Islamic Medicine / Pharmacy; Concept, Principles & Other Aspects

​Islamic Medicine/Pharmacy; Concept, principles and criteria/characteristic and current misconceptions and challenges

By Dr. Syahrir bin Zaini​

PPHK 4221 ISLAMIC INPUT IN PHARMACY

At the end of this lecture, students should be able:

​1. To describe the concept and principles of Islamic medicine/pharmacy.

​

​Learning Outcomes

Focus your study on these learning outcomes.​

​2. To state the criteria and characteristics of Islamic medicine/pharmacy.

​3. To discuss current misconception and challenges of Islamic medicine/pharmacy

Open Ended

What is the difference between medicine and pharmacy?

​Introduction to Islamic Medicine

Which is being currently practiced by Muslim physicians in Muslim and non-Muslim countries.

Islamic medicine is the body of medical knowledge and practice which began in the early Islamic period.

​Definition of Islamic Medicine (1st Scholar)

Elkadi A. Islamic medicine in North America. J Islam Med Assoc.

1984;16:8-10.http://doi.org/h2g

“The most up-to-date medical science and technology combined and conforming with the Divine teachings of Islam.”

(Elkadi, 1996)

​Definition of Islamic Medicine (2nd Scholar)

Bhikha RA. Islamic medicine revisited. J Islamic Med Assoc, www.tibb.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/islamic-medicine-revisited.pdf

• A system of medicine that encompasses the theoretical and philosophical principles of the temperamental and humoral theory from the Qur’an and sunnah.

• In addition, it is a practice of medicine that does not contravene Sharia laws, encompasses an Islamic ethos that addresses the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of an individual, ensuring an enhanced quality of life.

  (Bhikha, 2007)

Match

Match the following Devine teachings of Islam:

• Faith and belief

• Practices and activities

• Moralities and ethics

Aqidah

Shariah

Akhlak

• Aqidah

• Shariah

• Akhlak

​ Concept of Islamic Medicine

​Should be related to the concept of tawhid.

A study of Islamic understandings of health and illness must begin with an analysis of the concept of tawḥīd (Divine Unity) which underpins Islamic medicine.

Tawḥīd expresses the absolute oneness of Allah as contained in the first half of the shahāda (testament of faith) (lā 'ilāha 'illā Allāh: there is no god but God).

​Relationship of Tawhid

In scientific terminology, al-fiṭra is expressed by nature’s kaleidoscopic meta-patterns which possess symmetry and beauty.

Creation is a Divine act of mercy (raḥma) that is expressed by the natural order (al-fiṭra).

Implied in the concept of tawḥīd is that all existence is inter-connected, inter-related and dependent on the Divine.

Kalimah Tawhid

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdTc4XNqXMw&t=210s

Loyalty and disavowal

The Meaning of "Ilah"

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XErFiuDrK1I

Open Ended

What connections can you make between what you've studied in pharmacy and the concept of tawhid?

​The Principles of Islamic Medicine

Islamic medicine also incorporates modern medical techniques in the service of healing.

Fadel HE. What is Islamic medicine? How does it relate to contemporary medicine? J Islam Med Assoc. 2008;40:57. http://doi.org/h2d​

Muslim physician and patient must always acknowledge that the “ultimate cure is from Allah.”

​The Principles of Islamic Medicine (cont.)

Muslims developed a medical compendium based on the Qur’an and hadith called Prophetic medicine that is widely used in the Muslim world.

Early Muslim focus on medicine was fostered by the Qur’an and the hadith, as characterized in the following saying the Prophet Muhammad:

​Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī. Kitāb al-ṭibb. Bāb mā anzala Allāh dā’ illā anzala lahu shifā’. Hadith no. 5354. muhaddith.org

Multiple Choice

The principle of "ultimate cure is from Allah" is important to avoid us from the following Mazmumah character:

• Backbiting

• Envy

• Shirk

• Arrogant

​Definition of Shirk

The term shirk in Islam is used to refer to idolatry or polytheism, which means deification, or worship of deity, gods, or anything other than Allāh. As opposed to polytheism, Islam preaches strict monotheism embedded in tawḥīd (oneness of God), i.e., God is one, unique, and absolute.

​Ramzy, I., Dastagir, G. (2018). Shirk . In: Kassam, Z.R., Greenberg, Y.K., Bagli, J. (eds) Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1267-3_2056

​Secularism

Through the establishment of the new Republic of Turkey in 1923, secularism gained importance . The new government started to use power increasingly to impose a secular system on Turkey’s Muslim society .

Ismail, N. A. H., & Tekke, M. (2016). The Relations between Islam and Secularism: The Impact on Social Behavior in Turkey. International Education Studies, 9(8), 66-74.

​Integration of knowledge

Integration is defined as a merger between two or several races (factors, sectors etc) as a union or consolidation. The Muslims are obligated to master various forms of knowledge beginning with the Islamic traditional knowledge of faith (akidah), syariah and morals (akhlak).

