Jordan Ellis
Muslims constitute large proportions of populations across both Muslim-majority countries and non-Muslim-majority countries, and Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world. As such, it is highly likely that a healthcare professional will care for a Muslim patient during their career. Hospitals are increasingly aware of the need to cater to Muslim patients' needs, such as providing food that meets Islamic dietary rules and offering medications that do not contain pork or alcohol. In this vein, it is worth exploring whether hospitals in Muslim-majority countries or with large Muslim populations have places of worship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History of Muslim hospitals | The first Muslim hospital was an asylum for lepers, constructed in the early 8th century in Damascus. |
| The term "bimaristan" refers to hospitals in the historic Islamic world. | |
| Bimaristans were educational institutions that advanced medical students' knowledge and promoted hygiene. | |
| Mobile hospitals were the first version of bimaristans, carrying medications, food, water, and traveling with physicians and pharmacists to aid those in need. | |
| Muslim patients' needs and preferences | Muslim patients may request same-gender doctors and nurses to follow rules of modesty. |
| Muslim patients may prefer female physicians and providers to care for female patients and male providers to care for male patients. | |
| Reading and reciting the Quran is believed to bring blessings to those who are spiritually and psychologically distressed. | |
| Food served to Muslims in hospitals must meet dietary rules, particularly the exclusion of pork products and alcohol. | |
| Muslim dress varies depending on the country of origin, but generally, arms, legs, and hair must be covered, especially in the presence of males outside the family. |
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What You'll Learn
The role of the Quran in healing
The Quran is considered a source of spiritual and psychological healing for Muslims. Reciting and reading the Quran is believed to bring blessings and comfort to those who are distressed. In healthcare, providing a copy of the Quran to Muslim patients is considered beneficial to their healing process.
The Quran provides guidance and mercy to believers, offering them a set of principles and rules to live by. It is seen as a source of light and certainty, containing verses that speak of the miracles of Allah and His power. The Quran also tells of the origins of humanity, the afterlife, and the fate of human beings.
Additionally, the Quran emphasizes the importance of patience and perseverance, known as "Sabr", in the face of trials and hardships. This concept is mentioned over 100 times in the Quran and is considered an essential character trait for Muslims to succeed in this life.
The Quran also addresses specific topics related to healthcare and illness. For example, Muslims may perceive congenital disabilities as a test of their faith in God, and the Quran provides guidance on how to respond to such situations. Hospitals and clinics are encouraged to provide female physicians for female Muslim patients whenever possible, respecting their privacy and modesty.
Furthermore, the Quran's influence extends to dietary practices, with Muslims refraining from pork and alcohol. Hospitals are becoming increasingly aware of these dietary restrictions and are providing appropriate food and medication options for Muslim patients.
In conclusion, the Quran plays a significant role in the spiritual, emotional, and physical healing of Muslims. It provides comfort, guidance, and strength to believers, helping them navigate life's challenges, including illness and hardship. By following the teachings of the Quran, Muslims find solace and support, contributing to their overall healing and well-being.
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Burial practices in hospitals
Burial practices vary across different cultures and religions. In some cultures, the dead are kept close by to provide guidance to the living, while others "banish" them by locating burial grounds away from inhabited areas. Some religions consecrate special ground to bury the dead, and some families build private family cemeteries. Burial practices may also be influenced by health and sanitation concerns.
In Muslim burial practices, if death occurs in a hospital, the face of the deceased or their bed should be turned toward Mecca (in a northeast direction in the United States). Same-gender family members remove the clothes, and the body is covered with sheets. The family then quickly prepares arrangements for washing before burial, as embALMING and cremation are forbidden in Islam. Autopsy examinations are also generally avoided unless legally required.
In some cultures, dying close to home is considered a "good death," while dying away from home is seen as a "bad death." In Vietnam, for example, if someone is dying, they are rushed home from the hospital so they can pass away there. In South Korea, funeral practices have evolved over time, with home funeral ceremonies being the norm around the 1980s. Nowadays, the upper and middle classes tend to hold funerals in hospital mortuaries, which has influenced the lower classes to follow suit.
In Western cultures, funerals often take place in funeral homes, but they can also be held in other locations such as the home, a university, town hall, country club, restaurant, beach, community center, or even a hospital chapel, depending on the specific interests of the deceased. Memorial services or celebrations of life are often held without the body present, after cremation or burial at sea, or when the person is missing or presumed dead. These services focus on celebrating the life of the deceased rather than mourning their death.
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Dietary rules and restrictions
Diet is a crucial aspect of Islam, and Muslims follow specific dietary laws and restrictions in their daily lives. These rules are derived from the Quran, the holy book of Islam, as well as the traditions and practices associated with the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The concept of "halal" and "haram" is central to these dietary regulations.
Halal, an Arabic word, means "permitted" or "lawful." It encompasses not just food but also food ingredients, food contact materials, medicines, and cosmetics suitable for Muslims. In the context of diet, halal refers to meat and poultry that have been slaughtered according to Islamic dietary laws. For meat to be considered halal, herbivores and cud-chewing animals like cattle, deer, sheep, goats, and antelope must be treated humanely and slaughtered painlessly while reciting specific prayers. The consumption of meat from animals that were tortured or mistreated during slaughter is forbidden, or haram.
Haram substances are those deemed unlawful for Muslims to consume. This includes pork, alcohol, frog, carrion, the meat of carnivores and animals that possess fangs or talons (such as cats, dogs, owls, and eagles), and animals that died due to illness, injury, or causes other than slaughtering in the name of God. Additionally, according to Shia hadith, horse meat is prohibited, and Sunni Muslims consider the food of non-scripture followers as haram.
