This article is reprinted from the website Positive Muslims of
South Africa - http://www.positivemuslims.org.za/ - published
by Abdul Kayum Ahmed and Fahmeeda Miller
Who
is this article for?
This article is for Muslims who are unsure about what HIV and
AIDS is, and what it means for them and their families. This
article will also be of value to those who deal with Muslims in
a health advisory role. We hope that once you have read this
article, you will have a better idea of how HIV is transmitted
and how people can protect themselves from contracting the
virus. People reading this should also get a better
understanding of Islamic views on HIV and AIDS education. This
article also considers why it is important that people deal
compassionately and sensitively with those who are living with
HIV or AIDS.
Is HIV a threat to Muslim communities?
Every single country in the world has been affected by HIV,
including Muslim countries.
The
United Nations Joint Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that
since the start of the global HIV pandemic around 29.4 million
people have been infected with HIV. Although many Muslim
countries claim that they have not been affected by HIV, this
is not true. HIV infections have been reported in every single
Muslim country. According to UNAIDS there are an estimated
300,000 people living with HIV in North Africa and the Middle
East. Anyone can become infected by HIV, including Muslims.
Do Muslims need HIV and AIDS education?
Accurate information about HIV and AIDS will help to control
the spread of the disease in our communities. It will also
reduce the fear and discrimination against people who become
HIV positive. Information will also help us to challenge any
myths surrounding the disease.
HIV
spreads mainly through unprotected vaginal and anal sexual
intercourse with an infected person. The virus is also
transmitted through the sharing of needles by intravenous drug
users. Therefore, HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) can affect
anyone who engages in these activities, irrespective of their
religion.
Islam’s view on human life and health
Human life is highly valued in Islam; it is considered a gift
from Allah. In the Islamic view, Muslims are not supposed to
think that it is their life with which they can do what they
want. Instead, individuals have been entrusted with life by
Allah. We are supposed to look after life and not abuse it. A
healthy body is a gift from Allah, we are the trustees, and
therefore we have no right to misuse and abuse it.
Our
Holy Prophet Mohammed, (peace be upon him), has stressed the
importance of health at many times. He once said to his one of
his companion, "O' Abbas ask Allah for
health in this world and in the next." (Al-Nasa`i).
And, "No supplication is more pleasing
to Allah than a request for good health." (Tirmidhi).
The Prophet Dawud (pbuh) said, "Health is a hidden kingdom."
Our bodies are trusts from Allah that must be returned one day
and we will be asked how looked after them. Therefore we should
avoid any act which will harm our physical or spiritual health.
Does the concept of modesty in Islam permit us to talk about
sex?
Discussing HIV and AIDS would involve discussing sexual and
intimate matters. Islam has always encouraged discussions on
matters which will help us protect our health and life. Modesty
in Islam does not mean that we should not discuss sexual
matters. Muslim men and women never felt shy to ask the Prophet
(pbuh) about intimate sexual matters. The Holy Qur’an has
discussed reproduction, creation, family life, menstruation and
ejaculation.
The
Prophet (pbuh) has said, "Blessed are
the women of the Ansar (citizens of Madinah): shyness did not
stand in their way for seeking knowledge about their religion."
(Bukhari & Muslim). The Qur'an and hadith (words and sayings
attributed to the Prophet Mohammed pbuh) have repeatedly
stressed the importance of acquiring knowledge:
"Are they equal those who do, and those
who do not know?" (Qur'an 39:9). It is through
knowledge that we can achieve closeness to Allah, marvel at his
creative work, and appreciate the Divine rules of conduct given
in the Holy Book and practised by the Holy Prophet and his
companions. We should not feel embarrassed or shy when
discussing or reading about HIV / AIDS.
However, Islam does require people to be modest and so it is
not so much the discussion of sex and sexual matters that is an
issue, but how this is done. For example, in sex or Aids
education, as far as possible, publications containing explicit
graphic illustrations of the sexual organs should not be used.
How should Muslims act in this time of crisis?
Although Islam only approves of sex between a married couple,
it should be acknowledged that this view is not held by
everyone. (And acknowledging something does not necessarily
mean that one agrees with it.) Muslim people living in the West
and elsewhere can therefore find that society around them
accepts short-term sexual relationships and sex between people
of the same sex. This can lead to people behaving in a way that
many Muslims find completely unacceptable.
If
they do behave in such a way, it is important that they know
how they may be putting themselves at risk of acquiring
sexually transmitted infections, or even HIV. They should know
how to protect themselves from infections. The following
information will help in the understanding of HIV and its
transmission.
What is HIV?
HIV
(Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that damages the
body's defence system, stopping it from effectively fighting
infections. When HIV enters the body, our defence system starts
fighting the virus. Over time, our defence system becomes too
weak to protect itself from many different kinds of infections.
The virus lives in certain body fluids, such as blood, semen,
and vaginal fluids. It is this virus which causes AIDS.
What is AIDS?
The
AIDS acronym stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. A
person has developed AIDS when they are affected by certain
infections and cancers because their body's defences are
weakened.
Can you tell if a person is HIV positive?
The
answer is NO, by looking at someone you cannot tell if that
person is HIV positive. After infection, when HIV gets into
your body, for a period which may last up to ten or fifteen
years, an infected person may feel healthy, and may even not
know that they have the HIV virus.
How does HIV get into our bodies?
HIV
can be transmitted in the following ways:
-
Unprotected sex between a man and a woman, or between two
men.
-
By sharing unsterilised needles, syringes, and other
injecting equipment.
