Leveraging Disease prevention and health promotion to control, prevent and respond to epidemics, communicable and non-communicable diseases – The role of Islamic principles, Teachings and Practices

Abstract In the recent past, the world has been hit by pandemics like coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Monkey pox and epidemics like Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), ,as well as Marburg among others in different parts of the world. It has also been observed that employing public health measures specifically disease prevention andHealth Promotion are fundamental pillars in preventing,controlling, and managing these global threats Integrating religious teachings and practices, particularly Islamic principles, offers a culturally rooted andspiritually meaningful pathway to advancing these public health strategies. This paper explores and presentshow Islamic teachings, principles, and practices derived from the Qur’an and Sunnah align with andenhance disease prevention and health promotion across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. It also highlights practical health-related behaviours advocated for in Islam, including hygiene, nutrition, sexual conduct, and spiritual wellness, and their application in controlling preventing and responding to epidemicscommunicable and non-communicable diseases. A call to action is made for Muslim medical professionals tointegrate Islamic teachings, guidance and practices into public health and medical teaching and practice in thetraining of health care professionals. More scientific research studies should be done to align prophetic medicine (Tibb a Nabbawi) with modern scientific medical knowledge. Further research should explore behavioural outcomes from faith-based health education programs and assess their effectiveness acrosspopulations.