Are Muslim patients praying consistently while on hospital admission?

Abstract

Background: Five daily prayers are prescribed by Allah to all Muslims no matter the situations including the period of ill-health. However, certain adjustments are allowed to ease the performance of prayers by a sick person. It is part of the general conduct of Muslims to remind one another when it is time for prayer. During ill-health, especially when a patient is on admission, it is observed that a significant number of them do not perform the five daily prayers consistently. The aim of this study was to interview Muslim patients on hospital admission regarding their ability to observe the prescribed five daily prayers.

Methodology: An open- and close-ended questionnaire using SurveyMonkey of the online google form was employed to collect data. Analysis was done using Microsoft excel spreadsheet.

Results: Findings revealed that over 30% of the patients interviewed were not performing their five daily prayers consistently. The major reasons for not praying while on admission include severity of the illness, lack of knowledge on how to pray while sick, and lack of support from the hospital staff and caregivers.

Conclusion: The author concluded that less than 4 out of every 10 patients on admission perform their daily prayers regularly. It is recommended that continuous health awareness campaigns on the value of the patient performing regular prayers, their care givers, as well as the hospital staff, including the leadership.

Keywords: Ibadah-friendly hospital, patient prayer, spiritual care.