My
attendance to yesterday seminar on Ibadah Friendly Hospital at UPM has
reflected myself a lot as a Muslim medical practitioner. When I was an
undergrad medical student in IIUM (UIAM), we were constantly reminded on islamicizing our medical management via Islamic
Input subjects. This process of medical shift towards
Islam is part of the paradigm shift for Muslim medical professionals from
sechular into Tauhidic paradigm as to achieve God's blessings (Mardhatillah).
As the product of International Islamic Medical University of Malaysia, we've
signed and took the Muslim Physician Oath before we begin our duties as medical
doctors.
Sadly, as we entered the real world of housemanship and medical practice, many of us diluted and lost our way with the existing working environment, including myself. Though I've clerked and reviewed hundreds/thousands of Muslim patients, how many of them that I've spared my time asking on their solah, which is the fundamental pillar of Islam. I'd only interested in diagnosing and managed their medical illness, forgotten their spiritual needs, which need to be guided and assisted by Muslim Medical professionals. Undeniably, there are some of Muslim Medical professionals who are still ignorant on this issue, or worried about what other people may think if they talk on this matter (e.g. don't wan't to be labelled as a religious person). Assuming that Muslim should know how to perform and take care of their own solah (as everyone is in charge of their own deeds), or even park the whole responsibility to the single ustaz/ustazah who is in charge of religious activity/programme in the hospital, I've separated the true concept of ibadah, which should include both religious and daily work/doings. The correct equation should be:
Work
= Ibadah = Amal
So what so special
about Ibadah friendly Hospital? It is not mere educating the medical staffs
about alternative ways to perform solah in assisting Muslim patients. It is
actually a platform for all medical professionals to perform good deeds for
patients, between other staff members, and their own selves. I was very
inspired when one of the speakers shared with us on how a public hospital in
Terengganu has implemented this Ibadah friendly concept in their medical wards.
When it was prayer time, patients and ward staffs will pray congregationally at
the prayer space created in the ward. Apart from getting the multiplied rewards
as performing solat jamaah, the relationships between ward staffs and the
patients also can be harmonious as Islamic deeds incorporated in their daily
task/activities. Doctors should prescribe and advice solah regularly in their
medical management for Muslim patients so that nurses can carry out the order
(instructions) easily. The spiritual needs of patients should be also taken
care, which include ibadah performing assistance, spiritual support
(chaplaincy), and spiritual care.
Scientifically,
the benefit of Solah toward general well-being, medical illness like backache,
impotency, and mental illness has been studied and proven by many researchers.
I was very intrigued with the expert sharing from Prof. Ir. Dr. Fatimah Ibrahim
fom Faculty of Engineering UPM on her innovation in quantifying the physical
effect of solah by performing it correctly, according
to the Sunnah. Her study findings showed that preoccupied (khusyuk) solah
increased one's general well-being, internal energy, and longevity. I was
surprised that the study on medical benefits of solah has been applied even by
non-Muslim medical consultants in treating their patients and there is a
special health clinic which provide this solah therapy in Universiti Malaya.
In
order to execute and realize this holistic concept of Ibadah freindly hospital,
Muslim medical professionals should be more assertive and brave in holding and
standing for the truth, particularly when facing ethical issues. The objectives
of Islamic Law (preserving the deen, life, akl, lineage, and wealth) and the
principle of Islamic Legal maxims (motives, certainty, injury, hardship, and
custom) should be made clear when making medical decisions for the patients.
Each Muslim doctors should have a firm stand and reason on why they get into
this noble professions (even though this might not be their initial interest),
as stated in the Holy Quran (Surah Al- Maidah, Verse 32):
Ethics is doing the
right thing even when no one is looking. This is actually the concept of Ihsan
(perfection), which has been taught thousand years ago by the Prophet Muhammad
s.a.w. The 4 principles of medical ethics (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence,
and justice)should be uphold by all medical professionals in delivering best
treatment for the patients.
Ibadah friendly
hospital won't benefit the Muslim patients only, instead the whole stakeholders
of the healthcare system. It's time for us to walk the talk and present as His
best creation in this world.
