

- 25 -

Health Preparations in the Muslim StrongholdNigeria as Hajj Begins*

As an awaited

annual tradition

among Muslims

all over theworld, Nigerians

who form one of

the largest and

most populous

Muslim

countries in the

world prepare

for Hajj in

different ways:

from holding

grandiose

farewell prayer

sessions, filling

their bags with

such foods andlocal cuisines not readily available in the holy land, to getting

themselves prepared for the rigorous routines to be undergone as hajj

rituals commence.

Similar preparations take place in other Muslim countries which send

its pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to fulfill the rituals of the fifth pillar of

*By Mr. Rafiu Oriyomi.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 26 -

Islam.

It is entirely different this year. Pilgrims were told in plain terms to be

well prepared too to remain healthy throughout the exercise. This,

officials insist, goes beyond the pilgrims getting the mandatory

International Vaccination Certificate, otherwise known as the ‘Yellow

Card.’

Under this arrangement, a combination of yellow fever and meningitis

vaccinations is administered to the pilgrim. No pilgrim, or any Nigerian

for that matter, leaves the shores of the country unless armed with

the card to show that they are prepared for some health hazards.

As a major Muslim country and one of the biggest nations sending its

natives at this time to KSA, approximately 76,000 Nigerians, unevenly

distributed across the 36 states of the country and the federal capital

Abuja, are cleared to proceed on the pilgrimage. Some of them have

already been airlifted to Medina for ‘exulted’ visitations to memorable

sites from where they would proceed to Mecca for the hajj rituals.

The 76,000 were the lucky ones who passed the stringent health tests,

amongst other conditions. “It is not everyone who bought the formwas allowed to proceed on hajj and this was majorly on health

grounds,” Lookman Abdulkareem, one of the health experts of the

National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), told OnIslam.net.

“For anyone to be allowed to proceed on Hajj, the major vaccines of

yellow fever and meningitis are mandatory simply because Nigeria is

one of the countries with high rate of these diseases. It is basically to



www.onislam.net

- 27 -

make sure Nigerians do not bring these diseases into other countries

because of the concept of healthy carriers – those that are apparently

healthy but do have the diseases and are able to transmit it to others

and also come down with the diseases later.”

Abdulkareem announced that these were all the requirements needed

for anyone travelling from Nigeria to other country, although he saidpeople with special ailments such as diabetes or asthma would need

to make special arrangements for their own health. Similar basic

requirements take place in other countries of the world which allow

their nationals to travel to Mecca & Medina.

“Anyone with life threatening diseases is in fact advised not to

proceed on such journey because it is risky. The journey is strenuous

and it is particularly dangerous for people with life-threatening

diseases,” he added.

That is as far as yellow fever and meningitis goes. It is a different ball

game with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-

CoV), which is a novel Coronavirus (nCoV) first reported on September

24, 2012. Saudi Arabia is listed among countries where the virus has

struck.

Various Nigerian states have different attitudes to the virus as regards

their pilgrims, suggesting that the NAHCON, the body empowered by

law to coordinate hajj activities, has no uniform rule concerning the

epidemic. Each state has its pilgrim’s board, one of the few pluses of

Nigerian federalism.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 28 -

Fears & Confidence

Many intending pilgrims from Nigeria’s most populous Lagos state

were rejected for fear that they could be vulnerable.

Asked for explanations on how the state prepared its pilgrims for the

outbreak, the state health commissioner Jide Idris said “pregnantwomen, aged people, children, and people with terminal diseases like

cancer, stroke and others were barred from taking part in the exercise

as they are more vulnerable to the deadly Coronavirus ravaging Saudi

Arabia and some parts of the Middle East and Asia.”

Idris told OnIslam.net that the state government refunded hundreds

of people under such category on that ground alone; a regulation that

is being taken both in the private and governmental sectors in other

Muslim countries.

“We are taking the issue very seriously which was why first of all we

screened out those categories of people we knew are more at higher

risk of contracting the disease,” Idris said, adding that “those cleared

to go were given lectures on hygiene and the dos and don’ts to avoid

contact with the virus.”

Coronavirus had not been found in any state in Nigeria yet, Idris

explained. Moreover, out of all the 64 Muslim countries of the world,

the coronavirus which has been detected by an Egyptian virologist, Ali

Mohamed Zaki in Jeddah, the virus was only existent so far in Jordan,

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia & UAE.



www.onislam.net

- 29 -

He added: “Although the virus has not been found in the country, the

virus is like the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, SARS, that

ravaged the world some years back. So we appealed to the vulnerable

group not to embark on the lesser Haji or the full hajj while insisting

that people should observe a high standard of personal and

environmental hygiene to reduce the risk of contracting the virus.”

