summary
Evidence and Limits
scripture
Prayer and Quran
ReviewReview
Key passage
Quran
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ
سورة الرعد · الآية ٢٨
Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured."
Quran 13:28
Translation: Saheeh International
scripture
Ramadan Fasting
ReviewReview
Key passages
Quran
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
سورة البقرة · الآية ١٨٣
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.
Quran 2:183
Translation: Saheeh International
Quran
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
سورة البقرة · الآية ١٨٥
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
Quran 2:185
Translation: Saheeh International
scripture
Avoiding Alcohol
WHOWHO
Key passage
Quran
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَٰمُ رِجْسٌۭ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
سورة المائدة · الآية ٩٠
O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, sacrificing on stone altars to other than Allah, and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.
Quran 5:90
Translation: Saheeh International
argument
Avoiding Gambling
WHO
scripture
Moderation in Eating
WHOWHO
Key passage
Quran
۞ يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍۢ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ
سورة الأعراف · الآية ٣١
O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
Quran 7:31
Translation: Saheeh International
interpretation
Cleanliness and Wudu
Handwashing evidence — CDCHandwashing review — WHO
interpretation
Miswak and Oral Health
Systematic review (2022)Systematic review (2021)
interpretation
Breastfeeding
argument
Sex and Marriage
CDC
interpretation
Circumcision
WHO
interpretation
Gratitude
Meta-analysis
interpretation
Community
U.S. Surgeon GeneralReview
interpretation
Rest and Sleep
Review
interpretation
Movement
WHO
argument
Avoiding Tobacco
WHO
notes
Claims to Avoid
Claims that pork is uniquely poisonous, side-sleeping cures disease, or prayer replaces medicine also exceed sound evidence. Honey and black seed have research interest, but neither is a universal cure.
Study
summary
Health and Worship
Sources
Sources and further reading
Primary texts and works cited in this article.
The Quran — Tanzil Uthmani text with Saheeh International translation
quran
Source linkUthmani-script Arabic text from Tanzil with the Saheeh International English translation.
The Holy Bible, World English Bible (public domain)
bible
Source linkPublic-domain English translation from the World English Bible.
The Impact of Listening to, Reciting, or Memorizing the Quran on Physical and Mental Health of Muslims: Evidence From Systematic Review
article | Wan Nor Atikah Che Wan Mohd Rozali, Ismarulyusda Ishak, and colleagues | International Journal of Public Health | 2022
Source linkA systematic review reporting promising outcomes alongside important methodological limitations. International Journal of Public Health, vol. 67, pp. 1604998, DOI 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604998
An umbrella review and meta-analysis of meta-analyses of the impact of Ramadan fasting on the metabolic syndrome components
article | Haitham Jahrami, Achraf Ammar, Jordan M. Glenn, and colleagues | Nutrition Reviews | 2025
Source linkA review of meta-analyses of Ramadan fasting and metabolic-syndrome components. First published online in 2024; cited here using the 2025 journal issue. Nutrition Reviews, vol. 83, no. 2, pp. e711-e721, DOI 10.1093/nutrit/nuae001
Alcohol
other | World Health Organization
Source linkAuthoritative overview of alcohol-related disease, injury, mortality, and social harm.
Gambling
other | World Health Organization
Source linkAuthoritative overview of gambling-related health, financial, and family harms.
The effectiveness of miswak (Salvadora persica L. and Azadirachta indica A.Juss.) practices in reducing plaque and gingivitis among adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
article | Haslinda Ramli, Khairun Nain Nor Aripin, Shahida Mohd Said, and colleagues | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 2022
Source linkReview of evidence comparing miswak, toothbrushing, and combined use. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 298, pp. 115598, DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115598
Breastfeeding
other | World Health Organization
Source linkCurrent global guidance on exclusive and continued breastfeeding.
Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention
other | World Health Organization
Source linkEvidence and limitations concerning circumcision as one component of HIV prevention.
The effects of gratitude interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis
article | Geyze Diniz, Ligia Korkes, Luca Schiliró Tristão, and colleagues | Einstein (São Paulo) | 2023
Source linkA synthesis of randomized trials examining gratitude and mental-health outcomes. Einstein (São Paulo), vol. 21, pp. eRW0371, DOI 10.31744/einstein_journal/2023RW0371
Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation
other | U.S. Surgeon General | 2023
Source linkAn evidence-based advisory on social connection and health.
Physical Activity
other | World Health Organization
Source linkEvidence-based recommendations and benefits of regular physical activity.
Tobacco and nicotine
other | World Health Organization
Source linkAuthoritative overview of tobacco-related disease, death, and exposure risk.