The Medical Benefits of Taraweeh Prayers
Ibrahim B. Syed,
Ph. D.
President
Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc.
7102 W. Shefford Lane
Louisville, KY 40242-6462, USA
E-mail:
president@irfi.org
Website:
http://www.irfi.org
Muslims derive therapeutic and spiritual benefits starting from the Wudu to
the physical movements in the Salat - Takbir, Qiyam, Ruku, Sajda,
Jalsa, and Tasleems. Muslims perform five daily contact prayers (Salat)
and voluntary prayers (Sunnah, Nafl) throughout the year and
Taraweeh prayers during the month of Ramadan. This results in moderate physical
exercise particularly to every muscle in the body. Some muscles contract
isometrically (same length) and some contract in approximation or isotonically
(same tension). The energy needed for the muscle during exercise is met by a
process known as glycogenolysis. The rate of muscle metabolism increases during
the performance of Salat, resulting in a relative deficiency of oxygen
and muscle nutrients. In turn this deficiency causes vasodilation - an increase
in the calibre of blood vessels - thereby allowing blood to flow easily back to
the heart. The temporarily increased load on the heart acts to strengthen the
heart muscle and to improve the circulation within the heart muscle.
During the month of Ramadan, additional prayers are performed after salatul
Ishaa, called Taraweeh prayers which vary from 8 rakat (unit of
prayer) to 20 rakat with a few minutes break after every 4 rakat
for chanting and extolling the Majesty of Allah. After Iftar (breaking of
fast) the blood glucose level continues to rise from the food ingested. Just
before the Iftar meals, the blood glucose and insulin levels are at their
lowest level. After an hour or so after the Iftar meal, the blood glucose
begins to rise and also plasma insulin. Liver and the muscles take up the
circulating glucose. The blood sugar reaches high levels in an hour or two and
the benefits of Taraweeh prayers come into effect. The circulating glucose is
metabolised into carbon dioxide and water during the Taraweeh prayers.
Hence the Taraweeh prayers help in expending the extra calories and improve
flexibility, coordination, reduce stress-related autonomic responses in healthy
persons, and relieve anxiety and depression.
Physical and Emotional Well-Being
The gentle exercises performed in Taraweeh prayers improve physical fitness,
emotional well-being and increase the longevity of the Namazi (one who
performs the Salat or Namaz). When a little extra effort is made,
as in performing the Taraweeh prayers, there will be a betterment in the
endurance, stamina, in flexibility and strength. It was noted that the five
daily prayers (Salat) produce the same physiological changes without any
undesirable side effects as those produced by jogging or walking at about three
miles per hour. Recent research studies performed on 17,000 Harvard alumni who
entered college between 1916-1950 give strong evidence that only moderate
aerobic exercise, equivalent to jogging about 3 miles a day, promotes good
health and may actually add years to life. Men who expended about 2000 kcal of
energy on a weekly basis (equal to a daily 30-minute walk, run, cycle, swim,
etc.,) had one-quarter to one-third lower death rates than classmates who did
little or no exercise. In addition to the health-boosting qualities of the Salat,
the Namazi will be trained to be ever ready for any unexpected physical
exertion such as sudden lifting of children, chairs, or catching a public
transportation vehicle. The elderly will accomplish this more securely and
efficiently. Hence this is an advantage for the elderly to maintain their
physical fitness for a longer period of time. It has been observed that those
who fast and perform the Taraweeh prayers report feeling much convalescing and
robust.
The Elderly
As human beings grow older, their physiological activity diminishes, as a
result their bones become thinner and if not taken care of will suffer from
osteoporosis (which causes the fractures of the bones when they fall in the
elderly due to a loss of bone mineral content and consequent sponginess of the
bones. The bone then becomes structurally unstable, brittle and susceptible to
fractures). Primary osteoporosis is most common among postmenopausal (due to
reduction in oestrogen) women or those who have undergone a bilateral
oophorectomy (both the ovaries removed). Women are six times more likely than
men to develop Type I osteoporosis. The three major prevention strategies of
osteoporosis are a high dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D, regular
exercise and oestrogen replacement in postmenopausal women. The skin also
becomes fragile and crinkled. The repair processes of the body become slower and
immune responses are decreased. In the elderly their physical activity is
reduced as a result they have lower levels of Insulin Growth Factor 1. Reserve
functions of all vital organs decrease and the elderly are more susceptible to
mishaps and ailments. Because of repeated and regular movements of the body
during Salat the muscle strength, tendon power, joint flexibility and the
cardiovascular reserve are improved. Hence Salat and Taraweeh prayers
enable the elderly to enrich the quality of life and to meet with unforeseen
difficulties such as falls which could injure their bodies. Therefore Taraweeh
prayers will improve their endurance, self-respect and self-confidence in being
self-reliant.
