The Medical Benefits of Taraweeh Prayers

Muslims perform five daily contact prayers (Salat) and voluntary

prayers (Sunnah, Nafl) throughout the year and Taraweeh prayers
during the month of Ramadan. This results in moderate physical
exercise particularly to every muscle in the body. By Dr. Ibrahim B.
Syed, Ph.D

Muslims derive therapeutic and spiritual benefits starting from the

Wudu to the physical movements in the Salat - Takbir, Qiyam, Ruku,
Sajda, Jalsa, and Tasleems. Muslims perform five daily contact
prayers (Salat) and voluntary prayers (Sunnah, Nafl) throughout the
year and Taraweeh prayers during the month of Ramadan. This
results in moderate physical exercise particularly to every muscle in
the body. Some muscles contract isometrically (same length) and
some contract in approximation or isotonically (same tension).

The energy needed for the muscle during exercise is met by a

process known as glycogenolysis. The rate of muscle metabolism
increases during the performance of Salat, resulting in a relative
deficiency of oxygen and muscle nutrients. In turn this deficiency
causes vasodilation - an increase in the calibre of blood vessels -
thereby allowing blood to flow easily back to the heart. The
temporarily increased load on the heart acts to strengthen the heart
muscle and to improve the circulation within the heart muscle.

During the month of Ramadan, additional prayers are performed after

salatul Ishaa, called Taraweeh prayers which vary from 8 rakat (unit
of prayer) to 20 rakat with a few minutes break after every 4 rakat for
chanting and extolling the Majesty of Allah. After Iftar (breaking of
fast) the blood glucose level continues to rise from the food ingested.
Just before the Iftar meals, the blood glucose and insulin levels are at
their lowest level.

After an hour or so after the Iftar meal, the blood glucose begins to
rise and also plasma insulin. Liver and the muscles take up the
circulating glucose. The blood sugar reaches high levels in an hour or
two and the benefits of Taraweeh prayers come into effect. The
circulating glucose is metabolised into carbon dioxide and water
during the Taraweeh prayers.
Hence the Taraweeh prayers help in expending the extra calories and
improve flexibility, coordination, reduce stress-related autonomic
responses in healthy persons, and relieve anxiety and depression.
Physical and Emotional Well-Being

The gentle exercises performed in Taraweeh prayers improve

physical fitness, emotional well-being and increase the longevity of
the muqtadi (one who performs the Salat or Namaz). When a little
extra effort is made, as in performing the Taraweeh prayers, there will
be a betterment in the endurance, stamina, in flexibility and strength.

It was noted that the five daily prayers (Salat) produce the same
physiological changes without any undesirable side effects as those
produced by jogging or walking at about three miles per hour.

Recent research studies performed on 17,000 Harvard alumni who

entered college between 1916-1950 give strong evidence that only
moderate aerobic exercise, equivalent to jogging about 3 miles a day,
promotes good health and may actually add years to life. Men who
expended about 2000 kcal of energy on a weekly basis (equal to a
daily 30-minute walk, run, cycle, swim, etc.,) had one-quarter to one-
third lower death rates than classmates who did little or no exercise.

In addition to the health-boosting qualities of the Salat, the Muqtadi

will be trained to be ever ready for any unexpected physical exertion
such as sudden lifting of children, chairs, or catching a public
transportation vehicle. The elderly will accomplish this more securely
and efficiently. Hence this is an advantage for the elderly to maintain
their physical fitness for a longer period of time. It has been observed
that those who fast and perform the Taraweeh prayers report feeling
much convalescing and robust.
The Elderly

As human beings grow older, their physiological activity diminishes,

as a result their bones become thinner and if not taken care of will
suffer from osteoporosis (which causes the fractures of the bones
when they fall in the elderly due to a loss of bone mineral content and
consequent sponginess of the bones. The bone then becomes
structurally unstable, brittle and susceptible to fractures). Primary
osteoporosis is most common among postmenopausal (due to
reduction in oestrogen) women or those who have undergone a
bilateral oophorectomy (both the ovaries removed). Women are six
times more likely than men to develop Type I osteoporosis.

The three major prevention strategies of osteoporosis are a high

dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D, regular exercise and
oestrogen replacement in postmenopausal women. The skin also
becomes fragile and crinkled. The repair processes of the body
become slower and immune responses are decreased. In the elderly
their physical activity is reduced as a result they have lower levels of
Insulin Growth Factor 1. Reserve functions of all vital organs
decrease and the elderly are more susceptible to mishaps and
ailments.

Because of repeated and regular movements of the body during Salat

the muscle strength, tendon power, joint flexibility and the
cardiovascular reserve are improved. Hence Salat and Taraweeh
prayers enable the elderly to enrich the quality of life and to meet with
unforeseen difficulties such as falls which could injure their bodies.
Therefore Taraweeh prayers will improve their endurance, self-
respect and self-confidence in being self-reliant.

