More and more Muslims are moving into the United States or studying abroad each year, and consequently, more and more are utilizing hospital services here.

We are a Seattle-based organization that is working to help you, as a member of this hospital staff, understand and perhaps deal more easily with the growing number of Muslim patients.

We realize that a hospital staff must work as a team, and at times, the very important jobs you must carry out are difficult and trying.Dealing with patients with beliefs and customs that are somewhat different from your own can add to the frustration.In this brochure you will find information on a few topics which we felt would be relevant to your specific interaction with Muslim patients.

We believe this information will be quite valuable and will make your experiences with Muslim patients more rewarding and a little easier.

If you have any other questions pertaining to Muslims and Islam, please feel free to use the enclosed card to write to us.

The Muslim Patient & Daily Prayers

“Set up regular prayers: for such prayers are enjoined on Believers at stated times.” (The Holy Qur'an 4:103)

For the practicing Muslim, prayer forms the pillars of his day.He wakes at dawn to pray, breaks at noon to pray, again in the later afternoon, again at dusk, and prays one last time before retiring to bed.He washes up briefly for prayer and then retires to a clean spot in a room to bow and prostrate symbolically to God, turning to Him for guidance, expressing gratefulness to all God has given him.

It is hoped the following discussion will help you anticipate and understand the needs of your bedridden Muslim patient.

Washing-up

“O you who believe! When you intend to offer prayer, wash your faces and your forearms up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over your heads) and wash your feet up to the ankles.” (The Holy Qur'an 5:6)

In preparation for prayer, your patient will clean any bodily waste from his body, clothing, and area of prayer.Then he will make ablution by washing his face, mouth, and nostrils, wiping the top of his head, his ears and neck with wet hands, and washing his feet.

The ambulatory patient may need help to the bathroom for washing up.The bedridden patient will need a pitcher of water and a basin.

A patient who is physically unable to wash up or one who would be hurt by washing up may instead use dry cleansing in which he strikes his hands on a clean surface and then brushes his palms over his hands and face.

Maternity ward nurses may note that women are excused from prayer during menstruation or postnatal bleeding.

Modest Dress

The patient may need a clean sheet to cover with while praying.For the sake of modesty, the man will cover at least from the waist to the knees, and the woman will cover the entire body except the face and hands.

Facing the Ka’aba

The Muslim prays facing in the direction of the Ka’aba in Mecca (Saudi Arabia).This is a small, square house of prayer which was build by the prophet Abraham.This symbol of monotheism and the unity of mankind is the most ancient house of prayer of the monotheistic faith.

In some cases, the incapacitated patient might require physical assistance in positioning his chair or bed in the direction of the Ka’aba for prayer.

Bowing, Prostrating

As mentioned above, bowing and prostrating symbolically to God are essential parts of the Muslim prayer.If necessary, this may be done sitting, lying or even mentally, depending on the patient’s degree of incapacitation.

Interruptions

While praying, the Muslim recites the Qur'an (Diving Guidance brought to Prophet Muhammed approximately 600 years after the Divine Guidance brought to Jesus) aloud or silently, praising God, bowing and prostrating to Him.All attention is directed towards the worship of God, and your patient will continue his prayer until finished. The Muslim prayer takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.

Muslim Dietary Customs

Muslimsare enjoined by their religion to abstain from eating certain foods.This is in the interest of health and cleanliness.In this article, we hope to point out some of these foods so that you might better understand and assist your Muslim patient.

“O ye people!Eat of what is on earth, lawful and good; and do not follow the footsteps of the Evil One, for he is to you an avowed enemy.”(The Holy Qur'an 2:168)

“Good” here refers to what is pure, clean, wholesome, nourishing, and pleasing to the taste.

Intoxicants, pork and its by-products, blood, and the flesh of animals which have died without being slaughtered and fully bled are examples of Islamically prohibited foods.

Additionally, Muslims are enjoined to slaughter their livestock by slitting the animal’s throat in a swift and merciful manner saying, “In the name of God, God is Most Great,” in acknowledgment that the life of this creature of God is taken by God’s permission to meet one’s lawful need for food; the animal is then bled completely.

