Appendix 15, Religious Duties: Gift from God
Besides their spiritual benefits, the contact prayers, Zakat, Ramadan fasting, and Hajj bring many physical, economic, and health benefits.“In addition to their invaluable spiritual benefits, there is a plethora of physical, economic, and health benefits from observing the contact prayers (Salat), obligatory charity (Zakat), fasting during the month of Ramadan, and Hajj.”“Zakat charity and Hajj pilgrimage have far reaching economic and social benefits.”
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Fasting in Ramadan restores the stomach's size, lowers blood pressure, removes toxins, rests the kidneys, and reduces harmful fat.“Fasting during the month of Ramadan restores our expanded stomachs to their normal sizes, lowers our blood pressure through temporary dehydration, rids the body of harmful toxins, gives our kidneys a much needed rest, and reduces our weight by removing excessive and harmful fat.”
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The ablutions before prayer encourage more frequent toilet use, which protects against colon cancer.“The ablutions required prior to the contact prayers encourage us to use the toilet more frequently. This habit protects us from a common and devastating cancer, colon cancer.”
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The Dawn prayer helps prevent arthritis and combats depression, and the prostrations and bending in prayer prevent headaches and are healthful exercise.“Observing the Dawn prayer interrupts long periods of stillness during sleep; this is now proven to help prevent arthritis. Also, getting up early in the morning helps combat depression and other psychological problems.”“The prostration position which is repeated during the contact prayers expands the blood vessels in our brains to accommodate more blood, and this prevents headaches. The repeated bending of the back and the joints is a healthful exercise.”
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