“I was working in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of a hospital in the United States, and one day the department brought in an Arab (Muslim) woman who was about to give birth, and the pains before the delivery kept tormenting her, but my shift was almost over, so I told her, “I’m going home from work, and another (male) doctor will be here soon to take care of your delivery. When she heard this, she started to cry and became feverish and agitated; she kept saying, “No, no, I don’t want a male doctor to deliver my baby!” I felt very strange, so her husband told me: “She (my wife) does not want any strange men to see her, because from the time he was born until now, except for her closest relatives (father, uncles, brothers, etc.), no strange men have seen her.” I was truly baffled by this and jokingly remarked with him, “I think maybe all the men in America have seen me!” But I finally agreed to their request (to stay and deliver her baby).
The next day, Dr. Olivua came to visit the Arab woman in the ward and advised her that many women start having sex with their husbands shortly after giving birth, which leads to many complications, including inflammation; according to the latest medical research, it is not permitted to have sex until at least 40 days have elapsed. In addition, it is important for the mother to rest and not to be overworked, as this can also have a negative impact on her health.
The Arab woman in labor told me that we know all this because Islam says that a husband should not come near his wife for 40 days after giving birth, and that he must wait until she is clean before he can have intercourse. Also, a woman in labor may not have to fast (fast of the Lord’s life) or even worship, and should rest well. “I was shocked to hear this”, said Olifuya, “that what the medical profession had spent a great deal of effort and accumulated countless clinical experiences to summarize, was already mentioned in the basic Islamic education (and common sense of life)!”
When Dr. Olifuya came to visit the newborn again, she warned the first-time Arab woman that it was best for the newborn to lie on his right side, as this would help the heart to beat in an orderly fashion. The father of the child said, “This is indeed how we lay the child on his right side, because our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us that we should do so.” “I was shocked and simply speechless when I heard the child’s father say this!” Olifuya said. “We spend our lives and do countless studies to come to the conclusion that they (Muslims) have learned from the most basic Islamic education!”
When it came time for my annual vacation, and I had a month to spare, I decided to travel to another city where there was a large Islamic mission center, where I spent most of my vacation. During this time, I kept communicating and asking …… praises to the great Allah with the Arab and American Muslims here, and it was only a few months after that that I converted to Islam and walked with my faith .