The observance of these dietary laws is an integral part of Muslim spiritual practices and daily life. It is essential for healthcare providers and hospitals serving Muslim patients to be aware of these dietary restrictions to provide culturally sensitive care. This includes offering halal food options and ensuring that medications do not contain pork or alcohol. However, studies have shown that nurses often lack knowledge about Islamic dietary rules, leading to Muslim patients' distrust of the food served and potential undernutrition during their hospital stay.
While there is no specific "Muslim medical system", many Muslim groups follow a humoral approach to health, equating balance with health and imbalance with illness. This influences their understanding of the relationship between illness, treatment, and nutrition. Therefore, it is crucial for healthcare professionals to understand the cultural and spiritual values of Muslim patients to provide appropriate care that aligns with their religious and dietary beliefs.
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Dress codes and modesty
Modesty is an essential concept in Islam, influencing the way Muslims dress and behave. The Quran and the Hadith—the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad—provide guidance on modesty and Islamic dress codes, which are also influenced by cultural practices and interpretations. While there is no fixed standard of dress, Muslims are expected to maintain modesty and dignity in their appearance and behaviour.
For women, modesty in dress typically involves covering the body, particularly the chest, and wearing a headscarf or hijab. The Quran states that women should "draw their head-coverings over their chests" (24:30–31). Most Muslims interpret this as a requirement for head coverings, with some also covering their faces and/or hands. The hijab, a head covering, is considered mandatory by many Muslim women, who view it as a way to show devotion and obedience to God, and a means to preserve their modesty and privacy. The niqab and burqa are similar garments that cover the face, with the former blinding the face except for the eyes.
The abaya, a long, loose black robe often worn with a headscarf or hijab, is another common form of dress for Muslim women. It is popular in countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Some women also wear the chador, a full-body covering. These garments are chosen for their modesty, comfort, and cultural significance, with many taking pride in their traditional dresses.
For men, the minimum amount of coverage is between the navel and the knee. Clothing should be loose and not outline the body's shape. Shiny, flashy clothing, and items considered feminine, like gold or silk, are discouraged. Men are also expected to lower their gaze and respect women, refraining from activities that objectify or demean them.
While dress codes vary, modesty is a unifying principle. Muslims aim to dress and behave in a way that respects their religion and culture without drawing unnecessary attention. This commitment to modesty and privacy extends beyond clothing to behaviour, speech, and manners, reflecting a person's inner character and commitment to their faith.
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Influence of family in healthcare decisions
Muslims constitute large proportions of populations across both Muslim-majority countries and non-Muslim-majority countries. They are considered to be the fastest-growing religious group in the world. As a result, it is highly likely that a healthcare professional will care for a Muslim patient during their career. The Muslim faith encompasses several ethnicities with diverse views regarding illness and healthcare. This makes the care of Muslim patients challenging for many non-Muslim healthcare providers.
The Islamic faith can influence decision-making, family dynamics, health practices, risks, and the use of healthcare. Traditional Muslim families are nuclear with a strong extended family support structure. The behaviour and acts of the individual or the family are greatly influenced by the spouse, children, and other relatives. The extended family is often consulted in all important decisions. The cultural values of the individual, family, and relatives may affect the delivery of medical care. However, it should be established with the patient if they want others to be part of the decision-making process or not. For example, an imam may assist in decision-making through counsel and interpretation of Islamic teachings.
In many cases, although Muslim patients seek a curative process through surgical or medical means, they still look to their religious and cultural heritage to address their spiritual, social, and cultural needs. Preventative healthcare strategies in Muslim experience include personal hygiene, dietary measures such as the restriction in eating specific ingredients (such as pork and its by-products, and drinking alcohol), and the avoidance of addictive habits such as smoking tobacco or overconsumption of food.
Muslims may perceive congenital disabilities as a test of their faith in God. Arabs and Muslims tend to be private about family matters, which prevents them from discussing the disability of a child. As with any religion, when addressing patients’ families with congenital disabilities, it is best not to focus on the congenital disability but to address the specific issue at hand. Contrary to popular belief, female genital mutilation (circumcision) is forbidden in Islam. Islam does require males to be circumcised.
In caring for hospitalized Muslim patients, providing a copy of the Qur'an is helpful to support psychological and spiritual health and healing. Muslim women prefer to have same-gender doctors and nurses to follow rules of modesty in regard to the opposite sex. Related to this, Muslim women cover their head and body in various Islamic coverings (Hijab), according to the custom of their country of origin. To show respect, healthcare workers should announce their arrival, allowing a female time to cover herself.
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Frequently asked questions
Hospitals in the historic Islamic world were known as bimaristans. They were educational institutions meant to advance medical students' knowledge in the medical field. They also served as mobile hospitals that carried medications, food, water, and medical staff to aid those in need. Bimaristans promoted hygiene and bright, open lighting. However, there is no mention of places of worship in Muslim hospitals.
Hospitals should be aware that food served to Muslims must meet dietary rules, particularly the exclusion of pork and alcohol. Muslim women prefer to have female doctors and nurses to follow rules of modesty. It is also customary for Muslim women to breastfeed their newborn babies in private.
When a Muslim dies in a hospital, their face or bed should be turned toward Mecca. Same-gender family members remove the clothes and cover the body with sheets. The family then quickly prepares for washing and burial. Autopsies are only allowed when legally required, and embalming and cremation are forbidden.
Muslims believe that God has appointed a cure for every disease, as stated in the Hadith. They may perceive congenital disabilities as a test of their faith. Arabs and Muslims tend to be private about family matters, including disabilities.
