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Paper presented by Professor Omar Hasan Kasule Sr. MB ChB (MUK), MPH (Harvard), DrPH (Harvard) Professor of Epidemiology and Islamic Medicine at the Institute of Medicine University of Brunei and Visiting Professor of Epidemiology at University Malaya WEB: http://omarkasule.tripod.com at the Scientific and Islamic Medicine Seminar organized by the Students’ Executive Board Faculty of Medicine Deponegoro University held on Sunday 19th October 2008n at the Central Java Governors’ Hall Semarang Java Timur Indonesia
ABSTRACT
Islamic Medicine is defined as medicine whose basic paradigms, concepts, values, and procedures conform to or to do not contradict the Qur’an and Sunnah. It is characterized by being value-based, by being holistic under the tauhidic paradigm, and by conforming to the 5 purposes of the Law, maqasid al shari’at. The Qur’an and sunnat have guidelines for the treatment and cure of diseases. The appeal of the concept of Islamic medicine is set to grow phenomenally in the next 20 years. This growth will be driven by two main forces: defining Islamic alternatives in many fields of endeavor and general dissatisfaction with modern scientific medicine because of over-emphasis of technology over the human dimension. The Islamic approach to medicine has reintroduced the human element in medicine without denying the benefits of modern medical technology. Islamic hospitals and Islamic faculties of medicine are being built. The Islamic health care industry is expected to experience phenomenal growth. The strict and exclusive monotheism of Islam is a basis for a global perspective in medicine and will help make Islamic medicine a global player not limited by geography or ethnicity.
1.0THE ISLAMIC MEDICINE MOVEMENT
1.1 Definition of Islamic medicine as paradigms and values
Islamic Medicine is defined as medicine whose basic paradigms, concepts, values, and procedures conform to or to do not contradict the Qur’an and Sunnah. It is not specific medical procedures or therapeutic agents used in a particular place or a particular time. Islamic Medicine is universal, all-embracing, flexible, and allows for growth and development of various methods of investigating and treating diseases within the frame-work described above. Islamic Medicine thus becomes the result of an Islamic critique and reformulation of the basic paradigms, research methodology, teaching, and practice of medicine. This process of conceptual transformation is called Islamization of Medicine. The end-result of the Islamization process will not be a medical system for Muslims only but for the whole humanity because Islam is a set of universal and objective values. Islamization is not theologizing, localizing of parochializing medicine but making it objective, universal, value-based, and excellent for all.
1.2 Impact of Islamic Medicine
The above-mentioned understanding of Islamic medicine is gradually changing the practice of medicine in the ummat. Islamic hospitals and clinics are being established in many Muslim and non-Muslim countries. There is increasing research inspired by the Islamic medicine movement. Medical faculties are being established on the same philosophy. In years to come, Muslim physicians will be able to make a marked impact on mainstream medical practice by introducing Islamic values to it.
1.3 The motivation behind Islamic Medicine: conceptual and moral problems
European[1] medicine has some paradigms that we do not accept as Muslims. Death is rejected as a natural phenomenon and resources are wasted in terminal illnesses. Aging is also not accepted as a normal process. There is no consideration of balance and equilibrium in selecting treatment modalities with the result that an unacceptably high number of patients are being treated for side effects of modern therapeutic agents. Too much narrow specialization leads to lack of a holistic approach to the patient. The physician behaves as a technician turns a blind eye to moral and social issue of the day that affect the health of his patients and claims that his responsibility is medical care only. Secularized medicine has no consistent set of ethics leading to malpractice, fraud, and bias in research. Accepting only empirical knowledge and negating other sources of knowledge had also created new problems. By denying a religious and moral dimension, European medicine operates in a presumed moral vacuum. It is a gross mistake to attempt to solve social and medical problems of a moral or spiritual nature by use of technology.
2.0 TAUHID AS THE BASIS FOR A GLOBAL OUTLOOK IN MEDICINE
2.1 Basic tenets of ‘aqidat al tauhid
Islam is strictly and exclusively monotheistic. Judaism is also monotheistic but in practice negates monotheistic universality by being an ethnic faith. Christianity has a qualified monotheism. That leaves Islam with absolute monotheism that translates directly into universal social behavior and social organization. The essence of monotheism, tauhid, is the oneness of the creator, wahdaniyyat al llaah[2]. Belief in the one-ness of the Creator-God, tauhid al rububiyyat, explains the harmony and coordination in the universe created by one God. Tauhid al uluhiyyat implies worship of one God alone. Worship of only one God implies following the Creator’s physical and social laws that make life on earth successful.
2.2 Implications of tauhid
The concept of wastiyyat motivates the need for moderation and not doing anything in excess. The concept of shumiliyyat extends the tauhidi principle by requiring an overall comprehensive bird’s view of the disease and treatment situation.
NOTES
[1] The term European is used here to refer to a distinct culture and world-view based on Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian traditions. It developed in Europe and was carried by European colonizers, settlers, and rulers all over the world. It is today the dominant culture on the world scene.
[2] Qur’an 28:70
[3] Qur’an 4:1
[4] Qur’an 49:13