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Understanding Mind/Body Medicine from Muslim Religious Practices of Salat and Dhikr

  • Psychological Exploration
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Abstract

There has been an increasing medical interest in Muslim religious practices in promoting well-being. Central to Muslim religious practices are salat (prayer) and dhikr (chanting). These two religious forms may be argued as comprising elements of mind/body medicine due to their positive effect on the psychoneuroimmunological response. The aim of this article was to further understand the mind/body aspects of Muslim salat and dhikr.

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Notes

  1. According to Schimmel this “forms the starting point for the Sufi way of purification” (1976). Secondly, there is the nafs as the “blaming soul”—an-nafs al-lawwãma (Quran 75:2), which corresponds to the human conscience; and thirdly, the nafs after having been purified (mutma’inna) (Quran 89:27). In this state, the nafs is purged of any incendarianistic qualities, and is “at peace” with Allah.

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  1. School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

    Arthur Saniotis

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Saniotis, A. Understanding Mind/Body Medicine from Muslim Religious Practices of Salat and Dhikr . J Relig Health 57, 849–857 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9992-2

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