“Giving up” is not a phrase that is synonymous with Islam. Muslims are enjoined to find ways to overcome problems and hardship. Solutions may seem challenging or difficult at times, but efforts must be put in to solve problems.
The same mindset of not giving up should also be applied when it comes to finding ways to overcome illnesses or diseases. In a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah, Prophet Muhammad said, “There is no disease that Allah has sent down except that He has sent down its treatment” (The Book of Medicine, Sahih Bukhari).
It is the philosophical underpinning that there is a cure or treatment for every disease which spurred the excellence seen in the field of medicine during the height of the Islamic Civilisation. Names such as al-Razi, al-Zahrawi, Ibn Zuhr, Ibn Sina and Ibn al-Nafis are but a few scholars who had contributed much in medicine between the 9th and 15th century AD.
Even during the time of the Prophet, the field of medicine is given prominence. Prophet Muhammad encouraged the women in his household to learn medicine from other women who had knowledge of it. It is particularly noteworthy that during the time of the Prophet in Madinah, women were respected for their medical knowledge.
In al-Tabari’s influential work, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, it is stated that a lady by the name of Rufaidah was appointed by the Prophet to manage a field hospital in the vicinity of Masjid al-Nabawi in Madinah. The field hospital served those who were in need of medical treatment as well as temporary shelters for those who had just arrived in the city.
A Muslim general, al-Ahnaf Ibn Qais, who lived during the time of the Prophet stressed that medical knowledge is one of the three critical knowledge that must be mastered by Muslims. Al-Ahnaf was reported to have said that no knowledgeable person could ignore three types of knowledge, to wit knowledge to prepare him for the Hereafter, knowledge to assist him in his life in this world, and medical knowledge to help him treat diseases.
All these are clear indications that the knowledge of medicine is not alien to Muslims. As a matter of fact, with many innovations and advancements in the medical field, the Muslims of yesteryears propelled medicine to even greater heights.
Modern medicine today is built on medical knowledge as developed by Muslim scholars. In the book Muslims History and Civilization, Ehsanul Karim wrote that Ibn Sina “created a system of medicine within which medical practice could be carried out and in which physical and psychological factors, drugs and diet are combined.”
Modern surgery would not have been possible without the inventive mind of al-Zahrawi who is credited as the inventor of scalpels, bone saws, forceps, fine scissors used in eye surgery, and catguts for internal stitches.
Inoculation is also not new for Muslims. Two records in 1714 and 1716 highlighted the method of inoculation used in the Uthmaniah Empire, which was later introduced to Britain in 1721 by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, who was the wife of the British ambassador to Constantinople.
It is therefore saddening to see some Muslims in Malaysia who refuse to seek treatment or outright shunning of modern medicine for various reasons. Some view that modern medicine is un-Islamic, and therefore must be avoided. Others are influenced by conspiracy theories that modern medicine is the evil agenda of the Illuminati or the Jews to destroy the Muslims.
It is noted that patients in Malaysia have the tendency to see doctors late, or delay seeking treatment after diagnosis of a disease. For cases of breast cancer for example, it is estimated that only 20% of patients seek treatment after being diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer.
This is extremely low if compared to the United States where 48% of patients with Stage 1 breast cancer went for treatment. The chances of success is higher when the disease is at the early stage. Unfortunately during this early stage, some patients prefer to seek out alternative treatments. In many cases, they will only come to the doctor after the condition has worsened.
As such, it is critical that we develop a mindset to seek for treatment at an early stage. Delaying treatment would be detrimental for the patient. To develop this mindset, education and awareness is important.
The RM29 billion allocation for health in the 2019 Budget would enable the Ministry of Health to set aside part of it towards education and awareness. As we progress towards a developed nation, it is equally important that the health of the nation is being looked after.
It would be unfortunate if diseases which are preventable and treatable become commonplace just because we refuse to take preventive steps, seek for treatment, or just simply giving up and not doing anything.
Muslims are encouraged to put in efforts to find cures and treatment, and not just simply sit and hope that the disease will go away. Only after we have put in the effort (by seeking treatment), would Muslims be in the state of tawakkal.