MENTAL PRESERVATION FROM

ISLAMIC AND MEDICAL PERSPECTIVES

BY
DR.AMINU FIKIN
MBBS,MBA,FMCFM
CONSULTANT FAMILY PHYSICIAN
FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE,NGURU
YOBE STATE, NIGERIA.
 MENTAL PRESERVATIONFROM ISLAMIC AND
MEDICAL PERSPECTIVES

 Definition of Aql( mentall,intellect,mind)

 Mental(intellect, mind, aql) as a basis of

human behaviour
 Mental Disorders, shudhuudh ‘aqli,(intellect,

mind, )
 PROTECTION OF ‘AQL BY PROHIBITING

INTOXICANTS
Contents contd

CONTENTS CT’D

 Preservation of ‘AQL by treatment

 A)Definition of mental disorders
 B) Impact of mental disorders on ‘aql
 C)Treatment of mental disorders
 D) Family role
 E)Community role
 F)Conclusion
Definition
 Mental(Mind, intellect or aql) is a
human faculty that enables
humans to interpret sensory
information from the environment
to gain new knowledge, to think
and formulate ideas, to
distinguish the right and moral
from the wrong and evil, and to
control voluntary human behavior
MENTAL (Mind,Intellect,Aql)
 Aql is a distinguishing characteristics of
humans that separates them from
animals
 The Qur’an has used 5 concepts that can

be understood to refer to the seat of

intellect: naasiyat, lubb, qalb, nafs, and
fuad. ‘Aql has a spiritual component
 In the present state of human knowledge

we are not yet able to define ‘aql in

terms of neurophysiology
Mental(Aql, Mind, intellect) as basis of
human behaviour
 It is human intellect(mind) as manifested in
cortical function that makes humans
responsible and accountable for their actions.
 Human intellect enables humans to

distinguish moral from immoral behaviour

 To make judgments of right and wrong much

of the time but there are some moral issues

beyond human intellect that require guidance
from revelation
 Disorders of the intellect, shudhuudh ‘aqli

 Human (mind) intellect is so important that

its disorders have serious consequences
 The Qur’an has mentioned many disorders of

the intellect: kufr, shirk, jaahiliyyat, jahal,

jidaal, shakk, dhann, and wahm
 Denying the Creator, kufr, can only occur if

the denier suspends his intellect, ta'atwill aql

al kafir (Qur’an 7:179, 10:42-43, 13:19)
Mental disorders cont’d
 Shirk is intellectual failure to see that the
harmonious and co-ordinated universe could
not have more than one Creator and arises
due to blind following of forefathers, taqlid al
aaba
 (Qur’an 2:170, 7:28, 7:70-71, 7:173, 10:78,

11:62, 11:87, 11:109, 12:40, 14:10, 21:52-

54, 23:24, 26:72-77, 28:36, 31:21, 34:43,
38:5-7, 43:22-24)
 ETC
PROTECTION OF ‘AQL (Mental, mind, intellect)L BY
PROHIBITING INTOXICANTS

 Definition of intoxicant:-The term khamr

refers to an intoxicant
 Khamr is defined in the Law as any substance

that causes intoxication, al khamr ma

khaamar al ‘aql, or anything that causes
clouding of the mind, kullu muskirin
khamr(Bukhari K64 B60)
Mental disorders cont’d
 Khamr is the key to other evils and sins, al kahmr
miftaah al shuruur[Ibn Majah K30 B1]
 Khamr is likened to worshipping idols[Ahmad 1:272]

 Iman temporarily disappears from a person at the

moment of taking an intoxicant( Bukhari K74 B1)

 The salat of an intoxicated person is not

accepted[Nisai K51 B43]

 Khamr is not a cure but is a disease[Muslim K36 H12]

 Spread of khamr is one of the signs of impending last

day, al kahmr min ashraat al sa'at[Bukhari K3 B21]

Impact of intoxicants on ‘aql(Mind)

 Intoxicants change or impair the intellect, the

distinguishing feature of human life
 With an impaired intellect and loss of control

a human becomes an animal

 Intoxicants being generally addictive

compulsively prevent a person from following

the dictates of his or her intellect
Prohibition of intoxicants, tahriim al khamr

 Every intoxicant is prohibited, kullu muskir

haraam[ Bukhari K64 B60]
 What intoxicates in large amounts is

prohibited even if taken in small amounts, ma

askara kathiruhu fa qaliluhu haram
 Addiction, besides nullifying the purpose of

hifdh al ‘aql, leads to poor health, psychiatric

complications, crime, and violation of diin all
of which are haraam
Impact of intoxicants on ‘aql
 The following are the common forms of
khamr encountered in modern society.
 A) Alcohol: is used to refer to beverages

containing ethyl alcohol (ethanol) CH3CH2OH

 Alcoholic beverages are described as wines,

beers, and spirits

 The immediate effect of ethanol is mental

incompetence
COMMOM FORMS OF KHAMR
 B) Nicotine:-Nicotine and related alkaloids
found in the tobacco plant, nicotiana tobacum,
have narcotic effects and are addictive
 Tobacco leaves are smoked or chewed
 C) Opiates:-The group of opiates consists of
opium, morphine, heroin, codeine, and other
related substances
 They relieve pain (analgesia), produce stupor or
sleep (narcosis), and cause elation (euphoria)
COMMOM FORMS OF KHAMR
 D) Hallucinogenic drugs:- Hallucinogens are
described as psychotomimetic (mimic
symptoms of psychotic disorders)
 psychotogenic (produce psychotic effects