The Nigerian governments, at state and federal levels, have also

constituted separate teams of medical doctors to attend to the

country’s pilgrims in case of emergency including possible contact with

the virus, officials told OnIslam.net.

At least 250 medical personnel, engaged by the central government,

are to travel with the Nigerian contingent. Psychiatrists and

epidemiologists are included, suggesting preparation for the

unexpected.

The 250 doctors are to be supported by doctors following the

individual state delegations from across the 36 states, commissioner in

charge of health at NAHCON, Dr Ibrahim Kana, told OnIslam.net

Lagos alone travels to hajj with at least 50 doctors of variedbackground, Idris told OnIslam.net. “The other states of the federation

also make similar preparation just to attend to the health need of our

contingent.

The 250 doctors provided by the central government gives the doctor-

patient ratio of 304 pilgrims to one doctor.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 30 -

Nearly all nations send medical crews with their national pilgrims

during the Hajj season to KSA. The healthcare crews include various

specializations and its number depends on how big the hajj missions

are.

Intensive Caring

Kana said consideration was given to the issue of Coronavirus which

he described as very deadly. “But we are very prepared for any

eventuality,” he added.

“Large quantities of drugs have already been procured by the

commission for treatment of pilgrims who may become ill while in the

holy land. Besides, a surveillance unit has been set up to work with

other medical team from the various states to move round the camps

where Nigerian pilgrims are so as to detect the virus early and ensure

it does not spread.”

Kana maintained that sensitization and harmonization workshop has

been held for the medical personnel and disclosed that the procured

drugs are being packaged for shipment to Saudi.

Tajudeen Olagbegi, a pilgrim scheduled for airlifting to Medina

alongside 546 others on Monday in Ilorin, in North-central Kwara

State, southwestern Nigeria, said his medical preparation for the

journey started when he took the yellow fever and meningitis

vaccines.

“But I did more than that. I catch cold very easily, so I have also braced



www.onislam.net

- 31 -

myself for the cold weather in Saudi by not only getting very thick

cardigan but also getting a few drugs and tips on how to manage cold

from my doctor,” Olagbegi told OnIslam.net.

“I know friends who have also gone to see their doctors for personal

health preparation for the trip.”

Hassan Ibrahim, a doctor who works with the Kogi State pilgrims’

board in central Nigeria, said part of the training given to intending

pilgrims is to minimize contact with others when they suspect they

could be having acute respiratory disorder.

“We said pilgrims who develop acute respiratory illness with fever and

cough during their pilgrimage should reduce or avoid contact with

others to keep from infecting them, and seek medical assistance

immediately,” Ibrahim told OnIslam.net.

“Infected persons must also cover their mouth and nose with a tissue

when coughing or sneezing to contain the spread of the disease. These

are basic things we expect all pilgrims to know.”

The World Health Organization (WHO), as at September 7, 2013,confirmed a total of 114 deaths resulting from the infection - also

known as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-

CoV) - in Saudi Arabia.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 32 -

Issues to Take Care of duringSummery Hajj Seasons: - Sunstroke &

Hajj Rituals.

- Exhaustion &

Hajj Rituals.

- Allergy & Hajj

Rituals.

- Dermatitis &Hajj Rituals.

- Diabetics &

Hajj Rituals.



www.onislam.net

- 33 -

Sunstroke & Hajj Rituals*

It is well known that most of KSA’s area lies in one of the hottest spots

in the world. When it coincides with summer, the temperature during

Hajj season may range between 44-50°C.

*By Musa Al-Khateeb.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 34 -

Also the rate of moisture may range between 10-15%. Accordingly, the

body temperature increases as a result of control failure in the human

brain center of controlling body temperature, the Hypothalamus.

It has been found that race has a great effect on falling victim to

sunstroke. Peoples with low-pigmented skin, who never used to be

subjected to high temperature, are more liable to sunstroke than the

residents of tropical regions and other ethnicities with high levels of

Melanin.

In addition, the aged, the people with frail bodies, the fat, and the

patients of blood pressure, diabetes and heart failure are easily

attacked by this malady. It is crystal clear that the sooner the patient is

treated, the sooner he becomes well and his safety becomes greater.

