ASSOC. PROF. DR. JAMALLUDIN AB RAHMANB.Med.Sc., MD, MPHEpidemiologist & BiostatisticianDepartment of Community MedicineKulliyyah (Faculty) of Medicine

Public HealthISL6101::Knowledge & Science in Islam

Muslim Contribution to

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Shahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 71, Number 582:

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "There is no

disease that Allah has created, except that He also has created its treatment."

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3What is Public Health?

"the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals." CEA Winslow, 1920

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overweight

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No disease Asymptomatic disease Clinical course

Primary Prevention Secondary Prevention Tertiary PreventionManage the risk factors. Prevent the onset of disease

Reduce complication & disability

Early diagnosis & prompt treatment.

Onset of disease

Clinical diagnosis

PrimordialPrevention

Prevent the development of risk factors

Level of Prevention

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“”

So who is the most important muslim contributor to Public Health?

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9The Prophet Muhammad

“He taught that the body had rights and had to be cared for. He also taught that the intestine was the abode of disease and prevention was the head of all medicine. He taught a lot about personal and environmental hygiene. He practiced medicine and urged his companions to seek cures for their diseases.” Omar Kasule 2004

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10Eat, drink but do not waste

س/ر-ف+وا+ ت +واو2ال2 +واو2اش/ر2ب +ل و2ك م2س/ج-د9 +ل= ع-ند2ك +م/ 2ك 2ت خ+ذ+واز-ين -يآد2م2 2ن ب 2ا ي/م+س/ر-ف-ين2 ال Qح-ب+ ي ال2 Uه+ -ن إ

“O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.” (Quran 7:31)

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11Moderate eating

“No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Adam are some morsels to keep his back straight. But if it must be, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath.” (Narrated by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasaa’I, Ibn Majah)

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12Healthy lifestyle, the sunnah way

A man said to Ibn Umar(RA), “Shouldn’t I bring you some jawarish?”

Ibn Umar(RA) said: What is that? He said: Something which aids in digesting

your food after you eat. Ibn Umar(RA) said: I have not eaten to

being full for four months. That is not

because I am not able to do so, but I was with a group of people who were hungry more than they were full.

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As recorded by Sahih al-Tirmidhi and Sunan Abu Dawud, God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and

blessings, declares: “The blessings of food lie in washing hands before and after eating.”

This is one single most significant hygiene practice in public health!

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14Infectious Disease (1)

Al Razi was aware of air-borne infection when he made an experiment to determine the site of a new hospital in Baghdad by putting meat in the air and waiting to see the site where it putrefied slowest.

Al Razi in his book, Kitaab al judri wa al hisbat described the

symptoms of smallpox and measles.

Modified from Omar Kasule 2004

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15Infectious Disease (2)

Ali Ibn Abbaas al Majuusi described contagious diseases like leprosy, elephantiasis, phrenitis, and trachoma.

Ibn al Khatib and Ibn Khatima described the symptoms of plague.

Abu Ja'far ibn Khatima had mentioned minute bodies (germ) causing disease in the 14th century CE i.e. the concept of infection.

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16Infectious Disease (3)

Ibn Sina suggested the communicable nature of tuberculosis.

His recommendation of wine (alcohol) as the best dressing for wounds was very popular in medieval practice.

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17Quarantine

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 71, Number 608:

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, “(There is) no 'Adwa (no contagious disease is conveyed without Allah's permission), nor is there any bad omen (from birds), nor is there any Hamah, nor is there any bad omen in the month of Safar, and one should run away from the leper as one runs away from a lion”

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18Outbreak Control

Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 71, Number 624:

Narrated Saud: The Prophet said, "If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place."

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19Outbreak Control (1)

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 71, Number 625:

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas: 'Umar bin Al-Khattab departed for Sham and when he reached Sargh, the commanders of the (Muslim) army, Abu 'Ubaida bin Al-Jarrah and his companions met him and told him that an epidemic had broken out in Sham.

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'Umar said, "Call for me the early emigrants." So 'Umar called them, consulted them and informed them that an epidemic had broken out in Sham. Those people differed in their opinions.

Some of them said, "We have come out for a purpose and we do not think that it is proper to give it up," while others said (to 'Umar), "You have along with you, other people and the companions of Allah's Apostle, so do not advise that we take them to this epidemic."

'Umar said to them, "Leave me now."

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22Outbreak Control (3)

Then he said, "Call the Ansar for me." I called them and he consulted them and they followed the way of the emigrants and differed as they did. He then said to them, Leave me now,”……..

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23Outbreak Control (4)

……..and added, "Call for me the old people of Quraish who emigrated in the year of the Conquest of Mecca." I called them and they gave a unanimous opinion saying, "We advise that you should return with the people and do not take them to that (place) of epidemic."

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24Outbreak Control (5)

So 'Umar made an announcement, "I will ride back to Medina in the morning, so you should do the same."

Abu 'Ubaida bin Al-Jarrah said (to 'Umar), "Are you running away from what Allah had ordained?"

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25Outbreak Control (6)

'Umar said, "Would that someone else had said such a thing, O Abu 'Ubaida! Yes, we are running from what Allah had ordained, to what Allah has ordained. Don't you agree that if you had camels that went down a valley having two places, one green and the other dry, you would graze them on the green one only if Allah had ordained that, and you would graze them on the dry one only if Allah had ordained that?"

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26Outbreak Control (7)

At that time 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Auf, who had been absent because of some job, came and said, "I have some knowledge about this. I have heard Allah's Apostle saying,

'If you hear about it (an outbreak of plague) in a land, do not go to it; but if plague breaks out in a country where you are staying, do not run away from it.' " 'Umar thanked Allah and returned to Medina.

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27Prevention

Islam encourages every means of protection from infectious diseases such as immunisation. When the prophet (SAW) was once asked whether such protective measures prevent God's fate, he (SAW) said that “it is a part of God's will"

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28Who else can contribute to public health?

It is YOUPractice sunnah, follow syariatPersonal hygiene – wudhu, bathing

etcFood hygieneWork hygienePrevention is always better than cureThink about others - community

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No disease Asymptomatic disease Clinical course

Primary Prevention Secondary Prevention Tertiary PreventionManage the risk factors. Prevent the onset of disease

Reduce complication & disability

Early diagnosis & prompt treatment.

Onset of disease

Clinical diagnosis

PrimordialPrevention

Prevent the development of risk factors

Level of Prevention

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30References

Omar Kasule 2004. History of Medicine

Ahmed Shawky Al-Fangary. http://www.islamset.com/hip/Al-Fangary.html#7

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 71