Can I Use Science
Calling To Islam?
Questions?
Just Ask Islam
Title: Salah - Scientific Proofs of Physical Benefit
From: Asadullah in Canada
Dear scholars - salam alaykum,
My question is, "What is the scientific proof that salat is physically good for you?" I want solid proof from Quran & Sunnah and modern day science to match up exactly and use it to call to Islam."
Reply: September 22, 2003
From Yusuf Estes, former National Muslim Chaplain, Delegate to United Nations Peace Summit for Religious Leaders, established over 2,500 websites for Islam, awarded Most Influencial Muslim of 2012 and found of Guide US satellite TV across America.
Bismillah Rahman Raheem - Salam alaykum dear brother in Islam,
and thanks for your question, which comes from the righteous heart. This shows your commitment to da`wah (call to Islam), a basic duty of all Muslims. We commend your pursuit for knowledge in Islam.
Answer: "I would like to first congratulate you on your efforts for da`wah or the call to Islam. First of all, praise be to Almighty Allah Who made us Muslims, and entrusted us with the task of propagating this precious way of life. Keep in mind that Islam is more than just a religion. In fact, as you well know, Islam is a complete way of life for all people, in all places and all times.
Next, I would like to make the observation that giving da`wah has certain hard and fast rules that must be taken into consideration at all times.
If you want to convince someone to become a Muslim and you try to show him that performing Prayer will somehow give him or her a physical benefit in this world, you need to demonstrate a cautious approach.
There are many things that we do everyday that do not necessarily have any scientific proof indicating physical benefit.
One clear example is performing Hajj (Pilgrimage) to the House of Allah. Could you tell me any scientific proof that there is a physical benefit behind gathering 5,000,000 people to go to the same place at the same time in a place that normally holds only around 200,000?
There is no exact proof of physical benefits for performance of hajj (pilgrimage) according to 'modern science'. So this type of argument might take a person farther from Islam.
Concerning the “benefits” which “science” has made clear that one derives from physical positions or movements one assumes in the salah (Prayer), you might note the following:
Standing up straight is a correct position for the spine.
Bowing at a right angle allows a flow of energy from the pituitary gland in the back of the head.
Placing the head on the ground in sujud (prostration) allows a large amount of blood to enter into the brain.
Sitting in the jalsah (sitting position) to say the Tashahhud with the back straight and focusing all one’s attention on the right finger while moving it helps in enhancing the concentration.
I recall a TV show back in the mid 1960s called the “Today Show”. One segment demonstrated a solution to overcome the deficiency for proper mental development.
The host on the show asked the doctor about his discoveries and techniques. The doctor explained in modern society, humans are not given enough time to develop certain portions of the brain while crawling about on the floor in their infant years.
He said a baby must have a number of months to crawl on the ground which we do not get these days.
Therefore, he developed the method to solve the problem by having his patients get down on their hands and knees and crawl around in certain fashion for a certain period of time at various intervals throughout the day.
The program showed men and women crawling around on the floor doing this exercise, which demonstrated need for their heads to hang down and even be lowered toward the floor.
He claimed it was necessary for proper development of the brain and mental well being.
However, I don’t advise that you use this type of approach in your da`wah. The reason is that it is not established from the Qur’an or the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that you need to give scientific proofs to call people to Islam. Guidance is the main issue in calling to Islam. It is only Allah who guides and it is only Allah who misguides. So, explain Islam the same way that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did and then pray to Allah to guide them.
This can be clarified more further through the hadith narrated by Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) just before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Mu`adh to Yemen he said to him:
"Invite the people to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I am Allah's Messenger, and if they obey you to do so, then enlighten them that Allah has enjoined on them five Prayers in every day and night (in twenty-four hours), and if they obey you to do so, then teach them that Allah has made it obligatory for them to pay the Zakah from their property and it is to be taken from the wealthy among them and given to the poor."
(Reported by Al-Bukhari)
"May Allah guide you to the straight path and direct you to that which pleases Him, Ameen"
For details on giving dawah visit: www.IslamTomorrow.com/dawah
For videos of many people entering Islam: www.ConvertsReverts.com
More Questions & Answers on:
www.JustAskIslam.com
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