HEALING GUIDELINES BASED ON THE QUR’AN AND SUNNAH: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR HOLISTIC NURSING PRACTICE

Abstract

Health and healing occupy a central position in Islamic teachings, where the preservation of human life and well-being is closely associated with the objectives of Islamic law (maqāṣid al-sharīʿah), particularly the protection of life (ḥifẓ al-nafs). This study examines the concepts of health, illness, and healing based on the Qurʾān and the Sunnah and explores their implications for contemporary nursing practice. The study employs a qualitative textual analysis of relevant Qurʾānic verses, prophetic traditions (ḥadīth), and classical Islamic scholarly interpretations related to health, illness, and therapeutic practices. These primary sources are analysed thematically to identify key principles that guide healing from an Islamic perspective. The findings reveal that Islam conceptualizes health as a holistic condition encompassing physical, spiritual, psychological, and social well-being. Illness is viewed not only as a physiological condition but also as a spiritual test and a means of purification that encourages patience, reflection, and reliance upon God. At the same time, the Qurʾān and Sunnah strongly encourage seeking medical treatment, disease prevention, and the integration of physical and spiritual approaches to healing. These principles reflect the maqāṣid al-sharīʿah framework by promoting the preservation of life, dignity, and human well-being. For nursing practice, incorporating Islamic healing principles can enhance holistic patient care by addressing patients’ spiritual needs alongside clinical treatment. Such integration supports culturally and spiritually sensitive healthcare delivery, particularly in Muslim healthcare settings, and contributes to the development of ethically grounded and patient-centred nursing practice.