The Medical Benefits of Taraweeh Prayers

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


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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.


By Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed, Ph.D


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.