Study Shows Prayer Physical Benefits

"Such research may attract Muslims and non-Muslims' attention," Abdullah said.(Reuters)

CAIRO — The initial results of an ongoing study by Malaysia's top university has proved that postures of the daily Muslim prayers have physical benefits to the human body, the New Straits Times reported on Wednesday, December 13.

"The study investigates the physiological interactions and effects of the Muslim prayer postures on the human body," Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi told the Third Kuala Lumpur International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, currently in session.

The study, conducted by the University of Malaya's Biomedical Engineering Department, concluded that postures during the prayers are beneficial to the heart, spine and the capacity of memory and attention.

Muslims pray five times a day, which each prayer made of a series of postures and movements, each set of which is called a rak'ah.

The faithful starts in a standing posture then bows down with his/her hands placed on his/her knees keeping the back straight.

The worshipper then returns to the standing position before prostrating with forehead, nose, hands, knees, and bottoms of the toes touching the ground. The forearms and elbows should be raised off the floor.

Important

Prime Minister Abdullah said the study affirmed the power of prayer in a person's life.

"Since the majority of our population are Muslims, it is both of interest and importance that we not only understand the spiritual benefits of salat, but also .. its biological and medical effects," said Abdullah.

The University of Malaya (or Universiti Malaya in Malay) is the oldest university in Asian Muslim heavyweight Malaysia.

It is widely recognized as the top university in Malaysia and many prominent Malaysians are alumni of UM.

Likening the prayers postures to those in yoga, Abdullah said that practitioners of both would see the similarities and benefits.

"Such research may attract Muslims and non-Muslims' attention," he asserted.

Muslim Malays comprise about 60 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people, while ethnic Chinese and Indians - most of them Buddhists, Hindus and Christians - make up about 35 percent.

Abdullah said his country was committed to supporting the emergence and development of new scientific areas, especially those that have direct impact on the people's quality of life.

"Development of new scientific areas also serves to move Malaysia up the global value chain."

Malaysia entered the space club after launching on October 4 Southeast Asia's first space center, in a major milestone for its plan to see the first Malaysian astronaut blast off next year.

Abdullah has been encouraging Muslims worldwide to give equal importance to education, science, technology and development alongside the spiritual aspects of the religion.

Malaysia, the current chair of the umbrella Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), offers the image of an ideal Muslim country, heading towards the status of developed nation with huge buildings, beautiful cities and a fast track economy.

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The "Yoga" of Islamic Prayer

By Karima Burns, MH, ND

http://www.islamonline.net/English/Science/2000/7/article2.shtml

Called "one of the oldest systems of personal development encompassing body, mind and spirit" by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, yoga has become one of the fastest growing health trends today. It has been renowned for centuries for its curative powers of movement.

Yoga consists of a number of "asnas," or body positions, which one retains for a desired length of time while either reciting "mantras" or breathing in a rhythmic manner. Its benefits have been researched by many doctors who now recommend it to their patients, by many medical schools such as Harvard, and by many foundations such as the Menninger Foundation.

In fact, yoga has become so popular that secretaries have developed a simplified sitting version that they can do at their desks. The elderly, pregnant women and athletes also have their own versions.

Interestingly, for the millions of people enrolled in yoga classes, the Islamic form of prayer has provided Muslims for fourteen centuries with some of yoga's same (and even superior) benefits. This simple form of "yoga" offers physical, mental, and spiritual benefits five times a day as Muslims assume certain positions while reciting Qur'an and athkar (remembrances).

Of course, not all the yoga positions are found in the Islamic prayer. However, hospital researchers have concluded that patients benefit from even a simplified version of yoga, and most hospital yoga programs, such as those at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Center in Massachusetts, consist of only five to seven positions.

The Muslim prayer has five positions, and they all (as well as the recitations we make while performing the prayer) have a corresponding relationship with our spiritual and mental well being, according to modern scientific research. The benefits of performing specific movements and recitations each day come from the correct rendition of the position or action itself, the length of time the position is held, and from careful and correct recitation techniques.

Each of the five prayer positions has a corresponding yoga position, and the positions together "activate" all seven "chakras" (energy fields) in the body. The idea of activating a chakra may sound linguistically strange, but it is easier to understand once one translates that word into more familiar language.