Sunstroke does not attack only those who are subjected to sun.Rather, it occurs also to those who stand before ovens and those who

live in high temperature spheres for a long time and in the meantime,

have a high rate of moisture. The main remedy in this case is

preserving the body temperature lest it loses high amounts of sweat.

Sunstroke also occurs in case of the evaporation of sweat in which

case the body temperature increases causing the body to fall victim to

sunstroke.

It should be noted that some pilgrims subject themselves to sun for a

long time thinking that this brings them abundant reward. This, in fact,

has nothing to do with religion as Allah says: "Cast not yourselves into

destruction by your own hands." (Al-Baqarah: 195)

Symptoms:



www.onislam.net

- 35 -

The symptoms of sunstroke may be represented in the sudden

increase of temperature, dryness and redness of skin, headache,

dizziness, loss of consciousness, stomach disturbances, belly pains,

and the increase of white blood cells (leukocytes).

There may be also some sort of imbalance represented in form of

hallucination. In some cases the person may be plagued with coma

and high temperature. Often, he is plagued with anhydrosis, dryness

of the skin, and fastness in pulse.

In severe case, this malady may result in the death of the patient. In

some other cases, there may be a kind of diarrhea and vomit. This will

further take the person into a state of severe and serious shock. This

disturbance may cause failure in any bodily system.

The bodily parts mostly affected by sunstroke are brain, heart, liver,lungs, kidneys, and muscles. It has been found that a form of bleeding

occurs within the cells of these bodily organs.

Also, in some cases the person may be subjected to hemiplegia or loss

of balance. Being affected, the kidney cells may bleed and there may

be deficiency in the work of the liver… etc.

How to Defend Yourself Against Sunstroke?

It is very important to defend yourself against sunstroke. The first

procedure is to keep remote from direct contact with sunrays.

Here comes the importance of educating the people about the

dangers of being under the sun for long periods. In case one has to be

subject to sun, this should last for short, not long periods.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 36 -

Also, arduous efforts are to be avoided. In addition, there should be

plenty of water and drinks. White baggy clothes are to be worn.

Ways of Treatment:

1 - Taking the victim away from places with high temperature.

2 - Taking his clothes off and laying him on his back with his head

upwards.

3 - In case the victim is aware, he is to be offered cold water. In case

he is fainting, his body is to be sprinkled with water and he is to be put

under a van so that the water would be evaporated soon.

4 - He should be taken to the hospital immediately so as to hasten his

recovery.

Important Notes:

It should be the first concern of those who are around the patient to

reduce the high temperature. Some people put the patient in a

bathtub filled with cold water so that the patient regains his

consciousness, and resorting to this means leads to a high rate of

death.

The best ways to reduce the high temperature of the patient is to put

him in a conditioned room, covering him with light wet sheet and

turning on the fan. This is to be kept on until the temperature of the

patient becomes 38.

In this case, cooling is to be stopped and the patient is put under

observation until he becomes well again.



www.onislam.net

- 37 -

Exhaustion & Hajj Rituals*

The phenomenon of

exhaustion frequently

takes place in the

summer or in places with

high temperature such asthe Holy Sites.

Sometimes, it attacks the

person suddenly, but it is

mostly caused by the

body being subjected to

high temperature which,

in its turn, results inlosing huge amounts of

sweat that contains

Sodium Chloride.

The symptoms are

general weakness,

headache, dizziness and

agitation, in addition tomany other symptoms

like thirst, nausea and

anorexia. The person

may also fall fainting out

of sickness and he may

be pale with a cold

*By Musa Al-Khateeb.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 38 -

body. His pulse becomes weak and fast or strong and slow, the body's

temperature becomes normal or less normal, and the amount of urine

becomes lesser with some sort of spasm.

How to Defend Yourself against Exhaustion?

It is very important to know how to defend yourself against this

serious malady. Once a person gets subjected to the sun and thusloses considerable amounts of sweat, he has to compensate for this by

consuming great amounts of drinks and taking salt tablets in some

cases. As for the way of treatment, it is as follows:

Set the sick person in a cold place, take his legs upwards and rub them

and give him salty water to drink (a teaspoon of salt added to 1 liter of

boiled water). In case he is out of conscience, give him nothing to

drink through the mouth. In hard cases, a sick person may need to betaken to the hospital and given saline through the vein. In this case,

blood pressure will come to its average again and the temperature will

be back to normal.