Adrenaline is secreted even by minor activity. The secretion outlasts the
incitement. Even after the Taraweeh prayers are over the effects of adrenaline
and noradrenaline are manifest. (Adrenaline also called epinephrine is produced
by the adrenal glands. The middle part of these glands, the adrenal medulla,
secretes the hormone, which is chemically almost identical to the transmitter
substance noradrenaline produced at the ends of sympathetic nerves. Adrenaline
secretion into the bloodstream in stress causes acceleration of the heart,
constriction of arterioles, and dilation of the pupils. In addition, adrenaline
produces a marked increase in metabolic rate thus preparing the body for
emergency.) Even the thought or the intention of performing the Taraweeh prayers
is sufficient to activate the sympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic nervous
system (thoraco-lumbar nervous system) is one of the two division of the
autonomic nervous system, which supplies motor nerves to the smooth muscles of
internal organs and to the heart muscle. Sympathetic nerve fibres arise via
spinal nerves in the thoracic and lumbar regions. Their endings release mainly
adrenaline, which increases heart rate and breathing rate, raises blood
pressure, and slows digestive processes, thereby preparing the body for
"fight or flight" and antagonising the effects of the sympathetic
nervous system. The adrenaline would redistribute the blood in the body to the
active muscles, would mobilise liver glycogen if necessary in order to provide
glucose for the active tissues, would diminish fatigue in skeletal muscles and
would facilitate alveolar ventilation relaxing bronchiolar muscle, and would
initiate cardiovascular changes. Exercise induces a more effective functioning
of beta-adrenoreceptors located on cell membranes.
Beneficial effects of Gentle Exercise
The Taraweeh prayer is considered to be gentle exercise. The beneficial
effects of gentle exercise on the body are many which are elaborated here.
Effects on Skeletal Muscle
Once muscles atrophy inspite of the availability of ample proteins. During
the Salat and Taraweeh, every muscle in the body contracts isotnically
and others isometrically. This gentle exercise also enhances endurance and
diminishes tiredness. It helps the incapacitated to make the most of their
remnant capabilities. The blood flow in strung muscle is low. During the prayers
the blood flow is greatly increased to the muscles. Blood flow sometimes
increases even before the start of Taraweeh prayers, with just the thought of
performing the Taraweeh prayers. In addition to needing fats, proteins, and
carbohydrates, the human body requires minerals such as Potassium for nerve and
muscle activity. It is found in fruits, meats, seafood and milk. Potassium
deficiency leads to muscular and neurologic disorders. Potassium is also
important in the transmission of nerve impulses and is a major positive ion in
intracellular fluids. Potassium is involved in cellular enzyme activities, and
it helps regulate the chemical reactions by which carbohydrates is converted to
energy and amino acids are converted to protein. Also Potassium ions cause
vasodilation of arterioles. During the Taraweeh prayers, systolic Blood pressure
may rise (the larger number in B.P.) a little and the diastolic Blood
Pressure(the lower number in B.P.) may remain unchanged or even fall. However
after the Taraweeh prayers are over, the B.P. may drop to just below normal
levels which is a welcome sign. Taraweeh prayers improve respiratory efficiency;
circulation in the capillaries surrounding the alveoli, or air sacs, is
increased, and this brings about enhanced gas exchange and deeper breathing. The
increase in the maximal consumption of oxygen is what makes the Namazi feel
better. Those who perform the Taraweeh prayers, apart from the prescribed Salat,
are more alert and active than those who do not perform the Taraweeh prayers,
even after the age of retirement. Taraweeh prayers improve physical strength and
joint stability and reduce the risk of injury to the tendons and connective
tissues. After age 40, the bone mineral density falls with age. Taraweeh prayers
increase bone mineral density in both menopausal and in elderly women and
prevents osteoporosis and maintains normalcy in bone structures. Osteoporosis
results in hip fractures in women after menopause and in elderly men. The risk
of osteoporosis is substantially reduced by regular Salat and Taraweeh
prayers. The prayers improve lubrication of joints, movement, and maintain
flexibility. Deep vein thrombosis (the most common cause of ulceration of the
legs in the elderly) is prevented by performing Salat and Taraweeh
prayers.
