Muharram / SAFAR 1424 H
April 2003
Volume 16-04 No : 196
Camps \ Workshops
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Muharram / SAFAR 1424 H April 2003 Volume 16-04 No : 196 Camps \ Workshops |
Reviewed by
Shah Tabrez
The book, Islamic Code of Practice for the Medical Profession is definitely worth a glance. This guideline was worked out during the First International Convention of Islamic Medical Practitioners held in Kuwait at the beginning of the 15th Islamic century.
Translated by Syed Iqbal Zaheer, the mode of language used here is extremely simple allowing even a common man to understand it better than the doctors themselves.
The basic principle of the book is to help doctors lead their medical life through Islam. For youngsters learning medicine, it should open up a healthy passage to future activities and prepare them well before they face real life and its challenges. Even the non-Muslims might have an awakening after reading it.
The Quranic verses given in this book support the views expressed. It imparts knowledge and practice of medicine Islamically. A doctor should be a true believer in Allah, and should be conscious of Him in open and secret. The book comprises of 11 chapters each giving a detailed explanation. The first chapter explains the definition and meaning in a vast and varied style. Medical Practice occupies a position much above other professions. The second chapter details the qualities of a doctor, A doctor should be a true believer in Allah, obedient to his commandments, abstain from His prohibitions and is conscious of Him in open and secret. It is obligatory on a doctor to be humble, kind, not forgetful of Allah’s blessings on him, grateful to Him, seeking His help and aid.
Chapter three promises a healthy and generous relationship of a doctor with another doctor. Chapter four gives the importance of a doctor to patient relationship. If generally viewed the relationship between the doctor and patient is very important, but the relationship between the doctor and another doctor is equally important. A doctor should be a trustworthy person in the eyes of the patient. The next chapter informs how necessary it is for a doctor to keep up a patient’s secrets. Chapter Six brings out the testing part of a doctor’s life, although each day is a test for him. An ideal doctor should have a single objective of medical service to everyone - whether friends or foe. The succeeding chapter details on the sanctity of Human Life which briefs the actions forbidden by a doctor. The chapters following this, intensify a doctor’s responsibilities, The community and a Doctor, A Doctor and Research and Development and Medical Education.
Efficiently written to touch a doctor’s heart, this book is absolutely worth a look with a brilliant doctor’s oath in the end. When compared with the ancient Hippocratic Oath that doctors usually make at the end of their studies, the code of Practice for the medical profession as presented in this book is definitely wider in scope, reasonable and humanistic. In today’s world of declining morals, this is certainly a refreshing and elevating contribution and should reach every practitioner and worker in the field of medicine, whatever his or her religious belief be.
Reviewed by
Maqbool Ahmed Siraj
Khutbaat-e-Sualihaat- Lectures on Islam is a compilation of articles on varied aspects of Islam which normally evoke curiosity when discussed in relations to the events in the current world. They address common concerns of an average non-Urdu reader. But the book seems to be attempting too many objectives. One finds it initiating reform among Muslims, doing dawah among non-believers and dispelling myths among a third section even while promoting inter-faith dialogue. It is lucidly written and drives the point home by the help of Quranic verses. A great deal of stress has been laid upon rationality of Islamic tenets, establishing the Prophetic credentials of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) and divine nature of revelation of the Quran. The article on method of divorce is clearly motivated by the prevalent ignorance about the Shariat provision regarding the use of this legal instrument.
However, the lectures on crime and punishment, media, interest- free banking, concept of Jihad are clearly targeted at explaining such concepts that do not appear in sync with times we live in. But coming as it does from a women’s organisation i.e., Bazm-e-Sualihaat, one expects the central thread of women’s concerns should have been evident all through.
Its greatest quality lies in use of simple language, sans cliches. The book is well produced, but falls short of expectation in matters of editing. It does not conform to any consistent style. Words suddenly get italicised or assume bold font. Foreign words appear in running English text and cause stumbling. Altogether, it is a useful series of lectures.
Al-Nasr Exports
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