An Insight into the Common Ethical Perspectives in Holy Quran and Traditional Siddha Medicine Literatures

A. Samsul Nisha Fathima, M. Tamizhamuthu, S. Merish, V. Ponnaiya, A. Shifana Raheema, S. Sulfin NiharGovernment Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu,

India

Ultimate Path - Heavenly BlissIslam

• Holy QURAN gives complete Ethical and religious guidelines to be followed in day to day life.

• Holy Quran touches almost all spheres of life style including ethics to lead a healthy and disease free life..

Traditional Siddha Medicine• Traditional Siddha Indian medicine, a

Holistic system in nature has guidelines for the well being for both Mind and Body.

• The current scenario of diseases and calamities of our World are due to the deviation of our lifestyle from Siddhars’ Ethics.

Ethical guidelines – Siddha • Traditional Siddha Indian

Medicine which has its origin centuries back has also documented evidences of life style guidelines which are very essential for leading a health and happier life.

Similarités between Quran & Siddha • The speciality as found in both the

Siddha literatures and holy Quran not only share a common platform for meditation and prayer but also for the concept of ‘Food as Medicine’.

• Such similarities with ethical perspectives are highlighted in this paper.

Ethical perspectives in Holy Quran & SiddhaTopics discussed - Quran• Food as Medicine,• Namaz and fasting (among the five

mandatory rituals), • Drinking ZamZam water (a complete

panacea),• Circumcision (which prevents

Cancer), • Applying Surma, Henna and Miswak

(to prevent diseases of Eye, Skin and Teeth respectively) are discussed.

Food as Medicine• The ethical usage of food items such

as 1. Fig (relieves piles and arthritis as per both

texts), 2. Myrobalan (relieves constipation),3. Bottle gourd (relieves diseases of the

Brain as per Quran and psychiatric diseases as per Siddha),

4. Honey, Dates, Olive oil, Black cumin seeds, Dry grapes, Pomegranate, Cucumber and Garlic with relevance to both Quran and Siddha literatures are discussed and compared.

Food as MedicineFood Quran SiddhaDATES High Calorific value,

strengthens the body weakened by illness or suffering from extreme fatigue

Tonic, Nutritive, RelievesIndigestion.

treat sexual weakness, Demulcent,Emollient,laxative,

Aphrodiasiac, Diuretic,Demulcent,Laxative

FIG Prophet(PBUH) said “eat fig for it cures piles and useful for rheumatism”

Improves blood quality, Laxative, useful in Rheumatism

HONEY Healing propertyMild Antiseptic propertyStrengthening of stomachEliminating PhlegmEye salve and mouth wash

Cures burns and scalds when applied externally. Has antiseptic and Expectorant properties. Nutritive and stimulant.Putru honey-eye disease ,mouth wash for expectorant.

Food as MedicineFood Quran Siddha

BLACK CUMIN SEEDS Prophet(PBUH) said “cure for all ailments except death”1.few seeds of kalonjii mixed with olive oil and dropped in both nostrils2.Removes obstruction from any part of the body , expels gases

Oil when applied or used as nasal drops cures kapha related headache, and rhinitis CarminativeAnthelmintic,emmenogogue,lactogogue,diuretic

POMEGRANATE Pomegranate and its rind improves digestion

Stomachic, Demulcent.

GARLIC Relieves Anginal pain, promotes digestion, Decrease in thirst

Carminative

NAMAZ

• Pray to me and I will hear your prayer” Quran ( Quran 40:60). Namaz, Salah or Prayer is obligatory on every Muslim man and woman after reaching adolescence.

• In Arabic, namaz is known as 'salaat', which is derived from 'silaa' meaning 'meeting'.

Continued….

• Namaz postures are similar to yogic postures and therefore namaz, while being performed as a religious obligation, can simultaneously give the namazee all the benefits of yoga. The seven postures of namaz are the simplified and condensed versions of yogic postures in their external and internal qualities.

NAMAZ & YOGA POSTURES

• Normalizes blood pressure and breathing, thus providing many benefits to asthma and heart patients.

• Qiyyam position - 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.

