The Fight Against Aging - Longevity and Islam

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Among the followers of sects and hadith, a belief that aging cannot be fought has prevailed. The origin of this belief is, of course, fabricated narrations.

Furthermore, in hadith, sectarian, and Sufi teachings, striving for a long and healthy life and struggling to minimize earthly troubles have often been portrayed as worldliness and have been opposed.

However, in the Quran, that is, in the teaching of Islam, the situation is very different. Here again, the sectarian and Sufi teachings clearly show that they are contrary to the religion of Islam. And as is known, the gossip called hadith, or sectarian and Sufi acceptances, have no validity in God's religion. As our Lord has stated, the Quran alone is the source of religion.

It should be known that according to Islam, the earth is not a place of evolution or suffering, but a place of trial. The condition for passing this trial successfully is to produce goodness for yourself and all of humanity, to strive to make the earth a paradise-like place (and true faith, free from polytheism, is at the forefront of this). In this context, fighting against disease, disability, and aging is also among the goals targeted by the Quran.

There is no verse in the Quran that says aging and diseases are incurable or that one should not struggle to prevent them. Our Lord states and desires the exact opposite.

The verses speak of people who remained vigorous for centuries.

Surah Al-Ankabut

14 And We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years. And the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers.

As can be seen, Prophet Noah lived on earth for "at least" 950 years. Furthermore, since we do not see anyone in his community finding this strange in the story told in the Quran, living for centuries like this might have been a commonplace event in that civilization. This means they were either genetically resistant to aging, or they knew the formula for youth through medicinal herbs, foods, and exercises. Another possibility is that they possessed a very advanced level of science and technology and used it to avoid aging easily (more than one of these possibilities could have been effective together).

Besides, even if this were a situation exclusive to the prophet, it still demonstrates that a person can live for a very long time in this world while remaining vigorous. (There are sources claiming that some other prophets and individuals also lived very long lives).

In addition to this, the verses also mention the People of the Cave living for a long time without aging (although the miracle there may have been performed outside the laws of physics).

Today, experts in genetic science, in particular, state that the human lifespan can be extended and that an earthly adventure free from old age and diseases for centuries, or even thousands of years, can be experienced. In fact, since some scientists have reported this development with sentences like, "The long-lived people written about in the holy books are about to become a reality again," it can be seen from this perspective as well that this situation is in harmony with the information given by religion.

A Muslim's goal, of course, is to live a good life that will earn God's pleasure. That is, the main purpose is not the length of life in this world, but performing deeds that will merit paradise and succeeding in the trial. However, the fight against aging is not contrary to this but is a supportive factor. Even if a person never aged, they would still be mortal in this world. They would only succeed in staying vigorous and healthy for the duration of their life. Their quality of life would increase. This situation could enable that individual to be happier, think more clearly, and exhibit more mature behavior. In fact, a healthy and vigorous person has more strength and means to produce goodness for others compared to an unhealthy and decrepit person. Furthermore, a person who lives a long and healthy life will also have a greater chance of increasing in wisdom. The probability of a person who is more knowledgeable, experienced, has contemplated life and the verses for a much longer time—and has always done so with a vigorous body and mind—turning towards the true religion and goodness may also slightly increase.

As I have already said, according to our holy book, since saving a life is a virtuous act like saving all of humanity, conducting research to prolong life and prevent the destruction brought by aging also falls within this scope

-"...And whoever saves one life, it is as if he had saved mankind entirely." (Adapted from Surah Al-Ma'idah, verse 32).

Some people who oppose the fight against aging mistakenly perceive it as changing what God has created or opposing His law. No, the situation is quite the opposite. Ensuring a person remains vigorous and healthy continuously or for a very long time is not changing God's creation, but preserving it. Is it the preservation of creation when an organ, for example, the eye, always sees sharply, or when it degenerates and loses its function? Or is it a change to the original form when a person's hair falls out, or when they always have thick hair? Perpetual youth is the preservation of the healthiest state and also the form of the body created by God. In any case, in Paradise, the fixed form of living beings will be preserved forever...

As long as the original, fixed forms of the creatures God created are not tampered with, and no attempt is made to create different organs or beings through science. Preserving youth is preserving the original form. The studies to be conducted should be to ensure this stability, not to change it.

