4. Take care of the home environment

The environmental aspects of homes and workplaces are very crucial factors affecting human health. Many of the Prophet's (~) recommendations lead the way to healthy home comfort, for example: «Cover the pots and water bottles.» 357 This advice aims at preventing the contamination of food and drink through contact with microbes, insects or dust. «Do not leave the fire lit in your homes while you are sleeping: this fire is your enemy so put it out before you sleep.» 358 This hadith is explained by the fact that fire can blaze out of control while the occupants of the house are sleeping; but we can also interpret it another way. Fire causes the release of carbon monoxide, an odourless gas which has a high binding affinity to human haemoglobin in the red blood cells. The resulting bond makes the cells lose their ability to bind to the oxygen molecules, leading to a 355 Rosenthal, 2001. 356 According to lbn Majah this hadith has a weak chain, but is strengthened by the sound hadith before it in lbn Majah's collection, in which Allah's Messenger (~) says: "Do not be wasteful, do not be wasteful!" 357 Muslim, lbn Majah and Al)med. 358 Al-Bukhari. reduction in the level of blood oxygen which, if continued, leads to certain death. Furthermore, if we apply this advice to our modem home environment, we will see that many toxic chemicals are generated from gas cookers, furnaces and boilers, so turning these off at bedtime is a safeguard against potential hazards. The Prophet (~) also said: «Tum off the lamps while sleeping.» 359 The use of electric lights with the subsequent elongation of the 'daylight' hours causes the pineal gland to release hormones that (among other potentially harmful changes) stimulates early puberty in young females. 360 So turning off all lamps, even dim lights, when we sleep saves us from many problems caused by hormonal imbalances. A recently discovered household pollutant is electromagnetic radiation. Living, working or sleeping in the vicinity of power or telephone lines, or any major source of electromagnetic field, and the increased use of mobile phones will negatively affect our health. Until recently, medical science has not paid much attention to the health hazards of energetic toxins, as their effects are not recognisable in the short term. Dr. Andrew Weil warns that the danger of damage to your brain and the rest of your body associated with exposure to electromagnetic radiation is directly proportional to the cumulative amount of radiation received over your lifetime. So do not underestimate any small dose of radiation, as it adds to your total exposure and increases your risk of health problems. 361 359 Al-Bukhari. 360 Borysenko, 1998. 36 t Weil, 1998. Although the electromagnetic field produced by the appliances we have in our homes may be weak, it can still adversely affect our biological system, impairing our immunity and causing serious, sometimes irreversible genetic damage. According to Dr. Weil, the farther we are from an electric appliance, the safer we are, Protection against Microwave Hazards • Do not stand close to an operating microwave as it emits electromagnetic rays • Do not cook in it for an extended period of time as this tends to change the food chemistry, creating a potentially harmful unnatural molecule • Do not use plastic wrappings or plastic containers in the microwaves (even if labelled microwave safe - safety here is meant for the plastic, not for you), as they release carcinogenic plasticizer polymers inside your food as the strength of the electromagnetic field decreases by moving away from its emitting source. Examples of the equipment commonly used in our homes that release electromagnetic radiation are: mobile phones, computer monitors, electric blankets, electronic clocks, alarms and radios and microwave ovens 362 . So remember to leave a distance of at least half a meter between any electronic or electric device and your bed. The cleanliness of the home environment is of major concern to Muslims, and cleanliness in tum is of prime importance in 362 Weil, 1998. preventative medicine. Prophet Muhammad (~) said: «Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty, He is Good-hearted and He loves goodness, He is Clean and He loves cleanliness; so clean your backyards.» 363 He also said: «Whenever one of you goes to bed, dust off your bed with your clothes, as you never know what was on it after you.» 364 In the early seventies, science (r-~ organisms present in hous~ dust an~ bed t\\· . covers that cause allergies and itchy \ skin. To prevent their proliferation, ~ proper aeration is essential. It is also important to clean your home and bedding frequently, and to allow the sun and fresh clean air into rooms daily. 365 Remember this piece of advice from the Medicine of the Prophet (~): "Bum incense in your homes with frankincense and thyme." Aromatherapy has been used for centuries in many cultures for both healing and relaxation. Vaporizers and different essential oils are now generally available in health shops, where hundreds of scents are promoted for calming, uplifting, general healing or purifying purposes. Frankincense is widely known for its cleansing and purifying powers; some cultures also use it for spiritual enhancement. Other essential oils like chamomile, sage, lavender and jasmine have calming effects, while grapefruit, rosemary and rose are popular for their uplifting nature. Peppermint, ginger and eucalyptus and perhaps even thyme are said to have stimulating essences.366 363 Tirmidhi. 364 Bukhari . Ibrahim, A. S. (~1..r.1 .Jr u-i), 2004. 365 366 Peters & Woodham, 2000.