Health as a Human Right in Islam-Part 3

Health as a Human Right in Islam

Farhad Zargari, MD, PhD

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Protection of the Human Body

3. Importance of Health in Islam

4. Health Factors

5. The Right to Health

5.1- Responsibility for Oneself

5.2- Responsibility of Society

5.3- Responsibility of State

6. References

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4. Health Factors

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Health Factors:

The right to health, or rather, to health protection derives its importance from two factors that are inherent in human nature and the nature of the universe:

1. Balance

2. Original Right Creation

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Health Factors: 1-Balance1-Balance

We tend to underestimate how much maintaining balance contributes to living life successfully, and productively.

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Health Factors: 1-Balance

Nowadays with our daily tensions and hectic work schedules, we lose a little bit of us everyday. However, it is our spiritual life( inner self ), our body compensatory mechanisms, and our family and social relations that help us to restore everything and start afresh every new day. Here's why maintaining a balance in life is of utmost importance.

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1-Balance


Only if you are able to strike a balance between all the significant facets of life, you have the mental competence and physical capacity to go ahead and continue life to pursue higher goals. Reestablishing full balance does not just help you refresh physically but also it revives you mentally. Balance sets the ball rolling for a new course and gives you the hope and capability for a brighter future.

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1-Balance


Your mental and physical health is pivotal to your growth, and it also reflects on the overall health of your family. Striking a balance helps you lead a happy and contented life, it ensures your growth as an individual and secures your mental peace and well being for social integration.

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1-Balance


By maintaining a healthy balance, you secure your “future”. Your improved bodily and mental health helps you aim for higher levels in life and have a better understanding of yourself and the universe.

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1-Balance


Behavioral balance and avoiding excessiveness from one side and from the other side keeping away from falling below the perfect limit of moderation is the key to avoid evil deeds and misconduct and the resulting internal peace and tranquility. This balance which brings with it peace of mind and helps prevent psychosomatic disorders is the mainstay of Quranic view on human prosperity and is significantly emphasized in all Islamic teachings.

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1-Balance


One of the most important texts from which we may deduce the Islamic roots of health, is the statement of God in the Quran:

And He enforced the balance. That you exceed not the bounds; but observe the balance strictly; and fall not short there of (55:7-9)

This comprehensive statement mentions the balance which God has established in the universe, with its different forces and influences, including man. It draws our attentions to this balance which applies to everything, making clear that any disturbance of the balance, whether by increase or decrease, may lead to unwanted consequences.

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1-Balance


God says: Mankind! Your transgression will rebound on your own selves (10:23).

Ali ibn al-Abbas, who lived one thousand years ago, in his book, Kamil as-sina 'ah, gave health a very brief definition: "Health means that the body is in a state of equilibrium" (volume 2, page 3). This Muslim doctor fully understood the matter and applied it to health, referring to this dynamic equilibrium as a "state of equilibrium".

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1-Balance


Ibn Sina, in the year 1093 A.D in his famous book Al-qanoon, expresses the dynamism of this balance, saying: "The state of equilibrium which a human being enjoys has a certain range with an upper and a lower limit". It is, then, like a balance which moves between two extreme limits.

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1-Balance


To maintain this health balance in the state of equilibrium, protect it against, imbalance, and restore it to its proper position every time it is disturbed, a human being must have a "health potential", so to speak.

This is referred to in the hadith', quoting the Prophet (PBUH) as saying: " And store up enough health to draw on during your illness".

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1-Balance


This health potential may take the form of proper , nutrition, or good immunity, or physical fitness which enables a person to cope well with the stress which the body may face. Health potential may also be in the form of mental and personal security and stability which enables people to deal with the mental stress that may beset them. Indeed, the health potential is all these aspects put together.

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1-Balance


Balance is mentioned in the Quran broadly. These verses speak about the ‘balance’ God has implanted in the nature of the universe, with all its structural, environmental and biological set-up, including human life:

He has raised the Heaven on high, and He has set the balance of everything so that you might not transgress the balance. Give just weight and fall not short in the balance. (55:7–9)

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1-Balance


These statements thus draw our attention to the fine balance that applies to everything in the universe. It also makes clear that any distortion of this fine balance, whether it be excess on one side or shortage on the other, deliberate or accidental, may lead to extremely bad results that may rebound on man himself before affecting other things.

God says in the Quran: Mankind, it is against your own souls that your offences rebound.(10:23)

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1-Balance


In the Quran the word “balance” (mizan) and all its derivatives are used 23 times.

In the Quran, “transgression” (israf) means the decline of the balance and is being condemned.

The word “transgression” and all of its derivatives are also used in the Quran 23 times.

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1-Balance

Health Factors: 2. Original Right Creation

The other factor concerns the original condition in man’s creation, which is that of his molding in an upright status, as indicated in this divine address to man:

O man, what has lured you away from your gracious Lord who created and molded you and gave you an upright form.(82:6–7)

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2-Original Right Creation


Other Quranic verses give the same indication: Praise the name of your Lord, the Most High, who creates and proportions well.(87:1–2)

By the soul and its molding.(91:7)

We indeed have created man in the fairest form.(95:4)

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Health Factors:

To preserve this right molding and fair form of creation is an integral part of the purpose and objectives of Islamic law as well as the best assurance to maintain your full health and well being.

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Likewise the other objective of medicine, which is preserving the health of those who are healthy, comes out clearly from the original systems of creation. The rules that relate to health protection are general rules which fit in well with the natural laws that God has put in place to promote the well-being of His creation.

God says in the Quran: Praise the name of your Lord, the Most High, who has created all things and proportioned them. (87: 1-2)

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O man! What has enticed you from your gracious Lord who has created and well proportioned you, and given you a perfect molding? (82:5-7)

By the soul and Him who has molded it in perfect proportions. (91 :7)

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To preserve this situation of perfect molding and right proportion is an important objective of Islamic law. The eminent scholar Izz Eddin ibn Abdussalam says in Qawaidal-ahkam fi masaleh al-anam: "Islamic law aims to serve the interests of people and to prevent everything which adversely affects them". He explains this by saying: 'The achievement of what is beneficent is the pivot round which Islamic law turns: it either prevents what is harmful or enhances what is good. When you hear God say 'O you who believe' , reflect on what comes after His address. You are bound to find something good which He encourages you to do, or something evil from which He prevents you, or you may find a combination of encouragement and prevention.

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So to be attentive to our health, from the Quranic view, means to attempt to keep the original properly casted form of life. This is considered as a prime assignment for any pure Muslim.

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Health as a Human Right in Islam-Part 3

Healthcare

Transcript of Health as a Human Right in Islam-Part 3