Anas, N., Alwi, E. A. Z. E., Razali, M. H. H., Subki, R. N., & Bakar, N. A. A. (2013). The integration of knowledge in Islam: Concept and challenges. Global Journal of Human Social Science, Linguistics & Education, 13, 51-55.

Reorder

Reorder the objectives of the maqasid shariah in ascending order of priority, beginning with the most important:

• Protection of Religion

• Protection of Life

• Protection of Intellect

• Protection of Lineage

• Protection of Property

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Al-Maqasid is the Arabic word for goals or purposes. The Arabic word maqasid from the root word, qasada, has several meanings. The related expression here is “qasada ila” meaning among other things, “to aim at something, to have in view, contemplate, consider, purpose”.

​Maqasid also means intention, intent, purpose, objective and aim. In Islamic jurisprudence, maqasid can be defined as interest (masalih plural of maslahah) that is obtained by persons in this world and in the hereafter either by means of obtaining benefit or through prevention of harm.

​THE OBJECTIVES OF SHARIAH (MAQASID AL SHARIAH)

​Maqasid Shariah is to safeguard and protect:

1. Religion (Ad-Deen)

2. Physical existence (Al-Jasad)

3. Soul and mind/intellect (Al-A’ql)

4. Dignity/generation (An-Nasab/Al-Muruuah)

5. Property/wealth/resources (Al-Maal)

Open Ended

State any Islamic medicine/pharmacy concern that must be prioritised in accordance with Maqasid Shariah:

​Criteria and characteristics of Islamic medicine

1. Analytical and emphasize inquiry and examination​.

2. ​Acknowledge the fitra of the human body.

3. Promote health and well-being through correct diet and lifestyle.

​1. Analytical and emphasize inquiry and examination​.

Syed IB. Medicine and medical education in Islamic history. In: Athar S, ed. Islamic perspectives in medicine. Indianapolis: American Trust Publishers; 1993: 45-56.

Islamic medicine heralded a disciplinary model which included quarantine, hospitals and systematic clinical training.

Islamic medicine was an evidence based approach as exemplified by al-Rāzī and other Muslim physicians.

​2. Acknowledge the fitra of the human body.

Saniotis, A. (2012). Islamic medicine and evolutionary medicine: a comparative analysis. The Journal of IMA, 44(1).

Islamic medicine do not view the body as a machine as it is still popularized in biomedicine.

Islamic medicine recognizes the beauty and symmetry of the body as a microcosm, which considers the body’s exquisite complexity as reflecting Allah’s beauty.

​3. Promote health and well-being through correct diet and lifestyle.

Cragg GM, Newman DJ. Plants as a source of anti-cancer agents. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005;100:72-9.

The use of natural foods, herbs and spices such as black seed, olive products, melon, pomegranate, tumeric, bread wheat, garlic, figs ginger and onions are widely used by Muslims. According to Cragg et al. (2005) and Zaid et al. (2010) these foods have anti-cancer properties.

The Qur’an and the hadith encourage Muslims to live in moderation and to develop spiritual, physical and psychological well-being.

Zaid H, Rayan A, Said O, Saad B. Cancer treatment by Greco-Arab and Islamic herbal medicine. The Open Nutraceuticals Journal. 2010;3:203-212.

Open Ended

State other relevant criteria/characteristics of Islamic medicine/pharmacy you can think of:

​Current misconception of Islamic medicine

​Islamic medicine vs Prophetic medicine.

• Islamic medicine should be differentiated from Prophetic medicine (al-Ṭibb al-Nabawī).​

• Prophetic Medicine was developed during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and includes herbal lore, hygiene and dietary practices and exercise regimes.​

• Islamic medicine is the body of​ medical knowledge and practice which began in the early Islamic period and which is being currently practiced by Muslim physicians in Muslim and non-Muslim countries.

Saniotis, A. (2012). Islamic medicine and evolutionary medicine: a comparative analysis. The Journal of IMA, 44(1).

Prophetic Medicine

Mayberry, J. (2022). “Islamic Medicine”: A true discipline for the 21st century or quackery?. Medico-Legal Journal, 90(1), 32-40.

A search covering the last 50 years, using the medical search engine, PubMed, with the following individual terms: acupuncture, ayurvedic, Yunani (Unani), tibb, olive oil, honey, pomegranate, nigella and black seed AND therapy, was conducted in January 2021 (Table 1).

(Mayberry, 2022)

​Challenges of Islamic medicine

​Present Challenges of Knowledge Integration

• Higher authorities and policies.

  • Designing intergrated curicullum from early age of study.​

• Employment opportunities.

  • ​Perception of employer towards employee with integrated mindset.

• ​Current conditions of patients.

  • Suitability of many factors to accept the islamisation of knowledge.​

Open Ended

Suggest your solutions to the stated challenges of Islamic medicine/pharmacy:

Communicate orally your thoughts on the proposal to enhance the implementation of Islamic medicine and pharmacy among Malaysian citizens. ​​

​Preferably the top 3 ranking of the leaderboard.

​Open mic session

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