The document discusses the health benefits of wudu (ablution) and salat (prayers) in Islam. It states that wudu involves washing different body parts 5 times a day according to the Prophet's teachings, which cleanses the body and has additional health benefits. Similarly, the different positions in salat such as standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting provide exercise to muscles and have psychological, physical and brain benefits when done regularly, such as reducing stress and improving concentration. Overall, regularly performing the religious rituals of wudu and salat as prescribed in Islam can lead to improved health, well-being and cleanliness of both the body and soul.

2. A DAILY RITUAL

4. Fourteen centuries ago, our Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) gave us
a prescription of 26 washing movements to be carried out 5
times a day, a total of 130 daily washing movements, to
grant us optimum health.
“O ye who believe! when ye prepare for prayer, wash your
faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; Rub your
heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles. If ye
are in a state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole
body. But if ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh
from offices of nature, or ye have been in contact with
women, and ye find no water, then take for yourselves
clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and
hands, Allah doth not wish to place you in a difficulty, but to
make you clean, and to complete his favor to you, that ye
may be grateful.”
—Al-Ma'ida, Sura 5, Ayah 6[

5. HEALTH BENEFITS OF EVERY ASPECTS OF
WUDU

6. • The Wudu comprises of
STEPS OF WUDU washing the hands, arms
right up to the
elbow, face, mouth, nostrils,
and feet up the ankle, all
three times each. The inside
and behind the ears, as well
as the part of the head above
the forehead is wiped once.
• Done five times a day, it not
only cleanses these vital
parts of the body from dust
and dirt but also "softens"
and refreshes them.

7. • The obvious reason behind washing the mouth
during ablution is to remove the food
particles, which could cause teeth and gum
problems. That is also the reason why miswak is
also encouraged before ablution.
• When washing one’s nostrils, one is also
performing a preventive health measure as the
germs trapped in the nostrils are removed and do
not pass on to the respiratory system (lungs).
• According to a study conducted by a team of
doctors in Alexandria University, the Prophetic
tradition, which urges the exaggeration of washing
the nostrils by introducing the water in the nostril
then blowing it out, positively affects the inner
coating of the nostrils. Those who carried out the
washing in the correct form had clean, shiny
nostrils with no dust clinging to the small hair
inside.

8. • Repeated washing of the face invigorates the
facial skin cells and helps prevent early
wrinkles as well as having a cleansing effect
on the inside of the eyes, which prevents eye
infections.
• Washing the ear helps rid them from wax
accumulation, which may cause ear
infections as well as affecting the inner
ear, which eventually causes body
imbalances.
• The Prophetic tradition of encouraging one to
wash between the toes while washing the
feet, is also extremely important as it
prevents the foot, which in our modern times
is trapped most of the day inside shoes, from

9. Ablution helps prevent skin cancer
• The areas that are washed during ablution are the
parts of the body that are most prone to be exposed
to pollution, whether it is pollution from the internal
secretions of the body on to the skin surface, such as
sweat, or whether it is external. Ablution, removes
this ‘pollution’ five times a day, and hence maintains
a clean outside layer of skin, which in turn helps the
cells underneath to function properly.
• Research has proven that one of the main reasons
behind skin cancer is that the skin is exposed to
chemicals, especially petrochemicals, and that the
best way to prevent skin cancer is by constantly
removing these chemicals.

10. SALAT (NAMAZ)

11. HEALTH BENEFITS OF EVERY ASPECT
OF NAMAZ

12. QIYAAM
• During the voluntary clenching of the
hands, blood flow is increased in the hand
area and the brain.
• When we recite verses from the Holy
Quran various muscles are exercised. There
is a bilateral increase in blood flow in the
face, tongue, mouth sensory and motor
areas, and the upper premotor cortex in
the brain during speech . During creative
speech, there is also an increase in blood
flow in Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas of
speech in the brain. Blood flow in the brain
can be measured by functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron
emission tomography (PET.)

13. RUKU
• Bowing (Ruku) is done by
forward movement of the
backbone.
• The unique position of Ruku
has positive effects on the
back muscles. The back
muscle contract actively and
they become stronger.

14. SAJDAH
• The position of Sajdah is the climax of
Namaz and as mentioned in a Hadith a
Muslim is nearest to Allah in this
position.
• Abu Huraira (radiAllahu anhu) reported
that the messenger of Allah said:
"The nearest a servant comes to his Lord
is when he is prostrating himself, so make
supplication (in this state)“ [Sahih al-
Bukhari]

15. SAJDAH
• Sajdah is a unique position as this is the only
position in which brain (or head) becomes lower
than the heart and hence for the first time the
blood gushes towards the brain with full force
• In the position of Sajdah due to the increased
blood supply the brain receive more nourishment
and it has good effect upon
memory, vision, hearing, concentration, psyche
and all other cognitive abilities. People who offer
their prayers regularly have more will power and
can cope with the difficulties of life in a much
better manner. They have less incidence of
headaches, psychological problems and other
defects of cognitive function.

16. SAJDAH
• In the unique position of Sajdah the neck muscles get
best exercise.
• It is uncommon that a person who offers his prayers
regularly will get the usual neck myalgias (pain) or
cervical spondylosis as the neck muscles particularly
become very strong due to the 34 sajdahs offered daily
in five prayers.

17. JALSA & QAIDA
• After performing Sajdah either
the musalli stands up or he sits
to pray Attahiyyat. In this
position the person sits calmly
while his hands rest at his thighs
which are folded backwards.
This is much similar to the
relaxation position of Yoga and
has soothing effect upon one's
health and mentation.

18. **IMPORTANT**
It must be reminded that
prayer is not meant to be an
exercise. However there are
a lot of medical advantages
associated with it

19. MEDICAL ADVANTAGES ASSOCIATED
WITH SALAT
• Salat prayer has
psychological, musculoskeletal and cerebral
effects
• Salat has special characteristics in that it is a
short duration mild-to-moderate
psychological, physical and brain activity.
Scientific evidence also supports the notion
that even moderate intensity activities, when
performed daily, can have some long-term

20. • It improves memory especially with
constant repetition of the Ayaat
(verses) from the Holy Quran. This
constant repetition of the Quranic
Ayaat would help to screen the mind
from the incoming thoughts. It has
been found by a Harvard University
researcher, Dr. Herbert Benson that
repetition of a prayer, Ayaat of the
Quran or remembrance (Dhikr) of Allah
or muscular activity coupled with
passive disregard of intensive thoughts
causes a "relaxation response" that
leads to the lowering of Blood Pressure
and decreases in oxygen consumption
and a reduction in heart and
respiratory rates.

21. The following benefits have been noted
among those who perform the prayers on
regular basis:
• Burning off calories and losing weight
• Maintaining muscle tone and body composition
• Joint flexibility
• Improving heart and lung function and aerobic capacity
• Decreasing heart disease risk profile
• Increasing your sense of self-control
• Reducing your level of stress
• Increasing your ability to concentrate
• Reducing depression and resistance to depression
• Helping you sleep better

22. DUA

24. RESPONSIBILITY OF MOTHERS