From an Islamic perspective health is viewed as one of the greatest blessings that God has bestowed on mankind. The greatest blessing after belief is health.

As narrated in the following Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) mounted the pulpit, then wept and said: “Ask Allah (swt) for forgiveness and health, for after being granted certainty, one is given nothing better than health.” Related in Tirmidhi.

Various verses and texts within Islam promote the eating of healthy wholesome food and eating in moderation. God clearly states in the Qur’an: Eat of the good things which We have provided for you. (Surat Al-Baqarah 2:173). Eat of what is lawful and wholesome on the earth. (Surat Al-Baqarah 2:168).

In light of these Islamic teachings, the Muslim Medical Association of Canada (MMAC) invited Shaykh Hamza Yusuf to give a speech about the Islamic holistic approach regarding medicine and healthcare.

Sheikh Yusuf

Yusuf is a famous American Islamic scholar, and the co-founder of Zaytuna College. He’s a proponent of classical learning in Islam. Moreover, he has promoted Islamic sciences and classical teaching methodologies throughout the world.

He is an advisor to the Center for Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Yusuf also serves as a member of the board of advisors of George Russell’s One Nation. It’s an American philanthropic initiative that promotes pluralism and inclusion.

In addition, he serves as vice-president for the Global Center for Guidance and Renewal. In fact, Abdallah bin Bayyah is its founder and current president.

He is one of the signatories of “A Common Word Between Us and You”, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders, calling for peace and understanding.

The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom reported that “Hamza Yusuf is arguably the west’s most influential Islamic scholar.” Similarly, The New Yorker magazine reported that Yusuf is “perhaps the most influential Islamic scholar in the Western world”.