Islam
The Tradition
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God,The Cosmos & The
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Sources,
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Organization:
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Calendar
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Prayer
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Views onThe
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God the merciful,& compassionate
God the Creator of the
Everything submits (aslama) to God, and will taste death, will be resurrected and judged
Humans are born with moral sense. They are perfectible, if they heed to the call of prophets, who have been sent to guide them.
Humans are not born in sin, but they are forgetful about the goal of their life. They need constant reminders through God's revelation
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The Qur'an, the holy book of Muslims – God's revelation to Prophet Muhammed
Muhammed's life is a perfect model for his followers, known as Sunna (tradition)
Sunna recorded in books of Hadith (narratives describing the patterns of prophetic behavior.
Most important collection of Hadith:
Sahih Bukhari
Usul al-Kafi for Shiite Muslims.
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No hierarchy;
Mosque = Simply a place of Worship
Ulema = Scholars of Islamic law and theology, also recognized as leaders.
Imam = Religious leader, functions as a pastor to the community, performs marriages and presides over funerals.
In Shiite Islam after the Prophet, Imam is a rightful successor
Ayatollah = Surpreme legal authority emulated by believers in matters of faith and practice
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Muslim calendar =lunar (355 days) rotates in all seasons
No new year celebrations
Two feasts known as:
Id al-Fitr (marking end of Ramadan, fasting month),
Id al-Adha (marking the annual pilgrimage to Mecca)
Shiites commemorate Ashura (Tenth day of the first month), a day of mourning for the Prophet's grandson, Husayn, killed in 680 CE
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Sala t= Daily prayers
Five times: Before sunrise,
Jumu'a
Wudu = prayers
Ghusul = Ritual bath after sexual intercourse, and following menstruation and child-birth for women
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Life=
Justice, truth and compassion
Human relationship is core of one's religious commitment
Rights in relation to obligations
Kindness to fellow humans as expression of obedience to God
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Islam
Perspectives on Health Care Issues
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Notions of
Physician – Patient Relationship
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Individual Autonomy Vs. Community
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Views on Rx: Transfusion
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Views on Sustaining vs.
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Who's at the Bedside – Spiritual Care
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NAFS = "person"
RUH = "spirit"
God loves human beings and requires them to care for their total being
Human body a "trust" from God, to be cared for
Health = total well-being, health care is to be holistic in approach
Ailments = Psychosomatic reasons and not simply physical
God the Healer, but human, as God's vice-regent on earth responsible to fulfill divine Will in matters of total well-being of society
Physician responsible for restoring health, patient responsible for carrying out plans to improve health
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Individual life seeks meaning in relation to others in family and society
Autonomy respected as long as collective interests are also taken seriously
Islamic ethics incline towards community, but does not ignore individual concerns of autonomy
Allocation of limited resources must take into consideration poverty and beneficence of individual and immediate family
Health care not a right but an obligation
Humans must not cause harm or injury to themselves
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LEGITIMATE MEANS of saving life are recognized
Blood transfusion -- permissible
Organ donation/transplant is permissible if conditions permit and if consent available, even from surrogate decision-maker
Postmortem exam: (autopsy) allowed to determine causes of illness to improve methods of curing
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Suffering not evil, educational, purifier of human spirit, test from God to purify
Pain killers allowed to treat pain, even if they lead to shortening of life
God gives life and determines death
Euthanasia and assisted suicide ar e prohibited
Withdrawal of life-support permissible if medical experts determine futility of extraordinary intervention
Obligation of medical professional is to cure not to prolong imminent death
Patient has right to refuse treatment that causes harm.
Brain death criteria are valid/acceptable
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Prayers are encouraged at all times: God is the HEALER
Pastoral Care permitted if family members allow
Special care needed for Muslim women whose privacy must be protected at all time
Family and community participate in last moments of life
Patient is made to face Mecca
Visiting sick is like visiting God, highly meritorious
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