Pork

Occasionally misunderstandings occur when a Muslim calls down to the nurse’s station to inquire whether there is lard in a particular food item.As are people of the Jewish faith, Muslims are prohibited from eating pork and its by-products such as lard. Many baked goods contain lard, which is listed in the ingredients listing as “lard”, “animal fat”, and often just “shortening”.A listing of “vegetable shortening” is the only way to be sure that the product is not made with lard.

Gelatin as in Jell-O and marshmallows also presents a problem as it is often derived from pig skins.

“Halal” Meat

Some Muslims will abstain from eating meat if they are uncertain of how it was slaughtered.They place importance on the animal having been slaughtered in a humane fashion with the remembrance of God and gratefulness for this sacrifice of the animal’s life.

They also place importance on the animal having been bled properly as, otherwise, it would not be considered healthy to eat.These Muslims will prefer to eat fish, eggs, or milk products instead of meat while in the hospital.

Another opinion holds that since the Qur'an is explicit in stating that the food of Christians and Jews is lawful for Muslims, Muslims who live in Christian countries may eat commercial meat (apart from pork) pronouncing God’s name on it at the time of eating.Consequently, the question of “kosher” meat is not considered relevant by all Muslims living in this country.

The Islamic Concept of Birth

(revealed ca 1400 years ago)

"Verily We created man from a product of wet earth; then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging; then fashioned We the clot a little lump, then fashioned We the little lump bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it as another creation.So blessed be God, the best of Creators!” (The Holy Qur'an 23:12-14)

The messenger of God, Muhammed said: “Verily the creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother’s belly for forty days in the form of a seed, then he is a clot of blood for a like period, then a morsel of flesh for a like period, then there is sent to him the angel who blows the breath of life into him.”

Birth and the Call to Prayer

The practice of regular prayer is the most fundamental practice in Islam.Muslim prayer, which is performed five times a day, can be performed almost anywhere -- either individually or in congregation.The time of prayer is announced by the Call to Prayer which is called from the Muslim place of worship.These beautiful words which call the Muslim community to prayer five times a day are also the first words the Muslim baby will hear.The father will recite these words to the baby shortly after its birth.

Circumcision

Islam prescribes male circumcision with the sole purpose of facilitating cleanliness.The male child may be circumcised at any time which is convenient without ceremony; however, parents will probably want their son circumcised before his trip home from the hospital.

Parent-Child Relations

Among Muslims children are very much loved and wanted, a precious gift and trust from God. Although contraception is not prohibited, many couples have large families by choice because they genuinely love and want several children, and couples who are childless by choice are almost unheard of.The fondness of Muslims of all nationalities for children is well known.

Visitors

Of course new mothers traditionally get many happy visitors, but it is sometimes useful to know that visiting in Islam possibly takes on a broader dimension in that it is not limited to close friends and family.For the Muslim, visiting and assisting the indisposed is a basic form of worship to bring one closer to God.

Illness, Death & Dying

Visiting the sick is a basic duty one Muslim has for another and is not reserved for close friends and family.Consequently, the Muslim patient will often have many visitors.For the Muslim, visiting a sick brother or sister in faith is a basic form of worship done to bring one closer to God.

The Prophet Muhammed said that you will see the Believers in their mutual pity, love and affection are like one body.When one member has a complaint, the rest of the body is united with it in wakefulness and fever.

Muslim Concept of Death

“Every soul must taste death; and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial.And unto Us you will return.” (The Holy Qur'an 21:35)

For the Muslim, the whole of this life constitutes a trial and a test for the human by means of which his final destiny is determined.For him, death is the return of the soul to his Creator, God, and the inevitability of death and the Hereafter is never far from his consciousness, serving to keep all his life and deeds in perspective as he tries to live in preparedness for what is to come.

Although a human being may not necessarily have a great deal to say concerning the conditions of his life or the outcome of a specific situation; nevertheless he is accountable both for his actions and for his inner response to the particular conditions in which he finds himself.

Spiritual Comfort

In time of distress or illness the Muslim finds the greatest solace and comfort in the remembrance of God.

The severely ill person, who might be distracted by his pain or fear, greatly appreciates a companion who can read his Holy Book, the Qur'an, to him and remind him of God.

Your assistance in notifying the nearby Islamic center so that someone could come would be greatly appreciated.

Burial

The Muslim has been taught to treat the dead body with gentleness and respect.Cremation is forbidden.Rather, the body is cleaned, scented, and covered with a clean cloth for burial.The body should be buried as soon as possible.