THE IMPLICATION OF AL-FATIHA INTERVENTION FOR REHABILITATING CEREBRAL PALSY PATIENTS

Abstract

Al-Fatiha is the first surah of the Holy Quran and an integral part of the salah. The seven magnificent verses of Al-Fatiha contain the fundamental doctrines of Islam, such as aqida, dawa, Islamic legislation, prayer, and the afterlife. Objective: Allah's words can treat any disorder, and research has shown that listening to the Quran has therapeutic benefits for listeners. There have been few published research to support the idea that Al-Fatiha can help in rehabilitating cerebral palsy (CP) patients. The study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of listening to Al Fatiha on behaviors during physiotherapy and spasticity in CP patients. Methods: Formal ethical approval for the study was granted by the Institutional Bioethics Committee of Karachi University as well as the rehabilitation center where the research was carried out between February and April 2021. Study participants were randomly allocated into two groups: control (n=12) and Al-Fatiha (n=16). Al-Fatiha sessions, totaling 31 structured group sessions, were administered over six weeks. The outcome measures were evaluated utilizing the Physiotherapist Reporting Questionnaire and the Modified Ashworth Scale. Statistical analysis, including the Wilcoxon signed rank test and descriptive statistics, was performed using SPSS version 28. Results: The findings of this study demonstrated a significant induction of calmness and a reduction in spasticity among participants in the Al-Fatiha group. It is hypothesized that several factors contributed to these improvements in both behavioral and physical outcomes, including the amplification of brain waves, the rebalancing of brain cells through the reduction of neural tension, and the stimulation of the auditory and motor cortex. Conclusion: Based on the preliminary findings, Al-Fatiha is suggested as a promising, non-pharmacological, and cost-effective rehabilitation therapy for individuals with CP, subject to validation through second and third-phase clinical trials.

Keywords: Al Fatiha, Brain waves, Cerebral Palsy, Physiotherapy,  Spasticity