Cramps

These cramps always attack those people with normal bodies who

carry out arduous works under high temperature and thus exert greatamounts of perspiration. It also attacks sportsmen who do the same

job. The main cause for this is the great amount of perspiration lost

due to these efforts. This is always accompanied with severe pains in

the affected muscle and sometimes in the belly.



www.onislam.net

- 39 -

After taking some rest, being remote from high temperature, and

giving the sick person some saline or salty tablets, the person may feel

well.

It should be noted that muscular and articular pains increase

according to high temperature. A pilgrim may think of it as being

rheumatism. However, it stems from the infection that occurs in the

muscle due to being subjected to change of temperature caused by air

conditioners. This results in myosclerosis. Taking aspirin with some

warming may be helpful in this case.

The Symptoms of Sunstroke: 1- The skin is hot, dry and red

colored. 2- High body temperature. 3- Severe Fatigue and loss of

conscience. 4- The possibility of loss of conscience.

The Symptoms of Exhaustion: 1- The skin is cold, sweaty and

yellow colored. 2- The extension of the pupil of the eye. 3- Lack of

temperature. 4- Body weakness and fragility.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 40 -

Allergy & Hajj Rituals*

Allergy may inflict any organ in the body; the eyes, nose, stomach,

arms, legs or so on. But it has different names with each organ, such

*

By Musa Al-Khateeb.



www.onislam.net

- 41 -

as running nose, influenza, hay fever, summer common cold,

urtecaria, spasmodic chest disease, spring cattar, recurrent bronchitis

and brochial asthma. All these diseases are different kinds of allergy,

as people say: "One's man's food is another man's poison."

Allergy inflicts some people due to abnormal interaction between a

natural substance and part of the body. That is to say, millions of

people come in contact with chemical substances, smocks, dust, or eat

different kinds of food without contracting any kind of allergy,

because no abnormal interaction takes place within their bodies due

to these things.

On the other hand, some people contract skin allergy when they take

a specific kind of food, like strawberry, egg, chocolate, some kinds of

fish or so on. The skin of such people interacts abnormally with thespecific kind of food that causes them allergy. In other cases, people

contract spasmodic chest diseases due to inhaling the vapors of

perfumes, painting substances, dust or coming in contact with raw

cotton, fur, or pollen, and specific kinds of germ, whereas many

people do not get affected with such things.

When the body contracts allergy, it produces protective chemical

substances to stop the irritation that happens due to abnormalinteraction. Such substances contain histamine, and that is why the

medicines that are taken for such diseases are anti-histaminic.

If the histaminic substances produced in the body equals the irritating

substances, there would be no harm. But out of protection, the body

produces histaminic substance that exceeds the irritating one. This

extra histamin causes the abnormal interaction that takes place inside

the body causing allergy.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 42 -

The effect of such interaction appears in the organ that gets irritated

by this interaction. If the nose is the organ that gets most irritated by

such abnormal interaction, then one is liable to contract hay fever of

which most noticeable symptom is sneezing. Such case is known

medically as allergic rinitis. If the most irritated organ is the chest, one

gets inflicted with asthmatic cough or, in other words, allergic

pronchitis.

In most cases the skin is the organ which gets mostly irritated due to

abnormal interaction taking place inside the body. Skin allergy is

commonly called urtecaria or ekzima. There is no danger on the

pilgrims who are liable to skin allergy. Rather, danger lies in cases of

allergic pronchitis, because the labor of Hajj may cause irritation in the

chest causing pronchitis asthma.

So, it is better for people who suffer from allergic pronchitis to

postpone performing Hajj until their disease ends or even controlled.

As for those who suffer from skin allergy, there is no problem as they

can easily go for pilgrimage, taking with them anti-histaminin

medicines, such as Tafagil tablets and others, to use them when

needed. Yet, pronchitis patients should know exactly the urgency of

their disease and consult their doctors before they decide travellingfor Hajj, so that they may take with them some medicines to be used

at times of emergency.

But is there any special regime to be applied while performing Hajj?

There is no specific regime for allergy patients during Hajj, except in

cases in which people contract allergy due to having specific kinds of

food. In such cases, the most effective therapy is abandoning the kinds



www.onislam.net

- 43 -

of food that cause allergy, such as some fruits, like banana, mango,

straw; chocolate; egg, milk and fish. Some people contact allergy as a

result of taking some medication, such as Aspirin, Salfa, penicillin and

other medical substances.

