Explaining the Effectiveness of Saying Prayers in the Structure of Health

 Today, human’s health is known as one of the most important concerns in the 21st century. However, researchers have focused on different dimensions of health rather than only on the physical health. In this respect, saying prayers is one of the obligatory religious practices that can play an important role in human’s mental, physical, social, and spiritual health. Accordingly, the present study was aimed at explaining the effectiveness of saying prayers in the structure of health.

 This is a review study. Using library sources, the effects of saying prayers on different dimensions of health were described based on the existing sources of interpretation and the related research findings. The data were collected using archived documents as well as the Quran and Nahj al-Balaghah and other specialized books, articles, and primary narrative and fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) sources. The authors reported no conflict of interest.

 Based on the findings, there is a strong and positive relationship between saying prayers and the four dimensions of health including physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. The results of field research confirm this effect and in few cases the relationship between saying prayers and health has been reported to be weak.

 Based on the findings, saying prayers plays an important role in increasing the feeling of satisfaction and health. Attention to this important issue can be increased more than ever before by developing and including appropriate educational programs in the structure and content of the textbooks in different fields and at higher education levels. In addition, by developing the capacity and ability to cope with the problems and difficulties, reinforcing an appropriate value system, cultural programs and workshops, we can prevent different diseases.