• activate the heart “chakra,” - Center of the feelings of love, harmony, and peace

QIYYAM (Standing posture) TADASANA

RUKOO (Bowing)/PRASARITA PADOTTANASANA1.Rukoo stretches the muscles of the lower

back, thighs, legs and calves, and allows blood to be pumped down into the upper torso. 2. It tones the muscles of the stomach, abdomen, and kidneys. 3. Prevents flabbiness in the mid-section4. Promotes a greater flow of blood - particularly to the head, eyes, ears, nose, brain, and lungs 5. Maintain the proper position of the foetus in pregnant women

1. This helps to develop level headed 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.

2. Toning the reproductive organs.

SAJDAH(prostration)/SHASHANKASANA

JALSA (Seated posture)/VAJRASANA

1. It firms the toes, knees, thighs, and legs.

2. Toning the reproductive organs.3. Good for those prone to excessive

sleep.4. Assists in speedy digestion, aids the

detoxification of the liver, and stimulates peristaltic action in the large intestine

SALAM (Spinal twist) ARDHA MATSYENDRASANA

• The “throat chakra” is activated by turning the head towards first the right and then the left shoulder in the closing of the prayer. Nerve path is linked to the throat, neck, arms, hands, bronchials, and hearing – effecting individual creativity and communication.

• Therefore the person who activates these atleast once a day can remain well balanced emotionally, physically,spiritually and can have long term health benefits

FASTING

"O you who believe! Fasting isprescribed for you just as it was

prescribed for those before you. Perhaps you would attain piety!“ (Quran 2:183)

Fasting Islam

• Islamic fasting is different from such diet plans because in Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or inadequate calorie intake. The caloric intake of Muslims during Ramadan is at or slightly below the national requirement guidelines. In addition, the fasting in Ramadan is voluntarily taken and is not a prescribed imposition from the physician.

Siddha Medicine• Fasting has its own special place in

Siddha Therapeutics.• “langanam Parama Owshadham” in

Siddha means Fasting itself is a Holistic treatment. It has been Specially advocated for all 64 types of Fever including 52 types arising out of intrinsic factors and other 12 arising out of Extrinsic factors.

Benefits of Fasting.Islam • Ramadan fasting would be an ideal

recommendation for treatment of mild to moderate, stable, non-insulin diabetes, obesity and essential hypertension.

• On the other hand, patients who are suffering from severe diseases, whether diabetes or coronary artery disease, kidney stones, etc., are exempt from fasting and should not try to fast.

Siddha• As per the Siddha text, who should not

fast are: Pregnant women and children. Alcoholics and Debilitated persons. Persons suffering from Diarrhoea and

dysentry . Respiratory disorders.

Medical benefits of Fasting

ZAMZAM WATER• One of the miracles of Islam is ZamZam

water and its ability to satisfy both thirst and hunger.

• The zam zam well is located in Mecca, which is the heart of the Hajj pilgrimage.

• Standing only a few meters east of the Kaa’ba, the well is 35 meters deep and topped by an elegant dome.

Wonders & Health benefits of ZAMZAM WATER

• ZamZam was pumped continuously for more than 24 hours with a pumping rate of 8,000 liters per second, water level dropped to almost 44 feet below the surface, but when the pumping was stopped, the level immediately elevated again to 13 feet after 11 minutes.

• "Water of ZamZam is good for whatever purpose it has been drunk. In another Hadith the Prophet(PBUH) said "Water of ZamZam is a healer of every disease”

Peculiarities of ZAMZAM WATER

• More recently, in the last few decades, samples of ZamZam water have been collected by scientists and they have found certain peculiarities that make the water healthier, like a higher level of calcium.

• Four senior experts of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission have found the water of ZamZam well to be scientifically superior to tap or solar pump water.

• Alkaline in nature, the ZamZam water can neutralise excess hydrochloric acid formed in the stomach and reduces heartburn.

• Iodide, sulphate and nitrate contents are also much higher in the ZamZam water. Supply of iodide through ZamZam may sufficiently fulfil the requirement of iodide for the thyroid organ of a body.

• It was revealed that contents of macro-nutrients like magnesium, sodium and potassium were manifold higher in ZamZam water than in tap and solar pump water.