Eastern healers believe that each of the chakras correlate to major nerve ganglia that branch forth from the spinal column. Thus, the concept of activating these nerve centers is akin to getting a chiropractic adjustment or installing a medical stimulating device on the spine to correct corresponding bodily malfunctions.

In layman's terms, the idea of chakras can be understood by thinking about how the sense of "feeling" functions. One notices, when touching any part of the body, that that part responds by being more "awake" and aware. Another part of the body that was not touched, but is along the same nerve pathway, may also respond.

When a person is sitting, for instance, they may not be thinking about their legs, which are momentarily at rest; however, if someone touches them, they will again be "aware" of them. Chakras work in much the same way.
Studies have found that varying areas of the body, when activated by touch, movement or thought, evoke specific emotional and physical responses in much the same way that a smile can evoke the feeling of happiness, and actually increase circulation – even if one was feeling sluggish and unhappy before smiling. This is one of the reasons that it is so important to perfectly perform all of the movements of the Islamic prayer, rather than haphazardly rushing through them.

The Takbir and Al Qiyyam together are very similar to the Mountain Pose in yoga, which has been found to improve posture, balance, and self-awareness. This position also normalizes blood pressure and breathing, thus providing many benefits to asthma and heart patients.

The placement of the hands on the chest during the Qiyyam position are said to activate the solar plexus "chakra," or nerve pathway, which directs our awareness of self in the world and controls the health of the muscular system, skin, intestines, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and eyes. When the hands are held open for du'a, they activate the heart "chakra," said to be the center of the feelings of love, harmony, and peace, and to control love and compassion. It also governs the health of the heart, lungs, thymus, immune system, and circulatory system.

Muslim researchers have shown that when Muslims recite

the Qur'an, old thoughts, feelings, fears and guilt are released or healed, and blood pressure and stress levels are reduced. Virtually all of the sounds of the Arabic language are uttered while reciting Qur'an, creating a balance in all affected areas of the body.

Some specific sounds, in fact, correspond to major organs in the body. In his research and creation of eurhythmy, Rudolph Steiner (founder of the Waldorf Schools), , found that vibrations made when pronouncing the long vowels, 'A', 'E' and 'U,' stimulated the heart, lungs, and the thyroid, pineal, pituitary, and adrenal glands during laboratory tests.

The position of Ruku is very similar to the Forward Bend Position in yoga. Ruku stretches the muscles of the lower back, thighs, legs and calves, and allows blood to be pumped down into the upper torso. It tones the muscles of the stomach, abdomen, and kidneys. Forming a right angle allows the stomach muscles to develop, and prevents flabbiness in the mid-section.

This position also promotes a greater flow of blood into the upper regions of body – particularly to the head, eyes, ears, nose, brain, and lungs – allowing mental toxins to be released. Over time, this improves brain function and ones personality, and is an excellent stance to maintain the proper position of the fetus in pregnant women.

The Sujud is said to activate the "crown chakra," which is related to a person's spiritual connection with the universe around them and their enthusiasm for spiritual pursuits. This nerve pathway is also correlated to the health of the brain, nervous system, and pineal gland. Its healthy function balances ones interior and exterior energies.

In Sujud, we also bend; thus activating the "base chakra," which controls basic human survival instincts and provides essential grounding. This helps to develop levelheaded and positive thinking along with a highly motivated view of life, and maintains the health of the lymph and skeletal systems, the prostate, bladder, and the adrenal glands. We also bend the "sacral chakra" during Sujud, thus benefiting and toning the reproductive organs.

The position of Al Qaadah, (or Julus) is similar to the Thunderbolt Pose in yoga, which firms the toes, knees, thighs, and legs. It is said to be good for those prone to excessive sleep, and those who like to keep long hours. Furthermore, this position assists in speedy digestion, aids the detoxification of the liver, and stimulates peristaltic action in the large intestine.

Last, but not least, the "throat chakra" is activated by turning the head towards first the right and then the left shoulder in the closing of the prayer. This nerve path is linked to the throat, neck, arms, hands, bronchials, and hearing – effecting individual creativity and communication.

