Research by Dr. Andrew Newberg—a professor of radiology, psychology, and religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania—has found that individuals who are diligent in their religious practice possess thicker layers in certain areas of the brain compared to those who rarely pray. This is highly advantageous, as active brain layers help sharpen memory.
This
finding aligns with research conducted by Robert Hummer, a sociologist and
demographer, who began his study in 1992. He observed two groups: those who
regularly attended church and those who never attended at all. Hummer found
that, after eight years, the latter group faced a mortality risk twice as high
as the former. People who are active in religious life generally lead more
socially engaged lives; they form friendships, provide mutual support, and
encourage one another to seek health check-ups.
Similarly,
Prof. Dadang Hawari has stated that religious intervention serves as a crucial
element in the healing process. Such intervention involves prayer combined with
medical therapy—addressing biological, psychological, and social dimensions.
The integration of a spiritual aspect into one’s life significantly influences
the body’s internal mechanisms, both physiologically and psychologically.
Numerous
studies reveal that the presence of a spiritual dimension in a person’s life
profoundly affects how their body functions. In other words, those who are
diligent in religious activities tend to have stronger immune systems than
those who do not engage in such practices.
Research
also indicates that increasing the time spent on religious observance helps
maintain stable blood pressure, which in turn lowers the risk of cardiovascular
diseases. The act of surrendering oneself and seeking assistance from the
Almighty has been shown to help individuals navigate the various, often
unsettling, challenges of daily life. Consequently, the anxieties we experience
do not accumulate to the point of becoming overwhelming. Ibadah mahdah
(acts of formal worship)—most notably prayer and fasting—are frequently
interpreted primarily as matters concerning the afterlife. People often perform
these acts with the hope of ensuring a smooth passage into Paradise in the
hereafter. Yet, many have demonstrated that prayer, fasting, reciting the
Quran, giving alms, and similar practices yield immediate, tangible effects on
one’s daily life in this world. These benefits—whether physical, psychological,
or social—are realized here and now.
One
aspect that is often overlooked is that nearly all forms of "worship
for the afterlife" are carried out through physical movements. Prayer,
for instance, requires standing upright, bowing, prostrating, and so on;
likewise, the Hajj pilgrimage demands excellent physical fitness. Beyond
serving as a testament to the obedience of one’s physical body, this bodily
engagement produces unexpected positive outcomes. While such physical obedience
may initially stem from an internal, spiritual state, it subsequently serves to
further reinforce that very spiritual devotion.
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