How can allergy patients adapt themselves to hot weather?

No one can deny the toil the pilgrims suffer during the journey of Hajj,so that they lose a great amount of the liquids and salt of their bodies.

So doctors advise those who are going for Hajj to drink abundant

liquids and to eat salty foods, unless they are suffering from heart

diseases due to allergic bronchitis. Also, patients who are going for

Hajj should by all means avoid all types of labor and take shelter

against the rays of the sun and evade over-crowdedness.

Are allergy patients allowed to fast while performing Hajj?

There is nothing wrong for allergy patients to observe fasting during

Hajj, unless it is necessary to have a certain medication at regular

times. Moreover, fasting does not negatively affect allergy patients so

long as they evade exerting great efforts and they avoid over-

crowdedness and avoid being exposed to the sun.

In a nutshell, while performing Hajj, allergy patients should neitherexpose themselves to hard labor or over-crowdedness, nor stay in

closed places that have no access to fresh air. Also, patients should

consult their doctors before going to perform Hajj. Doctors, for sure,

are the ones who can prognoses the patient's case, and diagnose the

right prescription.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 44 -

Dermatitis & Hajj Rituals*

It is well known

that most of

KSA’s area lies in

one of the hottest

spots in the

world.

When it coincides

with summer, the

temperature

during Hajj

season may range

between 44-50°C.

Also the rate of

moisture may

range between

10-15%. These factors help in increasing the probability of getting sick

by diseases such as dermatitis (skin diseases) which increases among

the pilgrims for several reasons:

- Extra excretion of sweat due to burning sun beams and high

humidity.

- Overcrowding at Hajj, where people from all over the world gather

together to perform such a sanctified act of worship. With lots of

*

By Musa Al-Khateeb.



www.onislam.net

- 45 -

people gathering at the same time in a specific place, diseases can

easily spread by infection. Among the most common skin diseases

during Hajj are the following:

1- Acne Vulgaris:

There happens obstruction in man's sweat glands causing the

emergence of small red pimples known as Acne Vulgaris. This diseaseinfects people, especially the very white, at different stages of life.

Such red pimples appear mainly in the areas of the body that come in

direct contact with clothes, which are made from artificial fibers in

particular. The patient in this case suffers from severe prurigo, and this

makes him worried and uncomfortable; such pimples usually around

the waist, buttocks, thighs, shoulders, forearms, and forehead. If the

case is recurrent the patient may be inflicted with dehydration in theskin, and this along with hot damp weather may cause sunburn.

Ways of Protection and Treatment:

- Giving the house good ventilation.

- Airing the bedroom at night.

- Not using any cover during sleep.

- Keeping away from being directly exposed to sun beams as much as

possible.

- Wearing light clothes.

- Wearing soft white clothes made of cotton that help evaporate

sweat.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 46 -

- Abstaining from scratching the skin with soup and bath sponge,

because this causes new pimples to appear.

- Taking a daily cold shower to get rid of sweat and dust, using mild

soup without bath sponge; this is the best way of protection from

Acne Vulgaris.

- It is preferable for patients to use mild moisturizers to remove theobstruction on the mouth of the sweat glands.

Following these steps leads to an early recovery. But beware the

patients in this case should not use any kind of moisturizing powders,

because the atoms of the powder block the openings of the sweat

glands causing more infection. So it is preferable to grease the body

with olive oil, coconut oil or any kind of plant-extracted oils; to rub the

body very well and then leave it to dry. Then the extra amount of oilcan be removed from the body with water and soup.

2- Extra sweat excretion:

During Hajj times, people excrete abundant sweat due to high

temperature and humidity of the weather. People's custom of Ihram

becomes wet night and day due to extra excretion of sweat, and thiscauses them to urinate very little and be always thirsty.


As for people who usually have hydrosis during summer and winter

times they should keep themselves away from hard work, especially in

the hot periods of the day. They may also take some medication,

which lessens the quantity of sweat, but this must be according to



www.onislam.net

- 47 -

medical prescription. However, cleanness is the main factor in treating

such a case.

3- Sweat Abscess and Pyodermatosis:

This disease happens due to infection with staphylococcus. This

disease appears as a lot of bubbles, ulcer or big painful pimples. This

disease usually infects children (5-7 years old) and people who areexposed to the heat of the sun. Extra excretion of sweat and flies are

among the main reasons for the spread of this disease. Moreover, lice

causes severe prurigo, and this may cause different forms of abscess in

the scalp of the children as well as the adults. In some cases the

disease appears as sweat furuncle and red pimples.

