Islamic Health

Book excerpt: Did you know... Intermittent fasting was established in our tradition long before physicians recommended it. The companion, Zahir bin Haram struggled with body image. The Prophet (ﷺ) would build his confidence, telling him he was valued in the eyes of Allah. Islam advocates for consent to our bodies, including the right to privacy when using the bathroom, sleeping, and in seeking permission before entering a room. The Prophet (ﷺ) taught the young companion, al-Fadl, to lower his gaze out of respect for others and as a means to control sexual urges. Islam looks at entertainment as a human need. After striving for the sake of Allah, we are encouraged to take time to relax, re-energize, and have fun with permissible activities. The Prophet (ﷺ) advocated for social justice in a society that had deep practices of racism. Muslim youth today have many questions that would be unrelatable in a conventional health class and often overlooked by their parents. The Islamic Health series is the first health curriculum created specifically for Muslim youth ages nine and up. It is the first of its kind to tackle the most common health concerns by putting the Islamic way of life at the forefront of its answers and centering the Muslim narrative. What is the Islamic Health Series? Islamic Health is comprehensive health textbook series with real-life application of researched-based health skills in an Islamic framework. It includes key words, chapter activities, chapter reviews, resources, and more. Its goal is to give Muslim youth a resource to seek answers on their most common health questions, as well as provide both parents and educators a curriculum to teach it at home or in a classroom environment. Islamic Health is a two-book series. Book I (ages nine and up) is available here. Book II (ages 14 and up) will be available Fall 2021. What does Islamic Health - Book I include? Islamic Health- Book I covers the following six areas of health: REPRODUCTIVE & SEXUAL HEALTH: The physical, mental, and spiritual changes of puberty; the process of reproduction; and Islamic rulings of menstruation. PHYSICAL HEALTH: Healthy eating and exercise in light of the Quran and sunnah. SOCIAL HEALTH: Understanding disabilities; caring for orphans, those in poverty, and the environment; relationship rights between Muslims, parents and children, and with non-Muslims; and advocating for social justice and anti-racism. MENTAL & SPIRITUAL HEALTH: The influence family, peer pressure, bullying, Islamophobia, and body image have on self-esteem; the mental effects of social media and video games; and the Islamic approach to mental illness. About the Author: After graduating from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Amber Khan went on to pursue health education. She has been a Muslim youth health educator since 2010. She teaches health education at schools and community centers focusing on physical, social, mental, reproductive, and sexual health education, and is the chair of the Education Committee for the Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA). Dr. Khan also holds an Associates' Degree in Islamic Studies from Mishkah University, focusing her studies on aqeedah and dawah. She has led halaqas at her local masajid and college universities for over ten years, is an educator for New Muslim classes at Muslim Enrichment Project, and a volunteer Muslim chaplain at women correctional facilities. She also leads a weekly youth sisters halaqa since 2016.