Conclusion

Prior to this, we had mentioned all those substances that are used for medical purposes and that fall under the categories of inorganic bodies, plant life and animal life. It would be appropriate to mention certain practices that are prevalent at the time of seeking medical treatment but are prohibited in the Shariah . The most frequent practice concerns the exposure of the aurah of the patient, especially the female patient. Maulana Thanwi rahmatullahi alayh has the following to say in this regard:

"People display lack of caution with regard to covering the aurah of the patient. They do not even bother whether the knees or thighs are exposed. If, during a medical examination, there is a need to expose any part of the body, they are not cautious. It should be borne in mind that only that which is necessary to expose should be exposed. Moreover, the body should only be exposed to those who have something to do with the medical examination and not to others. At times, it is exposed to others who are present including other patients. This they do on the assumption that others will be a source of consolation to them. In short, it is not permissible to expose the body to others, nor is it permissible to expose more than what is necessary. The seriousness of this can be gauged from the fact that if a woman is about to deliver her child, it will be permissible for the doctor to look at the place of birth only if is it necessary. But because a kaafir woman (assuming that the doctor is a kaafir woman) falls under the category of a ghayr mahram , it will be haraam for this woman who is in labour to keep her head uncovered in the presence of this kaafir woman doctor. The reason for it being haraam to uncover her head is that there is no need to uncover the head. Similarly, if a woman's blood has to be cupped, the person performing this surgery can only look at the place where the surgery is going to be performed. It will be wajib for others who are present to leave, close their eyes or turn away. It is not permissible for others to look at the exposed part of this woman's hand. Similarly, if a boy is being circumcised, it will be permissible for the person performing the operation to look at only what is necessary. It will not be permissible for others to look at the exposed parts of the boy. Similarly, if a boil or sore has to be split open, the doctor or whoever else is undertaking the task can look at that exposed place. Others cannot look."

Presently, something more serious is in vogue. This has to be rejected with more emphasis. This has been initiated by the so-called educated persons. We refer to the custom of going to male doctors for the delivery of a child instead of going to mid-wives. When it is not permissible for a woman to look at the aurah of another woman except when necessary, how can it be permissible for a man to look at the aurah of a woman? It should be borne in mind that the further away a man is (in relation) to a woman, the more serious the sin and the more intense the prohibition will be. When a Muslim woman is in dire need of medical examination, the most rightful person will be another Muslim woman who is close to her. Thereafter it is a kaafir woman, who is equal to a ghayr mahram in status. Thereafter a Muslim male doctor. And thereafter, a non-Muslim male doctor. One should not go to a non-Muslim male doctor first (but choose him as the last alternative). This is a sign of great immorality, a major sin, and an improper following of the above-mentioned sequence. The excuse of necessity (or there being no alternative) is totally unacceptable. When this practice was not prevalent, babies were still being born. Even today, families that have a sense of shame and morality have babies born to them and the mid-wives are fulfilling all the necessary tasks. Once a new practice is initiated, a person will definitely experience problems and complications if he tries to do something contrary to what he has now become accustomed to. Take the case of Europeans who normally do not resort to indigenous or home-made medical preparations when it is a well-known, established fact that some of these modern medicines do not help in any way while the home-made preparations are much more beneficial. Based on certain worldly reasons, they do not wish to get into the practice of using home-made preparations. Is this stopping them from carrying on with whatever they want to? No. If, for Shar'ee reasons, we do not opt to go to male doctors for the delivery of our children, will this cause the birth of babies to cease? Definitely not!

Maulana Thanwi rahmatullahi alayh has mentioned the word "ghayr mahram" above. This word has to be clearly understood as well. Many people err in this regard. A Shar'ee mahram is one with whom there is no possibility of marriage being permissible or valid for one's entire life. Such persons are: one's father, son, brother, step-brother (irrespective of whether the father is one and they have two mothers, or whether the mother is one and they have two fathers), sons of these brothers and sons of sisters (i.e. nephews). The person with whom there is the possibility of marriage at any stage of one's life is not a Shar'ee mahram . Instead, he is a ghayr mahram . All the rules pertaining to a stranger will apply to this person as well even if there is some sort of relationship between them. Such persons include: paternal and maternal cousins, husband's brother, sister's husband, husband of the husband's sister, etc. These are all ghayr mahrams . The precautions that are accorded to strangers will have to be accorded to them as well. In fact, since the possibility of falling into sin with such persons is greater, stricter precautions will have to be taken when dealing with them.

It is haraam even for a Shar'ee mahram to look at or touch a woman from her navel till below her knees, her belly and her back. If the head, face, hands, arms, calves become exposed out of necessity, there will be no sin. But it is inappropriate to expose the arms and calves unnecessarily. As for a ghayr mahram (i.e. a strange person and also all those relatives whom we have mentioned above and included among strangers), it is not permissible for him to look at any part of the body. If there is a great necessity, the hands up to the wrists and the feet up to the ankles could be exposed. We have written all this because doctors display no caution whatsoever when examining female patients. They fearlessly examine the belly and other parts.