Another point to be careful about is the necessity of not falling into the trap of having Eastern teachings imposed under the guise of anti-aging practices. Under the name of exercises for longevity, some pagan practices, beliefs like pantheism and reincarnation—in short, spiritualism—are sometimes attempted to be instilled in people by certain groups. In reality, these have no connection to health.

God's law commands the struggle against hardships and suffering. As we constantly state, working to stay healthy and young and to ensure the happiness of humanity is a part of achieving this.

This can be achieved through genetic science, natural foods/medicinal herbs, or exercises...

Meanwhile, the fact that the world's longest-living people generally come from among Muslims offers another verification of how preserving youth and health goes hand in hand with living in a way that God desires (for example, the longest-living known person is the Azeri Shirali Mislimov).

In fact, performing prayer, fasting, and adhering to God's other commands and prohibitions enable a person to live longer in many respects.

In short, the religion of Islam already encompasses the effort to extend life and to make youth continuous or longer-lasting.

And it should be known that it is a Quranic principle not only in this matter but in all areas of life to increase quality and happiness, to multiply goodness, and to work for a paradise-like world.

This is not about becoming worldly. In the Quran, the beauty of this world and the hereafter are a whole. The good deeds and help you bring about for yourself and all of humanity in this world are also an investment for your hereafter. The two are mutually supportive, contrary to what is often thought. What is outside of religion is to pursue evil, misery, and suffering.

God's religion shows us what our permanent, true interests are and aims for us to walk on this path.

Greetings and regards.

Emre_1974tr

Protection from the Negative Energies of Humans and Jinn

Surah Sad

And remember Our servant Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, Satan has touched me with weariness and torment."
, "Strike with your foot; this is a a cool bath and a drink."
And We granted him his family and a like with them as a mercy from Us and a reminder for those of understanding.

Devils from among the jinn or humans can cause distress to some people. Jinn, just like humans, are material beings (created from fire), and therefore, it is quite natural for them to cause physical harm to other living beings.

Surah Al-Hijr 27 And the jinn We created before from scorching fire.

With the whispers they give, as well as their telepathic effects and negative energies, they can negatively affect your life energy and even lead to depression in the long run. To protect oneself from their negative energies, engaging in beautiful acts such as performing prayer (salat), supplicating (making dua) to God alone, reading the Quran, constantly remembering and being grateful to God, and competing in acts of goodness and charity holds significant importance. Indeed, this world and the hereafter are a whole; acts of worship and good deeds beautify not only our hereafter but also our life in this world...

Surah An-Nas

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
The Sovereign of mankind,
The God of mankind,
From the evil of the retreating whisperer -
Who whispers into the breasts of mankind -
From among the jinn and mankind."

Surah Fussilat

And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

Surah Al-A'raf

Indeed, those who fear Allah - when an impulse from Satan touches them, they remember and at once they have insight.

In addition to this, as we see in the story of Prophet Job, our Lord gives him water as a natural remedy to relieve his suffering, asking him to both drink it and wash with it. Perhaps this was a special, healing water, but we can conclude that water, in general, is beneficial for this problem.

In this context, perhaps some other foods can also help in getting rid of the negative effects of some humans and jinn who spread negative energy. Foods and medicinal herbs that protect our body from radiation may be particularly effective because a food that expels radiation from the body may also cleanse negative energy.

Consuming foods like carob and yogurt can play a role in protecting against negative energies and remedying some problems that arise in the body. Furthermore, Korean Ginseng, considered one of the most effective radiation-cleansing plants in the world, should also be kept in mind. Ginseng from the Far East is also an elixir of youth that brings overall health and balance, from our minds to our skin. As it increases our resistance, it also makes us strong against negative external influences, especially against stress.

One of the noteworthy points in this narrative is that our Lord, unlike in some other examples, does not directly remove the affliction but this time presents the solution (the water). Thus, through the verses that convey this event to us, guidance on the subject is also provided to all of humanity.

Making dua and seeking refuge in Allah are not things that contradict receiving physical treatment. The same goes for asking for our Lord's help in any other matter while working to accomplish that task and produce solutions as best we can. Everything (including our own actions) is a means, a part of the divine plan. We must always work and struggle with all our might to solve problems. Moreover, if we always walk on the path of goodness and faith, our Lord already begins to let us experience paradise-like beauties even in this world.

Greetings and regards.