In this penultimate article on SDG 3, I would like to take stock of this goal directly from the sponsor of the program, ie the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). I quote below from the international body’s website.
“But the world is off-track to achieve the health-related SDGs. Progress has been uneven, both between and within countries. There’s a 31-year gap between the countries with the shortest and longest life expectancies. And while some countries have made impressive gains, national averages hide that many are being left behind. Multisectoral, rights-based and gender-sensitive approaches are essential to address inequalities and to build good health for all.”
SDG 3 is further divided into 13 targets and 28 trackers to measure the progress. The main targets are to reduce maternal mortality, end preventive deaths up to five years of age, fight communicable diseases, reduce deaths from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health, achieve universal health coverage and access to affordable vaccines and combat substance abuse.
Now for some number crunching. As per the UNDP, 400 million people have no basic healthcare. The ratio works out to roughly 5% of the current global population, which I believe is an amazing achievement if as claimed by the world body. The UNDP states that 1.6 billion people or 20% of the world’s population live in fragile settings plagued by recurring conflicts and crises, making it difficult to deliver healthcare facilities by the weak governments. I am not sure if 400 million is included in this number. If not, 25% of the global population does not have regular medical help which is depressing to learn. Then there are some other statistics, but these two are the main concerning aspects.
Coming back to the targets under SDG 3, I have already explained earlier the strict prohibition of substance abuse in Islam since it deprives the user of a perfect mental capacity to differentiate between evil and good and pushes himself and the family members into extreme mental stress and financial chaos in addition to committing crimes he would not normally do.
It reminds me of an extremely tragic incident that happened a few years ago to a close family friend who lives in my native place, Karachi. His daughter and grandson were returning from a happy mother–son bonding dinner at a faraway beach restaurant when the son lost his way and drove into a dark place.
Suddenly he found the car was surrounded by men on three bikes with guns who wanted to rob them. The son gave his mobile and wallet and when the robber turned to the mother demanding her possessions, she bent down to pick her purse from the car floor when the robber thought she is reaching out for a gun and shot her. She died instantly.
The saddest part is upon getting arrested, the robber said that he has no recollection of the incident since he was high on drugs that night. Soon after, my friend’s wife passed away due to unbearable sorrow and, despite some years having passed, my friend and the grandson are finding it hard to return to a normal life. The robber destroyed a happy family because of his little adventurism in drugs. This is the reason that there is strict forbiddance in Islam to go near any kind of intoxicating element.
Another target under SDG 3 is to end the various epidemics including AIDS. Again, Islamic teachings demand a clean and healthy lifestyle and safe intimacy based on marriage. Adultery is strictly outlawed and is punished by stoning to death. Critics of Islam say it is barbaric but as they say, you got to be cruel to be kind. Adultery was common in Mecca before Islam and the whole society was rotting with this abominable practice. Upon implementing the laws of Islam, the society was able to get rid of this menace.
Islam stipulates the penal laws or ‘Hudud’ as known in Fiqh, with an aim to achieve the pinnacle of a healthy society free from disgusting and foul habits and practices. Critics of Islamic punishments conveniently forget to mention the ideal community achieved in a very short span of time by applying the punishments on a very few individuals as a deterrent.
The singular of Hudud is Hadd which means prevention, hindrance, restraint, deterrent and prohibition ordained by Almighty Allah for what is lawful and unlawful. The Islamic punishments are divided into two categories viz. Hadd and Ta’zir. The former is specified by the Quran and Sunnah whereas the latter is left upon the court to decide as to the form and measure in which the punishment is to be imposed.
The application of Islamic punishments had raised the morality bar of the Islamic society to such an extent that a woman came to Prophet Muhammad and requested to be punished by stoning to death since she had become pregnant because of adultery.
Prophet Muhammad called her guardian and asked him to treat her well until she delivers the baby and bring her back. He did accordingly. Then Prophet Muhammad pronounced a judgment about her which was complied with. He then prayed over her dead body. A companion surprisingly asked as to why he prayed for her whereas she had committed adultery. Prophet Muhammad replied that she has made such a sincere repentance that if it were to be divided among 70 men of Medina, it would be enough to grant pardon to them by Allah. He added: “Have you ever found any repentance better than this that she sacrificed her life for seeking Allah’s pardon?”
In order to cleanse the global society from the curse of AIDS or HIV, to me it would seem to be in order to apply the Islamic penal code on committing adultery and the UN would be extremely shocked at the result. What the world body could not achieve by spending billions of dollars around the world would be accomplished at no cost. So, you see, Islam is not termed the way of life more than the religion for nothing.
The purpose of this educative series and the article is not to hurt any religious or commercial sentiments either consciously or even unwittingly.
Sohail Zubairi is an Islamic finance specialist, AAOIFI-certified Shariah advisor and auditor as well as CIAE-certified Islamic arbitrator and expert. He can be contacted at [email protected].
Next week: Last article on SDG 3.