Download ISLAM

ISLAM
and the
Muslim Patient
Why do we need to know about
Muslims?
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There are 1.7 billion Muslims on earth!
1 in 4 of world population (Oct 2009)
There are approximately 7 million Muslims in
the United States
There are 100,000 Muslims in the state of
Connecticut.
The chances of meeting a Muslim in hospital are
increasing!
What is the
connection between
Islam and Muslim?
What is the Hebrew
word for the word
“Peace”?
Shalom
Like Hebrew, Arabic is also a
semitic language.
Can anybody tell me the Arabic for
the word Peace?
Salaam
SALAAM is the Arabic
word for
PEACE
Every word in Arabic has a 3 or 4
letter root – in this case the root
letters are ‘S’, ‘L’ and ‘M’.
SALAAM
I
SLAM
SLIM
MU
Islam
The Arabic word Islam simply
means submission.
Submission to the will of God so
one can attain peace.
Muslim
A Muslim is one who follows the
way of Islam
- that is someone who submits to
the will of God so that one can
live in peace.
Where do Muslims come from?
 Muslims
come from all over the world!
 The country having the most number of
Muslims is Indonesia.
 Only 18% of the Muslim population are
actually Arab.
As in any faith there is great cultural
divergence between people from
different ethnic backgrounds.
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Women and men are instructed by the Qur’an to
dress and behave modestly.
People may interpret this differently.
Some women may be clothed from head to toe
with the exception of the face.
Men should be covered from the waist to the
knees.
Gender Issues
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Due to modesty issues the Muslim patient would
usually prefer to have a doctor and nurse of the same
gender.
If possible someone of the same gender should be
available to counsel the patient in terms of
sensitivities that may occur to minimize emotional
distress.
For instance it is important to ask Muslim women for
permission to wash or uncover their arms for
intravenous access.
Islamic Sources
 The
Qur’an - the word of God
revealed through Angel Gabriel.
Today, it remains unchanged, 1400
years later, still in its original
language - Arabic. It was revealed
over a period of 23 years.
 The Hadith - the words and
traditions of the Prophet Muhamad
(pbuh).
The Qur’an
The Hadith - traditions and
sayings of the Prophet Muhamad
HADITH
Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad
 “The merciful bestows mercy to those who are
merciful. Therefore show mercy to those on
earth and the One in heaven will show mercy
on you.”
 "If a Muslim visits his/her fellow Muslim who is ill in
the morning, then 70 000 Angels pray for that person
until the night and if that person visits at night then
they pray for him/her till the morning, and due to
his/her good intentions he/she gains a garden in
Paradise."
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“The rights of one Muslim over another Muslim
are six.” Someone asked, “What are they?” The
Holy Prophet replied, “When you meet him you
greet him with salaam (peace), when he invites
you, you accept his invitation, when he consults
you in a matter, you give him sincere
advice. When he sneezes and praises Allah, you
ask Allah to have mercy on him. When he is
sick, you visit him and when he passes away
attend his funeral.
 “The world is green and beautiful, and
God has appointed you his stewards
towards it.”
 “Modesty and faith are joined closely
together and if one is lost, the other
goes as well.”
 “The most perfect of your in faith is the
best in morality and the best of you is
the one who is best to his wife.”
Hadith on Knowledge
“Acquire knowledge!” The prophet would tell his
followers. “Seeking knowledge is the duty of every
Muslim – male or female. It will befriend you in
solitude, it will guide you to happiness, it will sustain
you in misery, it will adorn you when you are
amongst people and it will be your shield and
protect you against those who attack you. Whoever
goes out in search of knowledge is on the path of
God until returning.”
Seven Major Beliefs
God
 Angels
 Messengers and Prophets
 Holy Books
 Day of Judgment
 Power to do good or bad is from God, yet
God gives us the choice
 Life After Death
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Pillars of faith
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Bear witness that there is One
God
Prayer
Charity
Fasting
Pilgrimage
1. Bearing witness that there is
One God and
Prophet Muhammad is the
last messenger of God –
the Shahadah
When someone becomes a
Muslim he/she states the
Shahadah.
