Abstract
Christianity and Islam are both monotheistic religions with the same fundamental background, which are closely aligned as it relates to the presentation of the old testament, however, differing on points of the significance of Jesus and the path to salvation. It is important to understand how both of these religions view the interplay of faith, and modern medicine as it relates to health, wellness and healing. In essence, as both invest faith in an omnipotent and omnipresent God, who promises followers eternal life, both believe that prayer, faith, and the intervention of the divine are integrally involved in healing. It is important to understand that similarities, and differences between these two faiths, especially as it relates to the application and administration of care to individuals who are proponents of those beliefs. The following essay will specifically consider the philosophies of Islam and Christianity as it relates to health care, including both their shared, and differing perspectives regarding care for the sick.
When working in a healthcare related field, it is important to understand the significance of faith to patients, and patient care. As people are “fundamentally spiritual beings” there are certain characteristics which all, or most, religious shares (Shelley & Miller, 2006). This is because all societies use religion as a means to uphold their basic morals and values, and so they have a tendency to value health, and well-being, especially as it relates to an overall value of life. This can be seen when considering both the Christian and Islamic views toward providing health care, and caring for the ill, as well as other factors related to the human condition. However, when delving into the specifics of a religion and the way that they specifically generate health directives that are of special concern within that religion. The following essay will specifically consider the philosophies of Islam and Christianity as it relates to health care, including both their shared, and differing perspectives regarding care for the sick.
Comparing Christianity to Islam is interesting, because both are monotheistic and fundamentally believe in the same God. Both Muslims and Christians worship the all-powerful god, a god of Abraham. In the Qu’ran verse 2:255, it is stated
“Allah! There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).
Similarly, in The Holy Bible states, in Job, 27:23, “he Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.” Thus, for both faiths God is an impenetrable, and omnipotent source of creation.
That said, however, there are several significant differences in the way that they view God, or define his essence. The Christian faith defines God as part of a trinity the father, the sun, and the Holy Ghost. However, Islam holds that this belief ultimately makes Christian’s polytheistic, and that this belief violates the idea that God is all knowing and all powerful. They believe that there is one god, with no union in a deity of parts. This further means that they believe God, in his essence, is their hope and salvation. Jesus is, in the Islamic tradition, then, a man, born of a virgin, and serving as a profit to the one true God, but he is not deity. In contrast, however, Christian’s view Christ as the author of their salvation, as the sacrificed son of God (Robinson, 1999).
Further, the Muslim faith seems God as being cloaked in mystery, and unknowable (Quran 2:255). However, Christian’s ultimately view man as the pinnacle of God’s own creation, having been crafted in his image (Shelley & Miller, 2006). This belief has a direct impact on healing and Christian health care. As in Christian faith, each individual is honored, and so their health is valued because they were uniquely created after God’s own image (Shelly & Miller, 2006).
For both Christian’s and Muslims, what can be known is revealed by God himself. For Christians the bible represents knowledge and is the divine, and inspired word of God. It cannot be added to, or taken away from. It is inerrant and complete, and represents the most significant body of knowledge man has from which to know and navigate not only the current life, but the afterlife as well (Frame, 2002).
In contrast, Islamists follow the Qur’an as the later revelation of God which corrects the error in the bible, as such, they accept only the parts of the bible that do not contradict the Qur’an especially finding coherence between their own text, and the old testament (Shelly & Miller, 2006). In each case, however, those who adhere to the faith use the doctrinal text of their religion as a means of knowing and understanding their current life, and their access to the afterlife.
Belief in death, or the afterlife, in Christianity and Islam are fundamentally the same. Both believe that believers will submit to a judgement, and will ultimately be saved by mercy, or grace, but the details of that judgement and resurrection to new life are different. Christian’s believe that only the saved will be granted admission to heaven, while Islam insists that all Muslims will go to heaven, but that some must be purged before entering. Both, however, believe that in the last days there will be a physical resurrection, and that believers will be physically taken to live with God on high.
