| Summary: | Islam is a comprehensive way of life which is built on five pillars in which solat (prayer) is one of them.
It is compulsory for Muslims to perform the five times a day
solat
at prescribed times. Islam has however
given flexibility for ill patients to perform solat according to their ability. The aim of this study was to find
out whether in-ward patients performed the five-time a day
solat
and the reasons for not performing if
they abandoned their
solat
. A set of questionnaire was designed to look into their knowledge, attitude and
practice. The questionnaires were distributed to hospitalized Muslim patients from selected hospitals in
Malaysia namely Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Sabah), Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (Terengganu), Raja
Perempuan Zainab II Hospital (Kelantan), Batu Pahat Hospital (Johor) and Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital
(Pahang). Out of 109 patients who participated in this study, only 74 (67.9%) of them performed the
prescribed solat while 35 (32.1%) neglected their
solat
during their ward stay. Two of the patients who
neglected their
solat
admitted that they had never learned about it. Four of them knew but never practiced
even when they were not hospitalized, while 29 patients only abandoned their
solat
while in the hospital. The
reasons given were poor knowledge on performing solat under sick conditions, limitations due to pain, poor
mobility and hospital support. Most of the patients (83.5%) felt guilty for not performing the prescribed
solat.
Lack of knowledge and awareness of the importance of
solat
were among the factors that hindered patients
from performing
solat
during admissions. Problems related to limited mobility due to pain and poor hospital
support were also contributing factors. Therefore team efforts involving government and non-governmental
organization, hospital administrators and staff as well as medical and nursing students are needed to
improve the situation. The knowledge and awareness may be brought about through distribution of leaflets and
educational sessions. Improvement of hospital facilities should also be made in-line with ibadah friendly
hospital.
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