<Home> <Health-an Islamic Perspective> <Health Promotion thorugh Islamic Life Styles> <Final Statement>

[ Contents ]-[ Foreword ]-[ Introduction ]-[ Terms ]-[ Final Statement ]
[ The Amman Declaration ]-[ Appendix to the Amman Declaration ]
[ Participants in the Meeting ]

Final Statement of the Consultation
on Islamic Lifestyles and their Impact
on Health Development and
Human Development in General

Amman, Jordan 23-26 June 1989

Believing that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being;

Considering that Islam deems this to be a necessary component of faith and of Islamic law, which Muslims implemented during their golden age, and in so doing provided evidence Suppolling its applicability; In view of the impact of lifestyles on the health of individuals and groups; and considering the distinct character of the lifestyles advocated by Islam:

The Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean of the World Health Organization, in collaboration with the Islamic Organization

for Medical Sciences and the Royal Academy for Research in Islamic Civilization-Aal Al-Bayt Foundation, convened a consultation on Islamic lifestyles and their impact on health development and human. development in general. The aim was to contribute to the presentatIon of this valuable cultural legacy, for the benefit of all humanity.

The Consultation was held in Amman, Jordan, from 23 to 26 June 1989, founder the auspices of Crown Prince HH Hassan bin Talal, and was inaugurated by His Excellency the Minister of Health on behalf of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. A panel of physicians, scientists, jurisprudents, scholars, educationalists, thinkers, economists, sociologists, writers, journalists and representatives of the organizing bodies, participated in this Consultation.

At the opening session, addresses were delivered by the representative of His Highness the sponsor of the consultation, HE Dr Zuhair Malhas, by HE Dr Abdur-Rahman al-Awadi, Chairman of the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences, and by Dr Hussein A. Gezairy , Regional Director of the WHO Eastern Mediternean Region. The Consultation decided that these addresses be included in its working documents.

The participants reviewed the papers that had been prepared. They acknowledged the appreciable efforts that had beeen exerted in their preparation and considered that they formed a rich contribution to the Consultation. They then agreed to a workplan, and to the designation of various stages of work. This was followed by the participants dividing into four groups to meet separately in the afternoons. Each group was to consider its allotted work, and then present its report for general and comprehensive discussion at a plenary meeting on the next morning.

Right from the outset, it was evident that faith is the basis and essence of lifestyles and the axis around which innumerable positive phenomena turn in all aspects of life, including physical, psychological and spiritual health and the development and enrichment of human life, in general.

The first task in this respect was to identify the Islamic lifestyles in different areas, and to verify their relevance to Islam, by means of evidence from the Quran and the hadith of the Prophet (pbuh) .The next task was to list the benefits to be achieved and the evils which can be avoided by applying such lifestyles, with regard to the individual, the family, the community and humanity in general, in the areas of mental and physical health, and sound social and human relationships. The third task was to develop one or more plans of action in order to put into practice some of these ideas, wholly or partly, and prove their effectiveness in improving the various aspects of life accordingly.

The Consultation also decided to refer the lninutes of its deliberations to a smaller and more specific committee to formulate this text and to check upon its relevance to the Quran and Sunna, to verify the sayings attributed to the Prophet (pbuh) , and to issue an authenticated list of the right ones, God willing.

The Consultation considered that cooperation between WHO/EMRO, the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences and the Royal Academy for Research in Islamic Civilization-Aal AI-Bayt Foundation, should continue to further uncover the Islamic teachings that meet the needs of humanity, straighten its path, correct its direction and guide its efforts towards "Health for All" in its widest sense, including its comprehensive approach towards the inseparable physical, psychological and spiritual components of the human being.

The Consultation decided to issue a document entitled "The Amman Declaration for Health Promotion" in order to put into action the matters discussed throughout the meeting.

The Consultation further welcomed proposed cooperation between the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean of the World Health Organization, the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences and the Royal Academy for Research in Islamic Civilization-Aal Al-Bayt Foundation, on
 the one hand, and the other organizations whose representatives expressed preparedness and willingness to collaborate, particularly the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Nour Al-Hussein Foundation, the International Institute for Islamic Thought, the Council of Islamic Organization in Jordan, the Society of Friends of Rheumatic Heart Patients, the Arab Society for Islamic Education, the Islamic Centre in Aachen, the Union of Muslim Student Organiztions in Europe, the Union of Muslim Labour in Europe and the International Islamic Society for Mental Health, on the other.

The Consultation called upon all the concerned organizations to cooperate, with a view to achieving its goals. The Consultation recommended that WHO/EMRO should undertake the task of coordinating the follow-up process with regard to the implementation of other recommendations and the Amman Declaration.

The participants further decided to send telegrams to thank His Majesty King Hussein, for Jordan having hosted the Consultation; to Crown Prince HH Hassan bin Talal for kindly sponsoring it: to HE Dr Zuhair Malhas, Minister of Health, for having kindly inaugurated it; and to HE Professor Nassirud-Din al-Assad, Chairman of the Royal Academy for Research in Islamic Civilization-Aal Al-Bayt Foundation, and Minister of Higher Education, for his appreciable efforts which contributed to making the Consultation successful.

The Consultation ended with this Declaration being read out, at 12:00 noon, on the 22nd of Thul-Qa ' da, 1409 AH, corresponding to 26 June, 1989.