unlike naturally-occurring psychotic disease)

and psychedelic (expand consciousness by
increasing the individual’s awareness of
surroundings)
COMMOM FORM OF KHAMR
 E) Sedative hypnotics:-Sedative hypnotics
include barbiturates, bromide, chloral
hydrate, and paraldehyde
 Barbiturates act on the cerebral centers to

inhibit inhibitory actions leading to

talkativeness and social interaction
COMMON FORMS OF KHARMAR
 F) Stimulants:-Stimulants include amphetamine and
cocaine
 Amphetamines are used to relieve depression and
fatigue but are associated with habituation,
dependency, and physiological tolerance without
leading to addiction
 Cocaine is derived from leaves of the coca plant
(Erythroxylon coca)
 It stimulates the nervous system, causes mental
confusion and convulsions.
 Chronic use leads to personality disturbance,
hallucinosis, and psychosis
COMMON FORMS OF KHAMR
 G)Tranquillizers:-Tranquillizers
include reserpine, phenothiazines, and
marijuana. Marijuana or marihuana,
from the plant Cannabis Sativa, causes
euphoria, visual disturbances, changes
in judgment, visual hallucination,
anxiety, depression, mood changes,
paranoia, and psychosis
COMMON FORM OF KHARMR
 H) Other intoxicants:-There are however
many other phenomena that lead to
intellectual impairment but are not
substances that are ingested
 They prevent a human from acting according

to the dictates of the intellect because of the

irresistible compulsive force of the addiction.
 Examples are gambling, pervert sexual acts,

erotic music, and some forms of sports

 PRESERVATION OF ‘AQL BY MENTAL TREATMENT

 Definition of mental disorders:-There is no

simple definition of mental disorder since the
distinction between pathology and
idiosyncrasy is very fine
 Psychiatric disorders manifest as delusions,

hallucinations, paranoia, affective disorders,

generalized anxiety disorders, obsessive-
compulsive disorders, somatoform disorders,
personality disorders, and psycho-sexual
disorders
Impact of mental disorders on ‘aql

 Mental disorders are disorders of the

‘aql and are associated with
intellectual incompetence and
therefore affect ahliyyat al wujuub and
ahliyyat al adaa
 The impact on ahliyyat al wujuub is

minor being confined to restriction of

enjoyment of rights and not abolition
of those rights
Impact of mental disorders on ‘aql

 The impact on ahliyyat al adaa is

more important because mental
disorders resulting in loss of
intellectual incompetence excuse
the person from many legal
obligations
Treatment of mental disorders
 A) Mental hygiene involves
maintaining mental balance by living a
stress-free life and treating neurotic
or psychotic disorders
 B) Medical treatment plays a very

important role in protection of the

mind
 Treatment of physical illnesses

removes stress that affects the mental

state
Treatment of mental disorders
 C) Medical treatment of alcohol and drug
abuse prevents deterioration of the intellect
 D) Other approaches in mental hygiene are

correcting the ‘aqiidat, acts of ‘ibadat, and

dua
 Correct ‘aqidat, gives correct understanding

of life’s events
 Correct ‘aqidat gives the potential victim a

reality bigger than himself and his problem

Treatment of mental disorders
 Correct ‘aqidat also gives hope, raja,
in the mercy and help of Allah
 It also teaches the potential victim the

value of tawakkul, reliance on Allah

 It teaches renouncing the material

possessions of the earth, zuhd, which

prevents anxiety or depression about
material losses
Treatment of mental disorders
 Ibadat disciplines and strengthens the
worshipper
 Acts of worship help maintain balance,

mizan, and equilibrium, i’itidaal

 Salat leads to calmness, sakiinat
 Zakat involving giving away some of our

wealth in charity cures us of the disease of

covetousness, shuhhu
 Dhikr and tafakkur (meditation) lead to

mental and spiritual equilibrium

Treatment of mental disorders
 Meditation controls anxiety
 FAMILY HEALTH: Good mental and physical

health requires that children grow in a

healthy family so that they can be balanced
adults
 A healthy family promotes the health of all its

members
 The family teaches trust, loyalty, a sense of

belonging, and rights and responsibilities

Treatment of mental disorders
 These are attributes needed for balanced
psychological health
 The family is an economic unit
 It is the main source of primary health care
 COMMUNITY HEALTH: The concept of

community health was not recognized widely

until the last quarter century
 It is however a very old concept found in the

Qur'an
Treatment of mental disorders
 The Qur'an has told us about many
communities in the past as lessons for
us[Qur’an 11:100]
 Good, al balad al taib[Qur’an 7:58, 34:15]
 Safe, al balad al amiin[Qur’an 95:3] are

adjectives that the Qur'an has used about

some communities
 Some of them were blessed and lived in peace

and plenty[Qur’an 16:112]

CONCLUSION
 There are activities that Islam encourages to promote
health
 They essentially put the body in the best state to
withstand disease and illness
 These include diet, exercise, and recreation. Health
promotion involves pro-active measures that make
health better
 These include exercise, good nutrition; adequate rest;
mental calmness; and tranquility of a family life,
sakiinat
 Iman and spiritual calmness, tama'ninat, contribute to
health promotion
THE END

WASSALAM