The United States leads the world in confirmed coronavirus cases after surpassing China’s reported total.
In response to this growing COVID-19 pandemic, a leading American Muslim civil rights group has published a new online version of its “Health Care Providers’ Guide to Islamic Religious Practices”.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) new guide includes a discussion of the Islamic view of illness and medical treatment, prayer, washing before prayer, and fasting.
In addition, it includes key Islamic terms such as “halal,” “janazah” and “zabiha.”
“This new guide for health care professionals will assist in the treatment of Muslim patients during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by offering some basic information about Islamic beliefs and practices that should be taken into consideration,” said CAIR National Research and Advocacy Director Abbas Barzegar in an online press release.
CAIR’s new guide states in part:
“American Muslims are members of one of the fastest-growing and most diverse religious communities in the United States. It is very likely that most health care providers will find themselves delivering medical services to Muslim patients at one point or another during their careers.
“Health care providers should, therefore, be aware of the potential need to accommodate certain traditional Islamic norms and practices surrounding gender interaction, clothing, and the nonconsumption of alcohol and pork, among other issues. The information in this guide is intended to educate health care professionals about common Muslim beliefs and practices that may assist them in the delivery of culturally competent patient care.”
COVID-19 Pandemic
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared on March 11, the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic.
Till today, the COVID-19 pandemic has infected 668,705 and killed other 31,065, according to the latest estimates by WorldOMeter.
In the US, there are 123,781 COVID-19 cases. So far, the virus has killed 2,229 in the country.