Adrenaline is secreted even by minor activity. The secretion outlasts

the incitement. Even after the Taraweeh prayers are over the effects
of adrenaline and noradrenaline are manifest. (Adrenaline also called
epinephrine is produced by the adrenal glands. The middle part of
these glands, the adrenal medulla, secretes the hormone, which is
chemically almost identical to the transmitter substance noradrenaline
produced at the ends of sympathetic nerves. Adrenaline secretion
into the bloodstream in stress causes acceleration of the heart,
constriction of arterioles, and dilation of the pupils. In addition,
adrenaline produces a marked increase in metabolic rate thus
preparing the body for emergency.)

Even the thought or the intention of performing the Taraweeh prayers

is sufficient to activate the sympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic
nervous system (thoraco-lumbar nervous system) is one of the two
division of the autonomic nervous system, which supplies motor
nerves to the smooth muscles of internal organs and to the heart
muscle.

Sympathetic nerve fibres arise via spinal nerves in the thoracic and
lumbar regions. Their endings release mainly adrenaline, which
increases heart rate and breathing rate, raises blood pressure, and
slows digestive processes, thereby preparing the body for "fight or
flight" and antagonising the effects of the sympathetic nervous
system. The adrenaline would redistribute the blood in the body to the
active muscles, would mobilise liver glycogen if necessary in order to
provide glucose for the active tissues, would diminish fatigue in
skeletal muscles and would facilitate alveolar ventilation relaxing
bronchiolar muscle, and would initiate cardiovascular changes.
Exercise induces a more effective functioning of beta-
adrenoreceptors located on cell membranes.
Beneficial effects of Gentle Exercise

The Taraweeh prayer is considered to be gentle exercise. The

beneficial effects of gentle exercise on the body are many which are
elaborated here.
Effects on Skeletal Muscle

Once muscles atrophy inspite of the availability of ample proteins.

During the Salat and Taraweeh, every muscle in the body contracts
isotnically and others isometrically. This gentle exercise also
enhances endurance and diminishes tiredness. It helps the
incapacitated to make the most of their remnant capabilities.

The blood flow in strung muscle is low. During the prayers the blood
flow is greatly increased to the muscles. Blood flow sometimes
increases even before the start of Taraweeh prayers, with just the
thought of performing the Taraweeh prayers. In addition to needing
fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, the human body requires minerals
such as Potassium for nerve and muscle activity. It is found in fruits,
meats, seafood and milk. Potassium deficiency leads to muscular and
neurologic disorders. Potassium is also important in the transmission
of nerve impulses and is a major positive ion in intracellular fluids.
Potassium is involved in cellular enzyme activities, and it helps
regulate the chemical reactions by which carbohydrates is converted
to energy and amino acids are converted to protein. Also Potassium
ions cause vasodilation of arterioles. During the Taraweeh prayers,
systolic Blood pressure may rise (the larger number in B.P.) a little
and the diastolic Blood Pressure(the lower number in B.P.) may
remain unchanged or even fall.

However after the Taraweeh prayers are over, the B.P. may drop to
just below normal levels which is a welcome sign. Taraweeh prayers
improve respiratory efficiency; circulation in the capillaries
surrounding the alveoli, or air sacs, is increased, and this brings
about enhanced gas exchange and deeper breathing. The increase in
the maximal consumption of oxygen is what makes the Muqtadi feel
better. Those who perform the Taraweeh prayers, apart from the
prescribed Salat, are more alert and active than those who do not
perform the Taraweeh prayers, even after the age of retirement.

Taraweeh prayers improve physical strength and joint stability and

reduce the risk of injury to the tendons and connective tissues. After
age 40, the bone mineral density falls with age. Taraweeh prayers
increase bone mineral density in both menopausal and in elderly
women and prevents osteoporosis and maintains normalcy in bone
structures. Osteoporosis results in hip fractures in women after
menopause and in elderly men.

The risk of osteoporosis is substantially reduced by regular Salat and

Taraweeh prayers. The prayers improve lubrication of joints,
movement, and maintain flexibility. Deep vein thrombosis (the most
common cause of ulceration of the legs in the elderly) is prevented by
performing Salat and Taraweeh prayers.
Metabolic Effects

Salat improves body weight control and expend calories without

proportionate increase in appetite. A combination of moderate dietary
restriction, both at the Iftar and Sahur (early morning breakfast before
the start of fast) meals, accompanied by the Taraweeh prayers,
should achieve weight reduction. This will also reduce both fat and
body weight, but fat-free weight will remain constant or may even
increase slightly.