Cases of severe pyoderma usually causes hypertrophy in the lymph

nodes near the neck and raises the temperature of the body. Takingthe necessary measures of treatment, the patient's skin gets

completely cured.


- Caring for personal hygiene, especially for the hair to be clear of any

lice and other similar things

- In severe cases in which the patient has high temperature and

hypertrophy in the glands or in which he suffers from sweat furuncles

due to infection with diabetes or from red pimples it is better for the

patient to consult the doctor who would check him up to know the

direct cause for such cases and consequently prescribe the right

medication.

4- Abscess in Curves of the Body:



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 48 -

Such type of abscess usually happens to obese people. It appears

under the arm-bits, under the breasts for women and in the curves of

the thighs. In such cases, the skin becomes inflamed and red. In severe

cases the inflamed skin excretes some kind of transparent substance

and the patient suffers from painful prurigo.


Caring for personal hygiene, and avoiding being directly exposed to

sun beams as possible as one can, and sitting in an open place (i.e.

with good ventilation)

5 - Parasitic Infections:

Parasitic infections are a group of infectious skin diseases that are

capable of causing different diseases. Such parasitic infections arewidely spread in areas with hot weather conditions. They include:

A- Thigh Tinea:

It is an infectious disease that happens due to some parasitic infection.

Patient suffering from this disease has severe itching between his

thighs. The disease spreads through using the clothes or towels of an

infected person. Also, great overcrowding in hot weather at the time

of Hajj causes this disease to widespread among the pilgrims.


- Refraining from using the clothes and towels of others.

- Washing all one's clothes in a boiling water and then ironing them to

kill all parasites therein.



www.onislam.net

- 49 -

- Refraining from scratching the infected area with the bath sponge.

- Consulting the doctor to take necessary procedures.

B- Colorful Tinea:

This disease infects the pilgrims due to hot weather and extra sweat

excretion. It takes the form of round rash whose color becomes light

on taking a bath and then it darkens and becomes brown after some

days. It spreads in the same way like thigh tinea.


- Taking a hot shower every evening for a long period that may

amount to two months.

- Smearing the infected areas with anti-parasitic ointment upon thedoctor's prescription.

C- Herpes:

It happens due to infection with a certain kind of parasites. It appears

in the form of groups of small bubbles around the mouth and the

genitals. This is usually accompanied with hypertrophy and

inflammation of the lymph nodes, and in most cases it is accompaniedwith prurigo. It is an infectious disease, which spreads through touch

and use of a patient's personal things. Jam overcrowding at the time

of Hajj causes wide spread of the disease.

There is another form of this disease, which infects the nerves and

appears as bubbles, which spread in one side of the body, especially in

the face and trunk.




www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 50 -

- Caring for personal hygiene.

- Abstaining from using others' personal things.

- Seeking the doctors' consult once the disease, especially the last

type, appears in order to take the prescribed suitable medicine.

6 - Mange:

This is one of the commonest infectious dermatitis, which the pilgrims

contract. It happens due to some parasitic infection. The symptoms of

this disease are severe itching at night and the emergence of some

scabies in the area that have been itched and in the areas between the

fingers, in the heels, the palms and the abdomen. There may also be

some red rash on the abdomen where the female parasite makes her

course through the body. This disease is really infectious, so that itmay spread among a whole group at once.

Treatment of this disease is nothing than washing the body, scratching

it with warm water and soup; then smearing the whole body except

the face and the head with the Bezanil cream or sulfur ointment or

anything the doctor prescribes. This is to be repeated for two

successive nights.

The same treatment is to be applied in cases of infection with lice etc…

7 - Eczema:

It is a kind of inflammation in the skin, accompanied by severe itching.

This disease causes the appearance of groups of little pimples, full of

transparent liquid. This liquid may get out of the pimples, or it may



www.onislam.net

- 51 -

harden forming gluey scabs. The rims of such grouping pimples are not

apparent.

There are different kinds of eczema such as severe, semi-severe and

chronic eczema; scabies eczema; pimple eczema; scabbing

eczema…etc.


The skin infected with eczema is a good environment for microbes,

which cause skin inflammation. Therefore, it is necessary to follow

these instructions:

- Taking excessive care for cleanness so as to avoid unnecessary

complications.