It is believed that a person who activates all seven nerve pathways at least once a day can remain well balanced emotionally, physically and spiritually. Since this is the goal of all sincere Muslims, we all should strive to attain the perfection of stance, recitation, and breathing recommended in the Hadith while performing our prayers – the very same techniques of perfection taught in popular yoga, Tai Chi, and many other exercise classes.

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Prayers and Healing

By Shahid Athar, M.D.

http://www.islamonline.net/English/Science/2002/10/article09.shtml

We, the physicians, have now come to accept a fact known to our patients for centuries: that healing is from God, and we are just an instrument of the Healer. We give the same medication to two different patients with the same type of medical problem or perform similar operations on two patients otherwise at the same risk and one will survive and the other one doesn't. It is more than simple luck. As Socrates put it, "I dress the wound and God heals it." This was also acknowledged by the Prophet Abraham, "and when I am ill, it is He who cures me" (Quran 26:80). God himself attests to it by saying "If God touches thee with an affliction, no one can remove it but He " (Quran 6:17).

Healing from the Quran

The Quran is not a textbook of medicine, rather it contains rules of guidance that if followed will promote good health and healing. This is why the Quran calls itself a book of healing.

"O mankind, there has come unto you a direction from your Lord and a healing for the heart and for those who believe in guidance and mercy" (Quran 10:57).

"We have sent down in the Quran that which is healing and a mercy to those who believe" (Quran 17:82)

Healing from the Quran is of three types:

a. Legislative effect: This includes faith (iman) in God as not only the Creator but the Sustainer and the Protector. This also includes the medical benefits of obligatory prayers, fasting, charity and pilgrimage.

b. Health Guidelines: Health-promoting items from the Quran and the tradition of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) including the use of honey, olives, fruit, lean meat, avoiding excessive eating, and the prohibition of alcohol, pork, homosexuality, sexual promiscuity and sex during menstruation.

c. The direct healing effect of the Quran: Recitation of Quran by the ill or for the ill (ruqya) has shown to have a direct healing effect. This most likely uses the medical benefits of echo.

Echo of sound is such a powerful force that it has been used to blast off mountains. Now the miniaturized version of echo is used in medicine to break kidney stones (lithotripsy), gallstones, and even vegetations in the subendothelial bacterial endocarditis (SBE). Listening to the recitation of the Holy Quran has been shown in a study conducted by Dr. Ahmed E. Kadi and his associates to lower blood pressure, heart rate, and to cause smooth muscle relaxation in Muslim Arabs, non-Arab Muslims and even in non-Muslims. It is postulated that the echo target of "Alif Lam Meem" (the first three words of Surat AlBaqarah-the 2 ^nd chapter of the Quran) is in the heart and that of Ya-seen (chapter 36) is in the pituitary gland of the brain. Thus the Prophet Mohammad always stressed reading the Quran (Quran-recitation) loudly and not silently by saying, "The comparison between a silent reader and a recitor is like a bottle of perfume when it is closed and when it is opened."

Use of Meditation in Prayer and Healing

Meditation includes acts of remembrance and communications with God as ordained to us.

1. "When my servant asks you (O Muhammad) about me, (tell them) I am close to them: I listen to the prayer of each supplicant when he asks Me. Let them listen to My call and believe in Me, that they may walk in the right way " (Quran 2:186).

2. "Your Lord says: "Call on Me and I will answer your call" (Quran 40:60).

3. "Those who believe and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of God, for in the remembrance of God do hearts find rest " (Quran 13:28).

4. "Remember Me, I will remember you; thank Me and reject Me not" (Quran 2:152).

5. "Remember thy Lord much and praise Him in the evening and morning" (Quran 3:41).

6. "Such as those who remember God standing, sitting and reclining" (Quran 3:191).

7. "and men who remember God much and women who remember God, God has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward " (Quran 33:35).

8. "O you believe! Remember God with much remembrance and glorify Him in the morning and evening " (Quran 33:41-42).

Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad

The Prophet Muhammad, like all other prophets of God, was engaged in the remembrance of God most of the time. He is known to have said:

1. "There is a polish for everything that removes the rust and the polish for the rust-of- heart is the dhikr (remembrance) of God. "

2. He was asked which people are most virtuous and most highly esteemed by God on the Day of Judgement. The messenger of God (P) replied "Those who remember God often."

3. It is narrated in a hadith Qudsi (direct revelation to Prophet Muhammad) " God Most High says I am as my Servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me by himself, I make mention of him to Myself. If he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than his. If he comes closer to Me a hand span, I come closer to him arms-length, if he comes to Me walking, I come to him running. "

Thus meditation/remembrance has been a practice of all Sufi sheikhs. In the words of Sheikh al-Mursi "dhikr (meditation) pleases God, defeats and drives evil forces, increases livelihood, makes the personality more prestigious, cleanses the heart, removes the faults and saves the tongue from lying, gossip, backbiting and hypocrisy while engaged in the remembrance of God."

Seeking Help with Prayers

According to Imam Ghazali, illness increases faith and brings man closer to God. Knowing this nature, we are told by the Quran -
"O you who believe, seek help with patience and prayers, as God is with those who patiently persevere" (Quran 2:153).

The Prophet Muhammad used to comfort the ill when he visited them and would say the following prayer: "O Allah remove the hardship, O Lord of mankind, grant cure for You are the Healer. There is no cure but from You, a cure which leaves no illness behind. "

He would also make following prayer for his own health: "O Allah cure my body, cure my heart and cure my eyesight from any illness" (repeated 3 times).

Do Prayers Work?

Yes they do. Dr. Larry Dossey in his book "The Healing Words" has documented the healing effects of prayer. Citing one example from the research conducted by Dr. Byrd at San Francisco General Hospital in 1988, 393 critically ill heart patients admitted to the intensive care units over a 10-month period were divided into two groups. Patients categorized into group (A) were prayed for by name until they left the hospital. Those in group (B) were not prayed for. Those giving the prayers were not told how to pray. The results were very interesting. Those prayed for left the hospital early, had a lower incidence of cardiac arrest, 2-1/2 times less incidence of congestive heart failure and required 1/5th less antibiotics. The research team also observed that prayer combined with loving care worked even better. Men who had angina pectoris and a loving, caring wife, reported a 50% reduction in angina than men who were single or divorced.

Prayers work for us even while we are sleeping. The Prophet Muhammad advised us to say prayers from Quran (Surah Ikhlas, Al Falaq, Annas and/or last verse of Al Baqra (2:286) before going to sleep.

My Own Practice

I do dhikr in all my free time, especially while driving, and I pray for myself, my family, my friends and my patients by name, knowing that cure is only from God.

One time I visited a critically ill patient who had an adrenal tumor (pheochromocytoma) and was in hypotensive shock. I asked her what I could do for her and she, out of desperation (doctors had told her she wouldn't make it) asked me to pray. So I placed my hand over the site of the tumor and made the prophetic prayer and left. The next day when I came, I was surprised to see her sitting up in bed smiling. She told me that in the evening, the radiologist x-rayed her again and found no trace of the tumor. He could not explain it but thought that the arteriogram might have infarcted the tumor.

The Sufi Practices

In the treatment of diseases, Sufis use prayers and the knowledge of specific verses of the Quran and the names of Allah. This is called the Science of Tawidh (Taweez). They use science of numerology associated with Arabic alphabets. Some sample tawidh is given for illustration. One must know the healing is not in a piece of paper, words or numbers, but only from Allah. In my humble opinion, Tawidh is only a way to become God-conscious and receive His mercy as a result.

Shahid Athar, M.D. is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Athar is also the Chairman of the Islamic Medical Association of North American and a member of the Islamic Academy of Sciences (IAS).

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Prayer, the Most Powerful Healer

By Karima Burns, MH, ND

http://www.islamonline.net/English/Science/2000/6/article2.shtml

"Pray to me and I will hear your prayer" the Koran says (40:60).

"Say Du'a for the Bosnia's and Palestinians" an Islamic human rights organization pleads.

"Say Du'a for me." Your friend pleads as she goes to interview for a job.