Patients, especially those who are
terminally ill are encouraged by
family members to recite the
“shahadah” or ‘declaration of faith’
as it reaffirms ones connection with
God.
Allah
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term Allah basically means
“the ONE God”.
Arab Christians and Jews use the
term Allah as well!
The term Allah cannot be
pluralized or gendered and this
is why Muslim prefer to use this
term when referring to God.
Semitic Roots
Hebrew : Eloheim
Arabic : Allah
Aramaic : Allaha
2. Prayer
 Muslims
pray five times each day
 Muslims usually pray on a prayer mat or
specific clean area
 Muslims pray in a specific direction
Compass used for prayer
The Adhan – The call to prayer
Patients may feel
especially comforted
on hearing a
recording of the
‘Adhan’.
The Muslim Patient may want to
adhere to his/her prayers and so
Medical staff can show a lot of
sensitivity by:
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Letting the patient know the direction toward
Mecca.
Bed-bound patients may ask to be positioned
toward Mecca.
Getting a prayer schedule from the internet
Giving patient privacy for prayer
December Prayer Schedule
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
December
December
December
December
December
December
December
December
Dawn
Sunrise
Noon Afternoon Evening Night
05:50
05:50
05:51
05:51
05:52
05:52
05:53
05:53
07:14
07:14
07:15
07:15
07:16
07:16
07:16
07:17
11:48
11:48
11:49
11:49
11:50
11:50
11:51
11:51
14:05
14:05
14:06
14:06
14:07
14:07
14:08
14:09
16:22
16:23
16:23
16:24
16:24
16:25
16:25
16:26
17:46
17:46
17:47
17:47
17:48
17:49
17:49
17:50
To obtain a prayer timetable for your area refer
to the Internet website
http://www.islamicity.com/prayertimes
March Prayer Schedule
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
March
March
March
March
March
March
March
March
Dawn
Sunrise
Noon Afternoon Evening Night
04:48
04:46
04:45
04:43
04:41
04:39
04:38
04:36
06:04
06:03
06:01
05:59
05:58
05:56
05:54
05:52
12:00
11:59
11:59
11:59
11:58
11:58
11:58
11:58
15:19
15:20
15:20
15:21
15:22
15:22
15:23
15:23
17:55
17:57
17:58
17:59
18:00
18:01
18:02
18:03
19:12
19:13
19:14
19:15
19:17
19:18
19:19
19:20
To obtain a prayer timetable for your area refer
to the Internet website
http://www.islamicity.com/prayertimes
June Prayer Schedule
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
June
June
June
June
June
June
June
June
Dawn
Sunrise
Noon Afternoon Evening Night
03:32
03:32
03:32
03:33
03:33
03:33
03:34
03:34
05:15
05:15
05:16
05:16
05:16
05:17
05:17
05:17
12:52
12:52
12:52
12:52
12:53
12:53
12:53
12:53
16:54
16:54
16:55
16:55
16:55
16:55
16:55
16:56
20:28
20:28
20:29
20:29
20:29
20:29
20:29
20:29
22:12
22:12
22:12
22:12
22:12
22:12
22:12
22:12
To obtain a prayer timetable for your area refer
to the Internet website
http://www.islamicity.com/prayertimes
3. Charity or Zakat
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One of the most important principles of Islam is
that all things belong to God, and that wealth is
therefore held by us in trust.
Each Muslim calculates his or her own zakat
individually – 2.5% of ones income and wealth
The word zakat actually means “purification” - it
is a purification of ones wealth!
Patients who are severely ill or
terminal may feel a greater need to
fulfill their Islamic responsibilities
and so may want to meet with family
and religious leaders to discuss such
matters including ones will and
death issues.
Death in Islam
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Defined as the departure of the soul from the
body – however neither the Qur’an nor Ahadith
give clear signs of the soul’s departure.
This is the reason why ‘brain death’ may not be
accepted as death by some Muslims.
Most Muslims consider death as a cessation of
all bodily functions.
Therefore the ‘brain dead’ may be considered in
the dying process but are not dead yet.
Islam considers life as sacred and a
trust from God. Every living creature
will die one day.
The Qur’an states “Every soul shall
have a taste of death – In the end to
Us (God) shall you be brought
back.” Chapter 29, verse 57
Suicide is strictly forbidden in Islam.
