But many things in health confer perhaps minor or negligible benefits or harm on an individual level but if everyone (or a critical mass in a population) were to do it the entire population benefits or is harmed significantly. Because individuals interact, and behaviour effects, infection agents, and/or substances are propagated between us whether through natural fate and transport, or cultural/man-made mediation.

Yet I think things that have this population level effect is a very difficult to explain or be made accepted in the West because of the strong emphasis on *individual* rights combined with a fairly weak emphasis on *societal* well-being that is affected by individual behaviour. Related to this is the weak value placed on spiritual or religious values being the most efficient motivation for the individual to modulate behaviour in consideration of societal well-being as well as their own, even if it means sacrificing an individual benefit or pleasure (i.e. “restraint”, as in “God prescribes to you fasting, in order that you learn restraint”). (the East has its different problems related to a tendency for the opposite bias).

Really the best way, as is obvious, is the middle way.

May we continue to receive ALLAH’S MERCY through Ramadan and beyond. Press forward in the race toward all that is good. You have truly been blessed in your efforts Dr. Lambert and we look forward to your advancenemt in the field of medicine through ALLAH’S DEEN.
“PEACE is not the absence of war, but the presence of ALLAH” . As we study Imam Mohamed, and follow the life of prophet Muhammad, inahaALLAH we will meet ALLAH.

Uncle Saleem

also, thanks for providing that critical historical context of elijah mohammed and connecting it with qur’an and sunnah.