Muslims are accustomed to using du'a and prayer in a number of situations mentioned above, but often forget the power of prayer in healing. One is more likely to drink some herbal tea or take an over-the-counter medicine than to be found making du'a for their health and one is more likely to think of offering a pot of soup to their friend rather than offering a du'a for their recovery. However, modern studies have shown that prayer can be a powerful healer in itself and can also increase the healing power of other medicines.

The Koran and Hadith guide us in offering two kinds of prayer for illness, one can be offered anywhere and the other must be offered in person. Prayer that is offered at a distance is called du'a or supplication. Allah says, "Oh ye who believe! Seek help with perseverance and prayer: for God is with those who patiently persevere (11:153)". Allah the Exalted, has said: "And your Lord says: Pray unto me: and I will hear your prayer" (Koran 40:60)

When a prayer is offered in person it can also be done as a du'a, but is more likely done as "Ruqya" which is done by reciting a specified verse or supplication and then passing the right hand over the body of the ill person. A professional healer usually administers healing in this manner, although many people who are not healers also use Koranic healing.

In the Hadith of Buhkari A'isha reported, "When any person amongst us fell ill, Allah's Messenger (SAWS) used to rub him with his right hand and then say: O Lord of the people, grant him health, heal him, for Thou art a Greet Healer. There is no healer, but with Thy healing Power one is healed and illness is removed."

The "Fatihah" is the most common recitation for healing, and is the recommended incantation if a person does not know the correct supplication for a particular illness. Al-Aswad has narrated that Aisha said that "The Prophet (SAWS) allowed the treatment of poisonous sting with Ruqya" and, "that Allah's apostle said, that you are most entitled to take wages for doing a Ruqya with Allah's Book." thus granting ruqya (healing with prayer) a professional status.

Although healing with prayer has not been given the same professional status in modern medicine, it has, however, been recognized as a significant healer. Healing with prayer has been studied at Harvard Medical School as well as hundreds of other schools. In one study presented at a Harvard conference, 406 people were studied. Half of these were prayed for and half were not. The results of the study showed that in of the criteria for improvement in the study, that all the subjects being prayed for improved on all eleven measures. Even more astounding to the researchers was that the people praying also improved their health in 10 of the 11 criterion categories.

Furthermore, researchers confirm (what we know to be obvious as Muslims) that either method of prayer is effective. In his book, Reinventing Medicine, Larry Dossey, MD, says "Researchers have diligently looked for some sort of subtle energy that connects distant individuals when thoughts are communicated .. or when prayer affects the body of someone far away. Yet there is not a shred of evidence that such (measurable) energy exists." Researchers have thus concluded through testing that these prayer events do not have a "carrier" like a telephone cable or a satellite wave. So in passing a prayer to someone its strength is not affected or lost by the distance. This means prayer is also unaffected by time or space and thus their result is immediate. Researchers have dubbed this phenomenon that Muslims call du'a or ruqya, "non local healing", and have recognized it to be unaffected by time or space.

So how can prayer heal a person? Henri Bergson, a prominent medical researcher has concluded that (what he calls) "the mind" does not need help to go anywhere. Since it is already everywhere, it has no need to "go" or be "sent" and therefore needs no sender or carrier. He explains this by saying that the brain does not produce the mind, but interacts with it. He provides a crude analogy with the radio and radio waves. We know that the radio does not produce the waves, it only detects and transmits them and filters them. In the same way, when we heal with prayer, we are simply reflecting attributes of Allah and transmitting healing that has been given to us through Allah. And just as the radio stations are always playing even if you have the radio turned off, so is Allah transmitting healing and blessings upon us every moment - we need only to "tune in" to this bounty with our prayers and du'a and we can receive all the benefits we are promised.

With adverse reactions to drugs causing more than one hundred thousand deaths a year in US hospitals (this is equivalent of having a passenger jet crash every day), one should not rule out prayer as at least a supplemental healer. Larry Dossey, MD quotes in his book "An internist always looks internally inside the patient for the origin of the problem, in the present moment. A eternist looks at all of time and space, both inside and outside the patient for solutions." In light of the fact that Muslims are promised "eternal life" we should encourage more healers to become "eternists" and hope that in the future more doctors will take into consideration the spiritual health of a patient as well as pray for their patients.