-
By blood transfusion with HIV infected blood or blood
products, e.g. plasma or Factor 8.
-
Through organ transplants that are infected with HIV.
-
Through artificial insemination with HIV infected semen.
-
From an infected mother to her baby (either in the womb,
during labour, or through breastfeeding). Rates of
transmission from mother to baby are 14-25% in developed
countries, and 29-40% in developing nations.
Islam absolutely does not approve of sexual relations outside
marriage. However, if someone does so anyway, they still should
use a condom in order to avoid the exchange of body fluids
which may be infected. This advice is important for the
protection of their wife or husband.
Is blood transfusion safe?
Blood transfusion services check all blood for HIV, so it is
usually safe to receive blood. However, because there is a
short period of time after infection when HIV might not be
detected (called a window period), you should not donate blood
if you have had unprotected sex.
Can you get HIV through everyday contact from someone who has
the virus?
HIV
cannot be passed on through everyday contact.
HIV
cannot be passed on by touching, shaking hands, kissing, using
toilet seats, sharing cups, cutlery, crockery, towels,
coughing, sneezing, insect bites, or swimming pools.
How can you protect yourself from HIV?
We
know that HIV is mainly transmitted through unprotected sex
with an infected person. The most important means of protection
is obviously abstinence from sex and to remain faithful to your
partner in marriage and not to have any sex before or outside
such a relationship. However, one does not always know the full
history of sexual activity of one's partner in marriage and
this is why it is important for all individuals to also go for
HIV tests before they engage in marital sex.
Besides staying away from sex altogether or faithfulness in a
relationship, which is the most important measure, using
condoms is the only way to reduce the risk of HIV and other
sexually transmitted infections. If used correctly, condoms are
up to 99% effective. Injecting drug users should not share
needles and syringes. Pregnant women should have an HIV test,
and if they are HIV positive, seek medical advice on ways of
reducing the risk of infection between mother and child.
How should Muslims behave towards people who are living with
HIV or AIDS?
There are many Muslims who are affected by AIDS. These people
are someone’s son or daughter, brother or sister: they are part
of the Muslim community. We cannot shun people living with HIV
or AIDS. Any person with AIDS should be given attention, care,
love and affection, so the person can lead his/her life with
dignity. We also have no right to judge or condemn people. It
is up to the Almighty to forgive or punish. AIDS and HIV is all
around us, inside our Masjids and in many of our homes.
It
does not help to ask if someone is innocent or guilty in this.
All of us know that alcohol is prohibited in Islam (and all of
us know of some Muslims who do drink); All of us know that sex
outside marriage is not allowed in Islam, but all of us also
know our own lives and history bit better than outsiders.
Suppose a Muslim arrives at the scene of a motor car accident
and he or she notices that a number of people are badly
injured. Is our first concern how it happened or to get help?
Do we go around and point fingers at the guilty driver and then
say, "Well he caused it," and then just move on? Do we go
around and smell the breath of the injured and when we find
that they smell of alcohol, do we say, "Alcohol is haram; they
should not have taken it and they asked for it"?
No,
as Muslims we know the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
"Have compassion towards those who are on
earth and the One who is beyond will have compassion towards
you."
Islam is a religion that is full of compassion, love and mercy.
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) reminded Muslims that:
"You will not enter into paradise until
you believe, and you will not believe until you love one
another." In another Hadith, it has been said,
"Allah shows compassion only to those of
his servants who are compassionate."
Love and compassion are the qualities of a good Muslim, and
people with AIDS cannot be denied these powerful emotions.
Visiting and caring for the sick is another good deed that is
highly recommended by the Prophet (pbuh).
"Whoever visits a sick person is walking
along the high road to heaven." (Bukhari)
"A visit to a sick person is only
complete when you have put your hand on his forehead and asked
him how he is." (Tirmidhi).
People with AIDS need our compassion, our love, and our
affection, so do not be afraid to embrace them or touch them.
The Prophet (pbuh) also said, "If you
enter the house of a sick person, then only speak good words,
for truly the angels will confirm what you say, and they will
open up the way of heaven to him," (Nasa'i). There
are many more sayings from the messenger of Allah about showing
love and compassion to people in ill health. Therefore, we must
remember what is expected from us by Allah.
HIV, AIDS and ISLAM
Islam is a religion that is very close to human nature. It
appreciates the powerful sexual desires that humans have.
Therefore it encourages that these desires be fulfilled, and
advocates and encourages marriage, so that through marriage
sexual desires can be fulfilled. Like other heavenly religions,
Islam provides us with a moral code for sexual enjoyment. Islam
also prohibits the use of substances which may impair the
senses. Therefore the use of narcotics such as heroin and
alcohol is strictly prohibited.
However, we must recognise that people engage in sexual
activities before marriage, and there are also people having
extra-marital sex. Islam means the submission or surrender of
one’s will to Allah, and therefore it follows that a Muslim
should not be involved in any act that is prohibited by Islam.
Nevertheless, we need to be realistic and must face the fact
that not all of us follow our religion fully.
Sexual practices that may not be allowed by our religion do
nevertheless exist. Therefore, there is the need to accept
reality and develop HIV and AIDS educational programmes for all
our communities. These programmes must emphasise Islamic moral
values, but should also inform people about methods of
protection from this life threatening illness.
Some Muslims may think that HIV and AIDS are not issues for the
community. The reality is that HIV and AIDS are major issues in
many Muslim countries. It is therefore becoming extremely
important that we accept that we are equally vulnerable to HIV
and AIDS. Given the increase in HIV infection globally, it is
more important than ever that we discuss HIV and AIDS openly