Wash your hands

The British medical journal published a research to confirm that washing hands is much better than any other cure. What does the Qur’an say? Let us read…

British study

Scientists say that although respiratory viruses usually cause minor disease, epidemics can occur. Mathematical models estimate that about 36 000 deaths and 226 000 admissions to hospital in the United States annually are attributable to influenza,and with incidence rates as high as 50% during major epidemics worldwide, respiratory viruses strain health services, are responsible for excess deaths, and result in massive indirect costs owing to absenteeism from work and school.

Concern is now increasing about serious pandemic viral infections. In 2003 an epidemic of the previously unknown severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by a coronavirus affected about 8000 people worldwide, with 780 deaths and causing a social and economic crisis, especially in Asia. A new avian influenza pandemic caused by the H5N1 virus strain threatens greater catastrophe.

Hence, the need for interventions to reduce viral load and mounting evidence suggests, however, that single measures, particularly the use of vaccines or antivirals, will be insufficient to interrupt the spread of influenza. Agent specific drugs are also not available for other viruses.

A published research by British medical journal stated that handwashing to be effective in lowering the incidence of pneumonia in the developing world. Clear evidence has also shown a link between personal (and environmental) hygiene and infection.

 

Researchers say that simple and low cost interventions could be useful in reducing the spread of diseasesalso they confirm that Hand washing doesn't take much time or effort, but it offers great rewards in terms of preventing illness as adopting this simple habit can play a major role in protecting our health.

American study

Another study shows that Americans getting lax about clean hands. Researchers said 77 percent of more than 6,000 men and women washed their hands in public restrooms -- a 6 percent decline compared with a similar study in 2005.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand washing in the single-most important prevention step for reducing disease transmission.

In a telephone survey, 92 percent of adults said they wash their hands in public conveniences, according to the study done by the American Society for Microbiology and The Soap and Detergent Association.

But the study, which also conducted research at public restrooms, showed people's actions were not always matching their claims. Men were the biggest offenders, with just 66 percent of men seen washing their hands in public bathrooms, compared with 88 percent of the women, according to study presented at the Inter science Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy meeting in Chicago.

"Very clearly, guys need to step up to the sink," said Brian Sansoni, a spokesman for the soap industry group, told reporters. "One third of guys weren't washing their hands in public restrooms. That's gross."

Researchers staked out restrooms at different types of venues in four U.S. cities: Chicago's Shedd Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry, Atlanta's Turner Field, New York's Grand Central Station and Penn Station and San Francisco's Ferry Terminal Farmer's Market.

The report stated that men's hygiene was worst at Atlanta's Turner Field, where just 57 percent of men were observed washing their hands after using the toilet at the baseball venue. But 95 percent of women there washed their hands, the highest percentage observed in the study. Chicago was the city with the cleanest hands overall. New York was the second-cleanest; Atlanta came in third, and then San Francisco.

The researchers could not account for why people appear to be washing their hands less in public bathrooms. And they admitted that because the research was done in different venues, it was not scientifically valid. But they said the trend is troubling.

"Fifteen to 20 seconds of friction and soap and water will remove so many germs from your hands and help with your wellbeing. That is a marvelous intervention that will work all over the world," Judy Daly, director of the Microbiology Laboratories at the Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, told reporters.

 

Dr. Judy Daly is a professor of pathology at the University of Utah School Of Medicine, Director of the MicrobiologyLaboratories at Primary Children's Medical Center and a clinical faculty member at Weber State College School of Allied Health Sciences.

Also, another research published by Cochrane Reviews promoted hand washing can reduce diarrhea episodes by about one-third. This significant reduction is comparable to the effect of providing clean water in low-income areas. However, trials with longer follow up and that test different methods of promoting hand washing are needed.

Islam and hand washing

Many verses in the holy Qur’an and many Hadiths for prophet Mohamed peace be upon him urge Muslims forhand washing.

This habit is practiced by Muslims five times each day during ablutionas Allah Almighty says about that:(O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salat (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to ankles . If you are in a state of Janaba (i.e. had a sexual discharge), purify yourself (bathe your whole body). But if you are ill or on a journey or any of you comes from answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (i.e. sexual intercourse) and you find no water, then perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands. Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His Favour on you that you may be thankful.){Sûrat Al-Mâ’idah -The Table spread with Food –verse6}.

 

A Muslim during ablution by usingwater, recent researches state that simple and low-cost physical measures should be given higher priority in pandemic contingency plans.

 Here, we see that Muslims are washing their external  parts five times a day and the most important thing is that they have to wash even water is not available by following the “Tayammum” which is to rub dust on face and hand.

 

 A group ofMuslims who are performing the “Tayammum”

Today, researchers found that dust can remove bacteria and germs from the body. Glory to Allah!!!!!!!!

Also prophet Mohamed peace be upon him taught us to wash using the water as he said “if there is a river beside the house of any of you and that man is washing himself five times a day, do you think that  he may keep dirties in his body? The companions said indeed no, then he replied  that is the same as the five prayers if we persist on them , sins will be removed out of us ”[narrated by Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

At the end we have to say: (Verily! There was a party of my slaves, who used to say: "Our Lord! We believe, so forgive us, and have mercy on us, for you are the Best of all who show mercy!"){Sûrat Al-Mu’minûn-The Believers -verse109}.

--------------------

By: Abduldaem Al-Kaheel

www.kaheel7.com/eng

References:

•               http://www.bmj.com/content/336/7635/77.full

•               http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKMOL76550220070917

•               http://www.path.utah.edu/service/clinical-pathology/judy-daly

•               http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004265.html