Health and Social Care

General cleanliness, e.g. the provision of water in the toilet area or a jug/container would be helpful. There is a duty of performing ablution before prayers (WUDU) for which running water and privacy is needed. If the patient/client has a copy of the Holy Qur'an, it must be treated with respect and staff should not place anything on top of it.

Prayer is very important and where possible a Muslim would like to offer prayer at the appropriate times. The prayers offered at Dawn and Forenoon can be particularly important. Facilities for washing before prayer and a prayer mat are important where patients or clients are well enough to offer the formal prayers.

In Islam, all food is classified as halah (lawful) or haram (harmful). Muslims cannot eat ordinary meat and will normally not eat pork or pork products or blood (e.g. black pudding). Alcohol is forbidden.

For a short stay of 2 or 3 days in hospital they may prefer vegetarian food, but for longer stays they should certainly be offered ritually slaughtered meat (Halal meat).

This is dependent on the patient being willing to accept the Halal food provided. Sometimes families will prefer to bring food in because they are not confident we will serve the genuine halal food or because they find the hospital food too bland.

Halal supplier. (Halal Meat Supplier. Topmark, Unit 18, Linfield Industrial Estate, Belfast.BT12 5LA. 028 9043 5870)

Make sure you do not use the same utensils to serve halal food as you use for ordinary meat.

Essential drugs and medicines can be administered during Ramadan. It is not compulsory for children under 10 years of age or people who are ill to fast.

Both men and women are very modest in their dress and outlook. Due consideration should be given to this important factor, especially during medical examinations and investigations, it is not uncommon for a Muslim woman to request that her husband be present during medical examinations, especially with a male doctor.

Women often are covered so that only their face and hands are visible. Normally women will only shake hands with men if they are relatives.

Openness to this will vary from individual to individual and any advice should be given in strict confidence to the patient or client without any form of pressure being applied. It should not be raised in front visiting relatives and friends. The more strict Muslims are unlikely to approve of family planning aids.

Upon birth, a member of the family will recite a short prayer to the baby – this officially brings the child into the Muslim faith. (These prayers are said into the right ear and then the left ear). A male child is required to be circumcised as soon as possible, but this will not normally be while he is in hospital. A ceremony called Usbu is held on the seventh day, when the child is named.

No religious objection.

Generally Muslims have declared organ donation acceptable, but this may not be acceptable to all Muslims.

Not generally approved of in religious and social terms. A mother may prefer to carry a baby with foetal abnormalities to term even when the baby is expected to die on birth. The health of the mother is a priority and guidance from the mother and if necessary a religious leader should be sought to seek clarification.

A dying person may wish to sit or lie facing Mecca (East).

Family and friends may sit with the person quietly reading the Holy Qur'an or making supplication. The patient or client may also feel the need for a visit from an IMAN (leader) for comfort and making supplication. Reading the Holy Qur'an when one is ill is to bring about some spiritual healing and also as a means of feeling close to Allah. There is no need to hold the Holy Qur'an while performing any of the 5 daily prayers.

In the event of death, place the foot of the person's bed facing Mecca or turn the person's head to the right shoulder in order that the deceased's face looks towards Mecca. This simple act would greatly comfort the bereaved relatives.

It is normal practice for relatives of the deceased to wash the body whilst reciting prayers. The body is dressed in a Kaffon (white shroud) and covered in a green cloth that is embroidered with verses of the Qur'an and prayers are said.

Arrangements should be made during Ramadan for food to be available before dawn and after sunset for any patient or client wishing to fast. Should fasting be medically inadvisable, staff should explain that to the person and family.

Essential drugs and medicines can be administered during Ramadan. It is not compulsory for children under 10 years of age or people who are ill to fast.

Muslims are always buried within twenty-four hours after death.

The family, who will handle all the procedures including the washing of the body and prayers at the Mosque will normally contact a Muslim undertaker or a Mosque. Immediate burial (next day) is preferred but this is not always possible due to weekends and public holidays in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The body is buried with the deceased's head facing the holy city of Mecca. Cremation is forbidden.