According to Islamic Law, God is the
creator of life and therefore an
individual has no right to end it.
Euthanasia and abortion are also not
allowed because of the same reason.
Advance Directives
Prolongation of life by supportive
machines is strongly discouraged for
those who are terminally ill – when the
quality of life is poor
 A DNR order is acceptable but it
should be carefully explained
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Muslims believe in the Day of
Judgment and the Afterlife.
The Qur’an emphasizes that death
is only a transition from this
existence to a future life.
This knowledge does provide some
comfort to the dying and his/her
family.
Ethical Issue
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The Imam should work closely in discussion
with medical staff and so determine the
condition of the patient.
If the patient is on a ventilator and there is total
organ failure the ventilator can be withdrawn
and if the patient breathes alone or stops
breathing that is considered to be the will of
God.
The ventilator cannot be withdrawn to end the
patient’s life.
When a Muslim patient dies in
hospital.
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The Medical team should call a Muslim chaplain
or the Islamic center if they are not familiar with
the Islamic traditions.
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After death the face should be turned toward
Mecca (Northeast).
Arms and legs should be straightened with toes
tied together by a thread
The mouth and eyes should be closed.
Clothes should be removed by a person of the
same gender and the body should be covered
with a sheet.
Arrangement should be made with the Islamic
Center for the ritual body wash – usually the
body is moved to a specific ritual washing area.
Post-Mortems
Postmortems are discouraged because
the body is sacred and belongs to God.
 Post Mortems are only allowed when
the law demands
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Burial
Usually burial occurs within 24 hours
 Religious requirement to bury as soon
as possible
 Bodies are not embalmed or cremated
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4. Fasting at Ramadan
Use of Lunar Calendar
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Muslims go by the lunar year.
This is why their calendar changes each year
losing about 10 days each solar year.
The month of Ramadan begins with the sighting
of a new crescent moon.
In 2003, the month of Ramadan began on
October 26th.
In 2004, the month of Ramadan began on
October 16th.
The Patient and Fasting
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Fasting in Ramadan means strictly no food or
drink from dawn until sunset for approx. 30
days.
The sick, the old, the young, menstruating
women, pregnant women, nursing women and
travelers do not need to fast.
Although the sick do not need to fast they may
want to and so a Muslim physician may be
useful in advising and counseling the patient.
Dietary Restrictions
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No pork, ham, lard etc. (no products from pig)
No gelatin
Shellfish for some Muslims
No alcohol – patients may need to be counseled
about medicines containing alcohol.
Muslims will eat fish and meat
that is ‘halal’
a similar concept to Kosher
Pilgrimage -the Hajj
Muslims have Two Festival
One at the end of the month of Ramadan
 The other at the time of the Hajj
pilgrimage
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Muslims say “Eid
Mubarak” which means
‘Have a blessed festival’.
Family in Islam
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Provides the strong support structure for most
Muslims.
Play an active part usually when family member
is ill or terminal.
Emphasis on looking after ones parents and the
elderly.
Muslim patients may get many visitors from the
family and community.
Take time to KNOW your patients!
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Knowledge of patients’ religious belief, customs,
rituals and traditions greatly improves
communication between medical staff and patient.
Better communication increases the well-being of
the patient and greatly decreases the potential for
conflict and so increases ones chances of a positive
outcome.
A publication that may interest you ……
References
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Islamic Approaches to Patient Care
[Paperback]
by Ra’ufa Sherry Tuell
A VERY GOOD REFERENCE
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June 2010
Journal of Hospice and
Palliative Nursing Vol 12,
No. 5, May/June 2010
A good paper
dealing with the
bioethical debate
– more intense
reference
The Muslim World
Jan 2011
A article with the
bioethical debate
– more intense
reference
MOST RECENT
Islamic Horizons Magazine
November/December 2012
Other References
The Muslim Next Door
The Qur’an. The Media and that
Veil Thing.
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By Sumbul Ali-Karamali
Light Reading
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Love in a Headscarf
by Shelina Janmohomed
Nice Movie!
“Arranged”
About Arranged Marriages
In Islam and Judaism
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