- Protecting the skin from materials that cause irritation, such as wool,

artificial fibers, fur and soup.

- Using moisturizing oils moderately, so that it may not obstruct the

mouth of the sweat glands and cause more irritation.

- Avoiding any foods or smells that cause allergy as well as anything

that may increase the severity of eczema.

- Consulting the specialist who would prescribe the suitable medicine

for your case.

8 - Urtecaria:

The symptoms of this disease are itching and hypertrophy of the skin.

It may last no more than some hours, and it may last some days up to

two weeks. It usually happens due to allergy to some food or

medicine. Chocolate, egg and fish are the most likely to cause



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 52 -

urtecaria, whereas Penicillin is the commonest medicine that causes

urtecaria. Urtecaria may also happen due to allergy to artificial

substances that are added to food to give it some color or taste or to

some toothpaste.

Doctors advise such patients to write a diary through which they can

discover the main reason for urtecaria. Sometimes food is not the

cause for it, but rather infection with intestinal worms or due to hot

weather or even cold weather, or due to hyper-tension.

Urtecaria patients may have severe itching in their hands when they

hold driving wheel for a long time. Urtecaria which happens due to

cold weather is usually the result of sudden change from hot weather

into cold weather, such as the case when one takes a hot shower and

comes out in a cold room, or when one remains without clothes till hedries. Hence gradual change protects one from infection with

urtecaria.

Urtecaria may also happen due to allergy to sun rays. But this

disappears a short period after sunset. Some medicines may cause

allergy if the person who takes them stays in the sun. In such case the

disease appears in the form of skin eruption on the face and any other

part of the body that is exposed to the sun.

This may happen with medicines like salfa compounds, oral diabetic

and diuretic medicines. Also some kinds of food may cause the same

effect if one eats them and then goes out in the sun, such as eating

some lemons or carrot and getting out in the sun.

The main point of cure in this case is to protect the patient from direct

contact with sun rays, then to seek the doctor’s consult if necessary.



www.onislam.net

- 53 -

9 - Freckles:

When one exposes oneself to the sun gradually and with care, one's

skin may not be much irritated. But sometimes the skin, especially soft

white skin, takes some internal measures to protect itself against the

dangerous effect of violet, forming some dissimilar yellow and brown

rash without any eruption outside the skin. Such rash is known as

freckles. If the skin naturally has a big amount of the coloring

substance (Melanin), such small freckles may turn into large dark

freckles.

If the pilgrims have large dark freckles, they should not worry, because

such kind of freckles disappears gradually within some months, and

the skin returns to its normal condition so long as they do not

excessively expose themselves to sun rays. On the other hand, smallyellow freckles are not easily cured. Rather it may need scaling off

some the external layer of the skin by the specialist doctor.

10 - The Effects of Heat on the skin of the face:

After the pilgrims return back from Hajj, some people, especially

women, notice that their faces have greatly changed and that its color

has become dark in some places. Moreover, the effect of the sun rays

may reach the extent that causes noticeable irritation and wrinkles.

However, such changes are natural, and they would take some time

and the skin would return to its normal state. So one should not worry

concerning that.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 54 -

Diabetics & Hajj Rituals*

Hajj is a spiritual

journey that takes

two weeks up to

two months in the

hottest seasons of the year and is

carried out in a

place where there

is no permanent

residence for the

pilgrims.

Pilgrims alwaysgather in a very

limited patch of

land and they

undergo a

considerable

change in their

way of life and their daily routine.

A diabetic is to carry a card in Arabic and English containing a detailed

diagnosis of his state, his medication, dosage, his address, and his

telephone number and the telephone number of one of his relatives.

The following sentence is to be written on the back of the card: "If

*

By Musa Al-Khateeb.



www.onislam.net

- 55 -

found unconscious, please give me some medication via mouth or

injection and take me to the nearest hospital."

Name .....................................

Age .....................................

Address .....................................

A Relative's Tel. Number .....................................

Diagnosis .....................................

Treatment .....................................

It is known that most pilgrims are above forty-year old and thus have

to undergo a cardiography before leaving their countries so as to be

sure of their safe traveling. As for the medicines that are to be taken,

there are plenty of medicines in the KSA and there are many services

offered by health care committees of every country.

