Salah as Medicine: A Systematic Review of Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Islamic Prayer
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63320/jrhs.v1.i1.7Keywords:
Salah, Islamic Prayer, therapeutic exercise, mental health, cardiovascular health, rehabilitation, biomechanics, neurological effectAbstract
This systematic review summarizes the most recent research from 2009 to 2024 on the health advantages of salah, or Islamic prayer. Millions of Muslims around the world engage in salah, a special kind of spiritual and physical exercise that includes a number of poses and motions that may have therapeutic benefits. The review investigates the effects of Salah on neurological results, psychological well-being, cardiovascular fitness, musculoskeletal benefits, and rehabilitation. The findings suggest that frequent Salah practice may benefit cardiovascular regulation, balance in older populations, stress reduction, and mental wellness. However, existing studies should be interpreted cautiously due to methodological constraints. The review emphasizes that in order to completely clarify the processes and long-term health impacts of Salah, more thorough and extensive research is required. Comprehending these advantages can encourage integrative health practices in culturally aware settings.
Downloads
References
Behdar, M.R. and Sheikh, R., 2024. Investigating the effect of Salat (Muslim prayer) on mental health in the results of clinical studies: A mini review. Sports Science on Health Research, 15(2), pp.267–274. Available at: https://doi.org/10.22059/SSHR.2024.369575.1113
Osama M, Malik RJ. Salat (Muslim prayer) as a therapeutic exercise. J Pak Med Assoc. 2019 Mar;69(3):399-404. PMID: 30890834.
Sarkingobir, Y., Sharu, A.U., Sahabi, M. and Ashafa, N.A., 2022. Religious and health benefits of Salah/prayer: A review. International Journal of Emerging Issues in Islamic Studies (IJEIIS), 2(2), pp.58–70. Available at: https://journals.researchsynergypress.com/index.php/ijeiis [Accessed 28 May 2025]. DOI: 10.31098/ijeiis.v2i2.1053.
Sayeed SA, Prakash A. The Islamic prayer (Salah/Namaaz) and yoga togetherness in mental health. Indian J Psychiatry. 2013 Jan;55(Suppl 2):S224-30. doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.105537. PMID: 23858258; PMCID: PMC3705686.
Kusunose, M., Inui, A., Nishimoto, H., Mifune, Y., Yoshikawa, T., Shinohara, I., Furukawa, T., Kato, T., Tanaka, S., & Kuroda, R. (2023). Measurement of Shoulder Abduction Angle with Posture Estimation Artificial Intelligence Model. Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 23(14), 6445. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23146445
Sarkingobir, Y., Sharu, A.U., Sahabi, M., & Ashafa, N.A. (2022). RELIGIOUS AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF SALAH/PRAYER. International Journal of Emerging Issues in Islamic Studies.
Bhat, R. (2016) Unity of health through yoga and Islamic prayer (Salah). Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293821675
Reza MF, Urakami Y, Mano Y. Evaluation of a new physical exercise taken from salat (prayer) as a short-duration and frequent physical activity in the rehabilitation of geriatric and disabled patients. Ann Saudi Med. 2002 May-Jul;22(3-4):177-80. doi: 10.5144/0256-4947.2002.177. PMID: 17159390.
Mahboob Ur Rahman. The Effectiveness of Prayer in Maintenance of Physical Health in Context of “Stand, Pray, There is Shifa/Healing in Prayers” (Hadees. Ibne Maja). International Journal of Advanced Research in Orthopaedics 2018, 1(1): 180004
Muhammad Osama & Reem Javed Malik . (2019)March 69(3):399-404 ‘Salat (Muslim Prayer) as a therapeutic exercise’,DOI: https://www.academia.edu/72658866/Salat_Muslim_prayer_as_a_therapeutic_exercise
Nazish N, Kalra N. Muslim prayer- a new form of physical activity: a narrative review. Int J Health Sci Res. 2018; 8(7):337-344. Available at: http://www.ijhsr.org
Alam I, Ullah R, Jan A, Sehar B, Khalil AAK, Naqeeb H, Ali EA, Wahab QMF, Safdar M, Ali A, Zaman MH, Zeb F. Improvement in cardio-metabolic health and immune signatures in old individuals using daily chores (Salat) as an intervention: A randomized crossover study in a little-studied population. Front Public Health. 2022 Oct 24;10:1009055. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1009055. PMID: 36353274; PMCID: PMC9638034.
Boy E, Lelo A, Sagiran. Salat dhuha effect on oxidative stress in elderly women: A randomized controlled trial. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2023 Apr;30(4):103603. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103603. Epub 2023 Feb 23. PMID: 36852007; PMCID: PMC9946778.