Metabolic Effects
Salat improves body weight control and expend calories without
proportionate increase in appetite. A combination of moderate dietary
restriction, both at the Iftar and Sahur (early morning breakfast
before the start of fast) meals, accompanied by the Taraweeh prayers, should
achieve weight reduction. This will also reduce both fat and body weight, but
fat-free weight will remain constant or may even increase slightly. Hence during
Ramadan one should not overeat at the Sahur and Iftar meals and
continue to perform Salat and Taraweeh prayers in order to lose some of
the excess weight.
It is well known that exercise prevents coronary heart disease (CHD),
increases high density lipo-proteins (HDL or healthy Cholesterol), increases
maximum oxygen uptake, slows the heart, lowers the B.P. slightly, decreases
ventricular ectopic activity, enlarges the lumen of the coronary arteries and
increases cardiac output. Exercise also improves carbohydrate tolerance and
improves late-onset diabetes, and helps cases of chronic respiratory diseases.
Beneficial changes have been recorded in the lipid profile, B.P., clotting
factors, weight reduction and insulin sensitivity of muscles and other tissues
in persons who exercise regularly. Growth Hormone secretion is elevated by
fasting and it is further elevated by Taraweeh prayers. As Growth Hormone is
necessary for collagen formation, this may be an important factor as to why the
skin of those who fast regularly during Ramadan and perform the Taraweeh prayers
do not get wrinkled, even when they grow old.
Mental Health
It is a known fact that exercise improves mood, thought and behaviour.
Exercise improves the quality of life, induces greater sense of well-being and
energy, reduces anxiety and depression, influences mood favourably and
contributes to self-esteem and an aura of confidence; improves memory in the
elderly especially with constant repetition of the Ayaat (verses) from the
Glorious Quran and other Ayaat which exalt His Glory. 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. All these are combined in the Taraweeh prayer which is an
ideal condition for "relaxation response." It combines repeated
muscular activity with repetition of Salat, chanting of words of
glorification of Allah and of supplications. The Taraweeh prayer puts the mind
in a relaxed state. This calm state of the mind may be partly due to the release
of encephalins, beta-endorphins (endogenous morphines) and others into the blood
circulation. Endorphins are any one of the neuropeptides composed of many amino
acids, elaborated by the pituitary gland and acting on the central and
peripheral nervous systems to reduce pain. Endorphins are categorised as
alpha-endorphin, beta-endorphin, and gamma-endorphin which produce pharmacologic
effects similar to morphine. Beta-endorphin found in the brain and GI(gastro-intestinal)
tract is the most potent of the endorphins and is a powerful analgesic(pain
killer) in humans and animals. For example during childbirth many women release
endorphins reducing a woman's sensation of pain. The release of endorphins is
associated with an euphoria. During childbirth, women who give birth with little
or no medication sometimes label this euphoria a "birth climax."
Conclusion
Islam is the only religion where physical movements of Salat and
Taraweeh prayers are combined with spiritual exercise. When Salat and
Taraweeh prayers are practised throughout a person's life, recurring every few
hours or so, trains a person to undertake the difficult task of meditation
during physical manoeuvres of Salat and Taraweeh prayers, so that the
Namazi(one who performs the Salat) benefits both from spiritual as well
as physical exercise. Salat and Taraweeh prayers are unique in that
tension builds up in the muscles during physical manoeuvres on the one hand,
while tension is relieved in the mind due to the spiritual ingredient, on the
other hand. The following benefits have been noted among those who perform the
Taraweeh prayers: burning off calories and losing weight, maintaining muscle
tone and body composition, joint flexibility (stiff joints are often the result
of disuse, not arthritis), increasing metabolic rate, improving circulation,
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, improving your appearance,
reducing depression and resistance to depression, helping you sleep better and
suppressing your appetite. Evidence is also accumulating that those who perform
regular Salat along with voluntary prayers can conserve and actually
retard the loss of bone mass in the elderly, thus staving off the ravages of
osteoporosis that afflicts both men and women. It is also possible to retard the
aging process and confer some protection to health in later life. Those who have
performed Salat (Fard and Wajib), Sunnah and Nafl
and Taraweeh prayers throughout life get protection and a positive effect in
terms of health and longevity. They reverse the life-shortening effects of
cigarette smoking and excess body weight. Even people with high blood pressure
(a primary heart disease risk) reduced their death rate by one-half and their
risk of dying from any of the major diseases is reduced. They also counter
genetic tendencies toward an early death.
Hence Salat (Fard, Wajib), Sunnah, Nafl
and Taraweeh prayers are necessary for Muslims to preserve life and their
desirable qualities into old age.
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