• The scientists said all the data indicated that ZamZam water had much more nutritive values than ordinary underground water.

• The hardness of ZamZam water is four times that of tap and solar pump water but it is within the acceptable limit set by the WHO, the researchers found.

ZAMZAM WATER and Spring water in Siddha.

Minerals Percentage

Calcium 98

Magnesium 43.7

Chloride 33.5

Iron 0.I5

Sulphur 37

Manganese 0.I5

Copper 0.I2

• Sweet in taste• Eliminates pitham and reduces

excessive thirst

CIRCUMCISION

• Male circumcision is among the rites of Islam and is part of the(in Arabic)fitrah, or the innate disposition and natural character and instinct of the human creation.

• As-Shawkani said in his book Nayl al-Awtar (1/184): "What the Prophet (PBUH) means by Fitrah is that if these characteristics are followed by a man, he would be described as a man of Fitrah, which Allah (s.w.t.) has gifted his servants with, and encouraged them to follow, so that they attain a high degree of respectability and dignity."

Benefits of CIRCUMCISION • "Circumcision of newborn boys (I.e., within the first month of life) brings numerous health

benefits, including: 1 – Protection against local infection in the penis.2 – Prevents Infections of the urethra. 3 – Protection against cancer of the penis: 4 – Sexually transmitted disease (STD): Researchers found that the STDs which are transmitted via sexual contact (usually because of fornication/adultery and homosexuality) spread more among those who are not circumcised, especially herpes, soft chancres, syphilis, candidiasis, gonorrhoea and genital warts. There are numerous modern studies which confirm that circumcision reduces the possibility of contracting AIDS when compared to their uncircumcised counterparts. 5 – Protection of wives against cervical cancer. Researchers have noted that the wives of circumcised men have less risk of getting cervical cancer than the wives of uncircumcised men.

Ethical Importance of Surma In Quran.

• Surma is called as Kohl in Tibb-Unani Medicine and Anjanakal in Siddha Medicine. Kohl is the sufoof (fine powder), which is applied on the eyes or to the inner surface of the eye lid, with the help of a thin stick or either mixed with water or oil for the base.

Kohl is the finest powder form of the medicinal preparation used externally to strengthen the eyesight and to other eye aliments.

• Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 5639 Narrated by Mu'adh ibn Jabal• The Prophet (PBUH), said, "The inhabitants of Paradise will

enter Paradise hairless, beardless with their eyes anointed with collyrium, aged thirty or thirty-three years."

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Continued….

• Surma is a greyish black coloured shiny stone which is rubbed on the hard surface like stone or a tile.

• It is obtained from the rock which is situated in Saudi Arabia.

• It mainly consists of mica , lead and graphite . The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Apply antimony, for it clears the sight and makes the hair grow.“

• The Prophet (PBUH) said: 'Wear your white garments, for they are among your best garments, and shroud your dead in them. Among the best types of collyrium you use is antimony (ithmid): it clears the vision and makes the hair sprout.‘ (Sunan of Abu Dawood 3869)

Medicinal uses of Surma Holy Quran• Surma is of many types which is used

for medicinal purpose. Mainly it is used in eye disease.

1.Surma /Kohl-e- abras-ham : This is used for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis

2.Surma -e-Rumanun: This is a particular surma used for Ramad (Secondary Glaucoma- increase in the occular pressure due to secondary lesion)

Siddha Medicine• Surma is known as ‘PLUMBI’• Synonyms of Plumbi ‘Neelanjanam’,

‘Surmakal’. • It is widely used to cure eye diseases

such as Cataract, Conjunctivitis, Glaucoma

Continued….

Holy Quran3. Surma-e-asha (Kohal -e-asha): This is a

particular surma used for Shabkori (Cataract), the drugs used have a very good property of jalli (corrosive) which give out best result when used as medicine after purification.

4.Surma-e-Muqhavi-e-Basar: The name suggests that it is used for increase of the eye sight especially during old.

