Health and Psychology

One of the most pressing issues for the Muslim world is health which has become a public health concern. The emergence of ill-health due largely to lifestyle factors is threatening to overwhelm many predominantly Muslim countries and these include overweight and obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease. In addition, the Muslim world has become a habitat to behaviours such as premarital sex, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, and intravenous drug use-which help spread the HIV virus. Health psychology from an Islamic perspective is concerned with an understanding on the interaction of bio-social, psychological, and spiritual factors in health and illness based on the principles of guidance from Al-Qur'an and Hadith. The focus is on promoting health and in the prevention and treatment of disease and illness.