About this Program

In Islamic tradition, physical health has been closely intertwined with mental health. The most prominent testimony to this connection is the book Masalih al Abdan wa al Anfus (The Sustenance of Bodies and Souls) by Abū Zayd al Balkhī, (d. 322 AH/943 CE). It is the first work to move the discussion of the human soul from the realm of philosophy and ethics into the domain of medicine and applied sciences, presenting an Islamic model of preventive healthcare that encompasses the soul, the body, the environment, and ethics. The first to bring this scientific legacy to light in modern times was Dr. Mahmoud Masri, through his contemporary critical edition of the book published by the World Health Organization. His work combines his research specialization in the history of science with his professional expertise in medicine. This reading of Masalih al Abdan wa al Anfus aims to explore the benefits of this valuable work and its contemporary applications. The program is based on textual readings of selected passages, followed by analytical explanation, comparisons with modern knowledge in the fields of mental and physical health, as well as related social and environmental sciences, and a summary of practical applications.

This program is part of Al-Mujadilah’s strategic theme on the Islamic social vision. It consists of 40 online sessions, beginning with 13 this year and continuing through next year.