Developing a Philosophy of Healing using an Islamic Epistemological Framework
Omar Hussain, D.O., Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University
Ahsan M. Arozullah, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Development Medical Sciences-Oncology, Astellas Pharma, Northbrook, IL
Akbar M. Ali, MD, Attending Physician, Division of Hospital Medicine, NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL
M. Amin Kholwadia, Director of Darul Qasim Institute, Glendale Heights, IL
Medicine and religion utilize internally consistent understandings of key concepts, such as ‘healing’, as philosophical foundations for informing what and who may heal. Shared beliefs in these philosophical understandings arise from underlying medical and religious epistemological frameworks that inform the discovery, development, and incorporation of knowledge. Appreciating differing epistemological frameworks underpinning medical and religious understandings may address apparent conflicts and gaps between medical and religious perspectives on treatment benefits.
The objective of this paper is to present an Islamic epistemological framework and to apply that framework to develop a philosophy of healing. The epistemological framework presented recognizes a variety of knowledge sources relevant for defining ‘healing’ including intuition derived from human experience; understanding that is triggered by prophetic knowledge; and inspiration from non-human sources. Time and focused effort invested by humans to address an issue, such as medical research, serve as a primary source of intuition derived from human experience. Systematic learning of revealed sources, including the Qu’ran as verbatim revelation and prophetic tradition as non-verbatim revelation, facilitate understanding prophetic knowledge. The epistemological framework also defines inspiration from non-human sources including angelic and demonic inspiration as sources of knowledge. While both of these non-human sources can inspire genius, applying classical Islamic theological tools can facilitate discerning the source and potential risks of that genius.
This paper will utilize one branch of prophetic knowledge, understanding God’s attributes, to derive a philosophy of healing based on God’s attribute known as Ash-Shaafee (the One who cures and heals). The paper will explore the use of God’s attribute of Ash-Shaafee in the Qu’ran and prophetic traditions and utilize the results of this exploration to derive an ‘Ash-Shaafee-based’ model of healing. For example, the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: ‘Take away the disease, O Lord of the people. Cure him, as You are Ash-Shaafee (the One who cures). There is no cure but Yours, a cure that leaves no disease.’
In conclusion, the paper will compare the healing potential of different treatments using Ash-Shaafee and medically based models of healing. Comparison of epistemological framework-based understandings may facilitate resolution of apparent conflicts and gaps between medical and religious perspectives on treatment benefits and risks.
Ahsan M. Arozullah, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Development Medical Sciences-Oncology, Astellas Pharma, Northbrook, IL
Akbar M. Ali, MD, Attending Physician, Division of Hospital Medicine, NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL
M. Amin Kholwadia, Director of Darul Qasim Institute, Glendale Heights, IL
Medicine and religion utilize internally consistent understandings of key concepts, such as ‘healing’, as philosophical foundations for informing what and who may heal. Shared beliefs in these philosophical understandings arise from underlying medical and religious epistemological frameworks that inform the discovery, development, and incorporation of knowledge. Appreciating differing epistemological frameworks underpinning medical and religious understandings may address apparent conflicts and gaps between medical and religious perspectives on treatment benefits.
The objective of this paper is to present an Islamic epistemological framework and to apply that framework to develop a philosophy of healing. The epistemological framework presented recognizes a variety of knowledge sources relevant for defining ‘healing’ including intuition derived from human experience; understanding that is triggered by prophetic knowledge; and inspiration from non-human sources. Time and focused effort invested by humans to address an issue, such as medical research, serve as a primary source of intuition derived from human experience. Systematic learning of revealed sources, including the Qu’ran as verbatim revelation and prophetic tradition as non-verbatim revelation, facilitate understanding prophetic knowledge. The epistemological framework also defines inspiration from non-human sources including angelic and demonic inspiration as sources of knowledge. While both of these non-human sources can inspire genius, applying classical Islamic theological tools can facilitate discerning the source and potential risks of that genius.
This paper will utilize one branch of prophetic knowledge, understanding God’s attributes, to derive a philosophy of healing based on God’s attribute known as Ash-Shaafee (the One who cures and heals). The paper will explore the use of God’s attribute of Ash-Shaafee in the Qu’ran and prophetic traditions and utilize the results of this exploration to derive an ‘Ash-Shaafee-based’ model of healing. For example, the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: ‘Take away the disease, O Lord of the people. Cure him, as You are Ash-Shaafee (the One who cures). There is no cure but Yours, a cure that leaves no disease.’
In conclusion, the paper will compare the healing potential of different treatments using Ash-Shaafee and medically based models of healing. Comparison of epistemological framework-based understandings may facilitate resolution of apparent conflicts and gaps between medical and religious perspectives on treatment benefits and risks.