Palliative care for Muslim patients.

The Islamic teachings encourage Muslims to seek treatment when they fall sick. The Prophet (pbuh) said “Seek treatment, because Allah did not send down a sickness but has sent down a medication for it—known to those who know it and not known to others—except for death.”6 In terms of treatment options, Muslim patients resort to modern medicine, spiritual healing, and traditional healing practices. The spiritual healing practices include recitation of verses of the Noble Qur’an and specific Prophetic supplications.6 The use of Zamzam water, obtained from the well in the Holy Mosque, located in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, is also widely practiced.7 Although forbidden according to the Sunnah, the use of amulets is still not uncommon among some Muslim communities.6 According to Islamic teachings, honey and black cumin (Nigella seeds) are considered to have healing properties.6 Cauterizing is still practiced as a traditional healing measure by some Muslim patients despite the fact that it was not particularly recommended by the Prophet (pbuh).6