HENNA

• Henna plant ( scientifically known as Lawsonia Inermis) is well known for long time in the Arab and Muslims world, extensively grown in India and Sudan and used mainly for cosmetic purposes

• Hazrat Ummu Salma(R) narrates: “In the life of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH), no injury or thorn piercing was treated on which Henna was not applied”(Tirmizi, Sanad-e-Ahmed)

• “Whenever somebody came to Prophet

Muhammad(Pbuh) with complaints of headache, he directed him to undergo cupping and whosoever complained of pain in legs, was advised to apply Henna.” (Bukhari,Abu Dawood)

Uses of HENNA as per Holy Quran• Jahzma(R) the wife of Bashir Bin Khasasia (R)

narrates “I saw Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) coming out of the house. He was coming after taking bath, therefore, he was shaking his hairs. The colour of henna was visible on his head.” (Tirmizi)

• Abi Rafai narrates, “I was present before Prophet(Pbuh), Passing his hand over his head he said that the head of all dyes was henna which ganeaglow to the face and increased the sexual vigour” (Abu Naim)

• It has a great healing effect, it contain many healing substances like Tannin and other Glue like substances.

• It has anti microbial effect especially anti-viral effect.

Henna as per Quran and Siddha Medicine

Holy Quran• Burns• Healing Properties• Anti-haemorragic• Nose Bleeding • Anti-viral

Siddha Medicine• Heals Wounds, sprains.• Preventing viral diseases• Has Astringent properties• and De-odorant properties.• Cures scabies, apthous

(mouth) ulcers-gargling.

MISWAK – Cleaning Teeth• Miswak, also called siwak is used to clean teeth

like we use toothpaste to clean our teeth daily. But the use of miswak is different from use of tooth paste and it’s way too beneficial to use.

• A majority of people from Muslim countries use daily to brush their teeth, is an alien thing to most people in the Western world. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) laid great emphasis on using miswak.

• The Miswak is obtained from the twigs of the Arak, or Peelu tree. Many others varieties are in common use, including walnut and olive.

Brushing Teeth – in Quran & Siddha

Quran.• According to Holy Qur’an and Ahadit• surah najam- verses 2-4• Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) said in ahadit:

Narrated Anas: “Allah’s Apostle I said, “I have told you repeatedly to (use) the Siwak. (The Prophet put emphasis on the use of the Siwak.)”

• Bukhari :: Book 2 :: Volume 13 :: Hadith 13• Narrated Abu Huraira: “I saw the Prophet

cleaning his teeth with Siwak while he was fasting so many times as I can’t count. I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak on every performance of ablution

Siddha Medicine.• Twigs useful in brushing.1. Neem (Margosa)2. Banyan3. Indian Gum arabic tree4. Rough chaff.5. Salvadora Persica

Advantages of MISWAK• There are 70 benefits of Miswak as known through

ancient Islamic literature here’s are some more common.

• Miswak strengthens the gums and prevents tooth decay.• It assists in eliminating toothaches and prevents further

increase of decay which has already set in.• Creates a fragrance in the mouth.• Cure for illness and headaches. .• Eliminates bad odours and improves the sense of taste.• Sharpens the memory.• Creates lustre (noor) on the face of the one who

continually uses it.• Causes the teeth to glow.• Strengthens the eyesight.

DISCUSSION• As students of Traditional Siddha Indian Medicine, we were fascinated by the

basic concept of Siddha Philosophy which is the part of the U.G syllabus.• We were also able to appreciate the similarities between our Holy Quran and

Siddha Literatures, which led us to work on this particular area.• Our work has so far as revealed similarities in basic ethical philosophies such as

‘FOOD as MEDICINE’ and Siddha concepts being on par with Islamic Lifestyles.

CONCLUSION• To conclude, whatever may be the origin of Religion, the ideas, Ethical

perspectives, Ultimate attainable goals have similarities. • As Holy Quran and Siddha Literatures(having deep rooted philosophies of

Hinduism) have some much similarities having ethical considerations.• The concept of oneness and Brotherhood etc., gets highlighted leading to the need

for living a harmonious life.

Acknowledgement

• My Hearty thanks to Almighty, Lovable Parents.

• My Sincere thanks to My Professor Dr. Thomas.M Walter, and his spouse.

• I would like to raise my sincere regards to my crew.

Thank You