It is recommendable, however, for a diabetic to take a bottle of insulin

or a packet of tablets that may be used in case of need. Urine analysis

instruments may also be taken in addition to some insulin injections

that are to be put in a cold container so as to be kept from high

temperature. Carbohydrates and medicines for diarrhea, seasickness,

and airsickness are to be taken.

Try to carry out urine analysis and watchfully notice any change beforemeals and before sleep.



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 56 -

A Diabetic and Sunstroke

Once, Allah forbids, a diabetic falls a victim for sunstroke, the card will

prove beneficial, for a diabetic needs, in addition to water and drinks,

to insulin. A diabetic is advised to avoid all open places that make him

in direct contact with the sun and to consume great amounts of water.

A Diabetic and Travel

A diabetic with unstable health condition is advised to defer his

traveling until his heath condition becomes stable. A young diabetic

who uses insulin and is subject to fits is advised not to travel unless

when he becomes quite safe that his condition is stable. In cases of

food poisoning, a diabetic should hurry to the nearest hospital to

receive the suitable medicines and antibiotics.

A Diabetic and Fasting

It is known that the period of Hajj is limited. A diabetic is not advised

to fast during that period. If he has to fast, then he should do so after

returning back home. As for children who are treated with insulin,

they are advised not to travel. This applies also for a pregnant woman

who may fall a prey to early delivery. In case of the aged, they aremostly treated with tablets and it is easy for them to perform this

great divine obligation. It is noteworthy that pilgrims should have the

suitable vaccination before traveling.

Diet for a Diabetic During Hajj

There is a certain diet to be followed by a diabetic during Hajj. This

diet aims at reducing the rate of sugar in the blood and comforting the



www.onislam.net

- 57 -

pancreas. It is advisable to use corn oil. In addition, the following is to

be carried out:

1 - Reduce your weight to the ideal weight.

2 - Practice sports and exert efforts but in a moderate manner.

3 - Avoid any food that causes harm and any excessive amounts of

food.

4 - Do not forget to take medicines on time and stick to the prescribed

dosage.

5 - Once you feel dizzy or experience an unusual amount of

perspiration, visit the doctor.

Food Forbidden for a Diabetic:

Cream, liver, sweet, potato, cakes, gateaux, candy, sweet fruits,

grapes, fig, dates, lupine, nuts, peanuts, almond, coconut, sherbet,

and soft drinks.

Food that a Diabetic Can Consume at any amount:

Tomatoes, tomato soup, cucumber, lettuce, onion, watercress, leek,

and meat soup that does not have fats.

Types of Meat:

Meat, chicken, pigeon, rabbits, fish, sardines, and shrimps.

Vegetables:

Eggplants, spinach, green beans, cabbages, and artichoke.

Fruit:



www.onislam.net

Hajj & Health Guide

- 58 -

Two apples, two oranges, two pears, two lemons, eight guavas, or six

plums.

Salad:

Tomatoes, lettuce, cress, cucumber.

Breakfast or Supper:

One of the following is to be chosen:

1 - A loaf of bread, three tablespoons of beans with oil or lentil.

2 - A loaf of bread and two pieces of falafel.

3 - A loaf of bread with a box of sardines.

4 - A loaf of bread with 30 grams of cheese.

5 - A loaf of bread with an average amount of yogurt.

6 - A loaf of bread with two tablespoons of cornflakes.

7 - A loaf of bread with a teaspoon of jam or honey.

Lunch and Supper:

One of the following is to be chosen:

1 - A loaf of bread, kilogram of meat or fish in addition to a plate of

cooked vegetables and salad.

2 - A loaf of bread, with four big pieces of falafel and a plate of salad.

3 - A loaf of bread, 1/8 kilo of sardines.

4 - A loaf of bread, a plate of beans, salad with oil.



www.onislam.net

- 59 -

5 - A loaf of bread, three tablespoons of potatoes, kilogram of meat or

fish and salad.

The Ideal Diet for Diabetics of all Ages:

Breakfast:

An egg, a piece of cheese, a cup of tea with spoon of sugar or some

milk.

Lunch:

A plate of salad, an onion, a slice of meat, a plate of cooked vegetables

avoiding potatoes and the like in addition to an apple or an orange.

Supper:

A cup of yogurt, some fresh vegetables and salad.

Spicy foods, fats and the like are to be avoided. This diet may appear

to be somewhat harsh. However, a diabetic should follow this special

diet so as to evade anything that affects his health during this once-in-

a-lifetime journey.

Hajj Health Guide

Documents

Transcript of Hajj Health Guide