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“He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything.”
Thomas Carlyle
A well-known and old saying is, “Health is wealth.” We have heard this saying throughout our lives, and many of us act upon this valuable advice as well. A healthy body is one that supports physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Our health is more beneficial than anything else we have. Health is something that we can’t buy with money. Health is a great blessing of Allah Almighty and is very special. A healthy man can successfully and efficiently perform regular tasks.
On the other hand, an unhealthy man is like a burden on others and thus leads to a miserable life. One can survive without excess money, but one can’t survive without health. Health helps to develop a positive and dynamic attitude toward a sound life. A balanced diet, a clean environment, personal goals, and regular physical exercise are all conducive to good health. As much of our pleasure, contentment, and success in life depends on our health. So it is our responsibility to preserve it at all costs.
Health is of two types: physical health and mental health. We should take care of both of them to lead a prosperous life. Physical health requires minimal dedicated effort, including regular exercise, drinking plenty of water, and maintaining a balanced diet. Exercises such as brisk walking, running, cycling, and skipping help maintain a proper body weight. Lack of exercise results in flabby muscles and general physical weakness.
Cleanliness also plays a prominent role in maintaining good health. Taking a bath every day, washing hands before eating meals, and brushing twice a day are essential habits for maintaining good health. It is a well-established fact that personal hygiene and health are closely related. Islam, being the most scientific and natural of religions, places great emphasis on cleanliness and the maintenance of a healthy body.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) says:
“Cleanliness is half the faith”.
In Islam, our bodies and health are regarded as essential gifts of Allah. Islam provides a comprehensive and detailed framework for life, enabling individuals to live their lives to the best of their ability, both from a worldly and a spiritual perspective. Islam teaches us to be moderate in our diet. We should not stuff our stomachs with unhealthy food. We need to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. Meat is essential to a healthy bod,y but an excessive amount of red meat is hazardous. Overeating is dangerous to our health.
However, it is essential to note that all such foods should be consumed in moderation.
Allah has mentioned in the Quran:
“Eat and drink and do not commit excesses; indeed He does not love those who are excessive” (7:31).
Fasting is both an obligatory and an advised dietary practice within Islam. It offers physical benefits, especially for overweight individuals. There is evidence of weight loss and reduced blood sugar and cholesterol levels in those completing a month of controlled fasting. Another frequently cited hadith recommends that one should fill one-third of the stomach with food, one-third with water, and one-third should be left empty.
Now that people have cars and other vehicles to move around, they walk less as a result. With the demand for more working hours, people are awake till late at night and prefer more junk food than home-cooked food. People often lack time for recreational activities. Due to non-stop working hours, workers feel frustrated and agitated. They don’t enjoy their jobs.
“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.” (Irish proverb)
Modern equipment and machinery available at home and the workplace have lessened the labour work and increased reliance on this equipment. Unhealthy living conditions have increased the risk of people contracting different diseases like high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, heart attacks, and hypertension. This has alarming implications in the near future. Therefore, nothing is more precious than physical health. The man should pay the utmost attention to the maintenance of his health.
Now we will talk about the importance of Mental health. Mental health refers to the psychological and emotional well-being of a person. The mental health of a person affects their feelings and way of tackling difficult situations. We must maintain our mental health by being positive and meditating. It has a significant impact on our thoughts, behaviours, and perspective of life. Stress can cause neurotic disorders, and healthy people are less likely to fall prey to them.
Societal pressures about finding jobs and fulfilling worldly obligations can affect our peace of mind. Teenagers are very exposed to depression and anxiety as they go through the unsettled adolescent period. Teenagers often fall under peer pressure and take to bad habits like drugs and alcohol, which makes them lose track. Heavy workload and pressure to complete deadlines, combined with an unhealthy workplace environment, may also impact mental health.
Nowadays, children hardly play in the playgrounds; they are more inclined toward junk food and spend more time on the screen. These unhealthy activities are gradually undermining their health. Parents should prioritize the physical and mental well-being of their children and instill good habits for maintaining a healthy lifestyle from a young age.
“The greatest of follies is to sacrifice health for any other kind of happiness.” – (Arthur Schopenhauer)
The improvement of the health of the whole population is the first and foremost duty of the government. The government should protect the public from environmental health hazards. Better sanitary conditions, Good food, pure water, and a clean atmosphere should be ensured. The government should educate the public concerning health. It should equip people with high-quality health services.
Likewise, maintaining good health is dependent on a lot of factors. It ranges from the air you breathe to the type of people you choose to spend your time with. Health has a lot of elements that carry equal importance. If even one of them is missing, a person cannot be completely healthy. Above everything, we must choose happiness and optimism as the guiding principles of our lives.
In conclusion, we can say that health is priceless. Maintaining a fit and healthy lifestyle is not merely an option, but a necessity. So it is very important to focus on our health as much as we focus on our work.
There is a well-known Spanish proverb;
“A man who is too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of his tools.”