These similarities in their faith lead to generally complimentary views of healing, and the role that modern medicine plays in healing a person. Both Christians and Muslims commonly seek medical treatment via doctor care, however, they are also likely to see God as the ultimately author of their healing, and so believe that religious practices will contribute to the success of any treatment provided by doctors (Jan & Smith, 1998). For example, Christ is often referred to as the great physician, and examples given of divine healing are given, either through the avenue of prayer or directly beseeching Christ (Curtis, 2010). Further, in Exodus 23:25, it is written “And you shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless your bread, and your water; and I will take sickness away from the middle of you.”
Similarly, Islam presents God as the author of healing, In the Qur’an it is written “And We send down from the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe” (Quran 17:82). As such, for members of either faith, it is ultimately up to God, in his mercy to provide healing, and not up to man, and modern medical advances. Modern medicine becomes an instrument of God‘s hands, and not the be all and end all of restoration to health.
Bearing this faith in mind, in both cases, the power of prayer is heavily called upon to encourage healing and restoration to health. Prayer is, according to Muslims, the avenue for seeking medical intervention by God, and a person’s fate can be changed through the avenue of fervent prayer (Tirodkar et al., 2010, Johnson et al., 1999). More specifically, for the faithful Muslim, according to the research of Aasim Padela and his peers (2012), “Moving from illness to health was said to require the individual to seek God's cure directly through prayer, supplication, and recitation of the Qur'an, or indirectly through human agents, and sometimes both.
This same basic belief is reiterated in the Christian faith. In James 5: 15-16 it is written “And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” As such, prayer is, for members of either faith, critical to the restoration of physical health.
There are certain tenants of the Muslim faith which should be more carefully attended when caring for a Muslim patient, which may differ from Christian, or non-religious patients. First, there is a higher level of modesty for women of the Muslim faith, which should be strictly adhered to. This includes limited eye contact, and avoidance of physical contact while talking, unless necessary for medical evaluation. Providing a Muslim patient with care providers of the same sex should be practices whenever possible to remove the burden of some of these restrictions (ISPI Guidelines, 2016).
Additionally, it is the practice of Muslims to visit the sick, while they are in the hospital. Caregivers should be open and understanding to visitors, and make them as comfortable as possible as they come to visit and pray for the sick. Also, there are specific food restrictions for Muslims. Muslim Halal meals should be provided, adhering to the outlined dietary limitations of the faith (ISPI Guidelines, 2016).
Perhaps most relevantly, however, there are specific rituals related to death and the dying which should be adhered to if the hospital staff is aware that a patient is near the end. A Muslim Imam should be contacted to say special prayers (ISPI Guidelines, 2016). This can be compared to contacting a priest for Catholic Christians, so that their last rights can be read, though the significance is slightly different, in spiritual terms. Further, it is the preference of Muslims that they be prepared for burial by a loved one, and be buried within 24 hours of their death. As such, it is critical that arrangements be made before their death, and that after death, the body be released to family with expedience (ISPI Guidelines, 2016).
When providing healthcare, it is important that caregivers show respect, and sensitivity around the needs and beliefs of those in their care. Faith, or religious tenants are often crucial to an individual’s understanding of their medical condition, and their belief that they can heal, or overcome, the obstacles that lie before them. Two such religious viewpoints, which can be heavily compared and contrasted, are Christianity and Islam. Christianity and Islam are both monotheistic religions, at their core, and in fact, share a basic premise, which is that The God of Abraham created the world, and set forth a set of standards by which man is to live. While the have many significant differences, many of their beliefs, as they relate to religion and health, are extremely similar. None the less, it is important to understand the significance of their religious beliefs as it relates to healing, and to understand how those beliefs impact the care they need during their illness. It more specifically, important to know how both of these beliefs use a combination of faith in the divine, and divine intervention, with modern medicine, as a total path toward healing. In essence, both Muslims and Christians have placed their faith in an all seeing, and all powerful God, who is the ultimate author of their salvation, and physician to their physical needs. As such prayer, and faith in God’s power to heal is instrumental is their physical journey toward restoration of health. While the two faiths are exceedingly similar in many of their worldview basics, there are still significant differences between these two faiths which should be respected, and which require different elements of provision in the healthcare setting.
References:
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Frame, J.M. (2002). Is the bible inerrant? IIIM Magazine 4(19) May 12 to May 20. Retrieved from http://reformedperspectives.org/files/reformedperspectives/theology/TH.Frame.inerrancy.html
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