Shaverdi Y, Pirzad Jahromi G, Meftahi GH, Sharif MS, Mojabi N, Hatef B. The Effect of Islamic Praying on Heart Rate Variation in Adult Muslims. jmr. 2024;18(2):179-188.
Farooq, A. and Marwat, S. (2021) ‘The role of Salah in mental health’, The Healer, 2(1).
Doufesh, H., Faisal, T., Lim, K.S. & Ibrahim, F. (2019) ‘Alpha brain activity during Islamic prayer movements’, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 13. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30890834/
Doufesh H, Ibrahim F, Safari M. Effects of Muslims praying (Salat) on EEG gamma activity. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016 Aug;24:6-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.04.004. Epub 2016 Apr 21. PMID: 27502795.
Rehman JHS (2023) ‘Salah in rehabilitation therapy’, Rehman Journal of Health Sciences.
Sobhani V, Manshadi Mokari E, Aghajani J, Hatef B. Islamic praying changes stress- related hormones and genes. J Med Life. 2022 Apr;15(4):483-488. doi: 10.25122/jml-2021-0167. PMID: 35646186; PMCID: PMC9126458.
W. Mohd Fatihilkamal, W.M., Mahmood, N.H., Zakaria, N.A. and Ali, E.A., 2011. Salat and brainwave signal analysis. Jurnal Teknologi, 54(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v54.809.
Suseno, B., 2023. Muslim prayer (Salah), and its restorative effect: Psychophysiological explanation. Asian Journal of Islamic Psychology, 1(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.23917/ajip.v1i1.3702
Rahmanto, S.W., Fachrunisa, R.A. and Suseno, B., 2023. Khushoo in Salah: An overview of nafs (Islamic psychological perspective). Asian Journal of Islamic Psychology, 1(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.23917/ajip.v1i1
Tariq, T., Inam, R., Hayat, M.K. and Anwar, A., 2024. Effects of Salah postures on balance in geriatric population: A descriptive study. The Healer Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, 4(3), pp.991–997. Available at: https://doi.org/10.55735/hjprs.v4i3.242
Irawati K, Indarwati F, Haris F, Lu JY, Shih YH. Religious Practices and Spiritual Well- Being of Schizophrenia: Muslim Perspective. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2023 Mar 12;16:739-748. doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S402582. PMID: 36936366; PMCID: PMC10019082.
Kapil, Meenu and Pandey, A.K., 2023. Current perspective of Yoga and Namaz: An overview. [online] Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373768171_CURRENT_PRESPECTIVE_ OF_YOGA_AND_NAMAZ_AN_OVERVIEW
E-MJ Malaysia (2021) Review of health benefits of Salat. Available at: https://e- mjm.org/2021/v76n1/health-benefits-of-Salat.pdf
WMOME (2021) Fitness and Salah is directly proportional. Available at: https://wmoworld.org
Kamran G. Physical benefits of (Salah) prayer - Strengthen the faith & fitness. J Nov Physiother Rehabil. 2018; 2: 043-053. DOI: 10.29328/journal.jnpr.1001020
Boy, E., Lelo, A., Tarigan, A.P., Machrina, Y., Yusni, Y., Harahap, J., Sembiring, R.J., Syafril, S., Rusip, G. and Freeman, C.A., 2021. Salat Dhuha improves haemodynamic: A randomized controlled study. Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, 9(B), pp.1695–1700. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2021.7666
Chamsi-Pasha, M. and Chamsi-Pasha, H., 2021. A review of the literature on the health benefits of Salat (Islamic prayer). The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 76(1), pp.93–97.
Haque, A. and Ghosh, S.S., 2013. Namaz is a very good exercise for wholesome development. Research Paper Physical Education, 2(11), pp.220–221.
İmamoğlu, O. (2016). Benefits of Prayer as a Physical Activity. International Journal of Sport Culture and Science, 4(Special Issue 1), 306-318.
Naik, Z., 2015. Medical benefits of Salat (Namaz). [online] Rafeeqee. Available at: https://rafeeqee.com/medical-benefits-of-salat-namaz/
Doufesh, H., Ibrahim, F., Ismail, N.A. and Wan Ahmad, W.A., 2013. Assessment of heart rates and blood pressure in different Salat positions. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 25(2), pp.211–214. doi:10.1589/jpts.25.211.
Afroogh, A.R., Hakami, M. and Zam, F., 2019. What role does “prayer” play in our health care? Archives of Community and Family Medicine, 2(1), pp.9–13.
Qidwai W, Tabassum R, Hanif R, Khan FH. Belief in prayers and its role in healing among family practice patients visiting a teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci 2009;25(2): 182-189
Fatima, S.L., Amjad, F. and Hashim, A., 2022. Association of Muslim prayers and physical fitness among general population – A systematic review. Rawal Medical Journal, 47(2), pp.501–505.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Religion, Health and Society

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