Hence during Ramadan one should not overeat at the Sahur and Iftar
meals and continue to perform Salat and Taraweeh prayers in order
to lose some of the excess [Link] is well known that exercise
prevents coronary heart disease (CHD), increases high density lipo-
proteins (HDL or healthy Cholesterol), increases maximum oxygen
uptake, slows the heart, lowers the B.P. slightly, decreases ventricular
ectopic activity, enlarges the lumen of the coronary arteries and
increases cardiac output. Exercise also improves carbohydrate
tolerance and improves late-onset diabetes, and helps cases of
chronic respiratory diseases. Beneficial changes have been recorded
in the lipid profile, B.P., clotting factors, weight reduction and insulin
sensitivity of muscles and other tissues in persons who exercise
regularly. Growth Hormone secretion is elevated by fasting and it is
further elevated by Taraweeh prayers. As Growth Hormone is
necessary for collagen formation, this may be an important factor as
to why the skin of those who fast regularly during Ramadan and
perform the Taraweeh prayers do not get wrinkled, even when they
grow old.
Mental Health

It is a known fact that exercise improves mood, thought and

behaviour. Exercise improves the quality of life, induces greater
sense of well-being and energy, reduces anxiety and depression,
influences mood favourably and contributes to self-esteem and an
aura of confidence; improves memory in the elderly especially with
constant repetition of the Ayaat (verses) from the Glorious Quran and
other Ayaat which exalt His Glory. This constant repetition of the
Quranic Ayaat would help to screen the mind from the incoming
thoughts.

It has been found by a Harvard University researcher, Dr. Herbert

Benson that repetition of a prayer, Ayaat of the Quran or
remembrance (Dhikr) of Allah or muscular activity coupled with
passive disregard of intensive thoughts causes a "relaxation
response" that leads to the lowering of Blood Pressure and
decreases in oxygen consumption and a reduction in heart and
respiratory rates.

All these are combined in the Taraweeh prayer which is an ideal

condition for "relaxation response." It combines repeated muscular
activity with repetition of Salat, chanting of words of glorification of
Allah and of supplications.
The Taraweeh prayer puts the mind in a relaxed state. This calm
state of the mind may be partly due to the release of encephalins,
beta-endorphins (endogenous morphines) and others into the blood
circulation. Endorphins are any one of the neuropeptides composed
of many amino acids, elaborated by the pituitary gland and acting on
the central and peripheral nervous systems to reduce pain.
Endorphins are categorised as alpha-endorphin, beta-endorphin, and
gamma-endorphin which produce pharmacologic effects similar to
morphine. Beta-endorphin found in the brain and GI(gastro-intestinal)
tract is the most potent of the endorphins and is a powerful
analgesic(pain killer) in humans and animals. For example during
childbirth many women release endorphins reducing a woman's
sensation of pain. The release of endorphins is associated with an
euphoria. During childbirth, women who give birth with little or no
medication sometimes label this euphoria a "birth climax."
Conclusion

Islam is the only religion where physical movements of Salat and

Taraweeh prayers are combined with spiritual exercise. When Salat
and Taraweeh prayers are practised throughout a person's life,
recurring every few hours or so, trains a person to undertake the
difficult task of meditation during physical manoeuvres of Salat and
Taraweeh prayers, so that the Muqtadi (one who performs the Salat)
benefits both from spiritual as well as physical exercise. Salat and
Taraweeh prayers are unique in that tension builds up in the muscles
during physical manoeuvres on the one hand, while tension is
relieved in the mind due to the spiritual ingredient, on the other hand.

The following benefits have been noted among those who perform
the Taraweeh prayers: burning off calories and losing weight,
maintaining muscle tone and body composition, joint flexibility (stiff
joints are often the result of disuse, not arthritis), increasing metabolic
rate, improving circulation, improving heart and lung function and
aerobic capacity, decreasing heart disease risk profile, increasing
your sense of self-control, reducing your level of stress, increasing
your ability to concentrate, improving your appearance, reducing
depression and resistance to depression, helping you sleep better
and suppressing your appetite.

Evidence is also accumulating that those who perform regular Salat

along with voluntary prayers can conserve and actually retard the
loss of bone mass in the elderly, thus staving off the ravages of
osteoporosis that afflicts both men and women. It is also possible to
retard the aging process and confer some protection to health in later
life. Those who have performed Salat (Fard and Wajib), Sunnah and
Nafl and Taraweeh prayers throughout life get protection and a
positive effect in terms of health and longevity. They reverse the life-
shortening effects of cigarette smoking and excess body weight.
Even people with high blood pressure (a primary heart disease risk)
reduced their death rate by one-half and their risk of dying from any
of the major diseases is reduced. They also counter genetic
tendencies toward an early death.

Hence Salat (Fard, Wajib), Sunnah, Nafl and Taraweeh prayers are
necessary for Muslims to preserve life and their desirable qualities
into old age.