GOATMILK: An intellectual playground edited by Wajahat Ali

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 – A scientific study on the benefits of ‘solat’ (the Muslim prayer) reveal that it not only improves spiritual well-being, but performing it correctly with the right posture could also benefit physical and mental health, including curing erectile dysfunction (ED).

Among the other benefits uncovered by a team of biomedical researchers from Universiti Malaya (UM) include reducing the heartbeat rate, alleviating back pain and strengthening the pelvic floor muscles.

UM’s Biomedical Engineering Department head, Prof Madya Dr Fatimah Ibrahim, said the study revealed that the actions in a prayer could help patients suffering from ED.

Quoting a previous study by researcher Marijke Van Kampen, Dr Fatimah said pelvic floor exercises could boost blood circulation and reduce ED symptoms.

“Our own trial with two ED patients saw vast improvements (in their sexual health) after a month of ‘prayer therapy’,” she told reporters after the launch of the national seminar on ‘Solat Science’ at Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan here today. The seminar was launched by former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Dr Fatimah said movements in a prayer could also alleviate back pain, especially in pregnant women. She said a study was conducted on patients with regular back pain and pregnant mothers from the Malay, Indian and Chinese communities.

Findings from the study showed that the “rukuk” (bowing with hands resting on knees) and “sujud” positions could be used as therapy as it helped relax the spinal canal and reduces the risk of pressure on the spinal nerve.

“The non-Muslim mothers only acted out the positions during the therapy sessions. They showed improvement in just a month,” she said.

In his research, UM Medical Centre Cardiology Consultant Specialist Prof Dr Wan Azman Wan Ahmad found that heartbeat rate could be reduced by 10 times a minute in the ‘sujud’ (prostration) position, where Muslims knelt with their forehead, nose, hands and knees touching the floor to face the Kaabah in Mekah.

He said that 12 “rakaat” (unit for a set of actions in a prayer) equalled to 30 minutes of light exercises daily as recommended by health experts.

All of the findings from the studies conducted have been compiled and can be found in the book, “Solat Science”, currently available in all book stores. – Bernama