Who do you swear by?

People have taken oaths since the dawn of history, calling upon God to witness the truth of what they say or do, and to express their determination to speak the truth or to keep a promise. Members of religious, political and professional groups have taken oaths to keep the honor of their professions.

A Physician's Oath:

One of the oldest oaths in history is the Hippocratic oath that Physicians in the west have been taking before commencing their medical duties. Written in antiquity, its principles are held sacred by doctors to this day. With the advent of secularism a Modern Version of the Hippocratic Oath was introduced. Today this modern oath is practiced along with some other variations of this oath.

Whereas the original Hippocratic oath had references to gods and goddesses the modern version deletes everything that directly or indirectly relates to God. The American College of Surgeons, and the Geneva Declaration of Medical Ethics provide the commitment in a doctor's oath that states " I pledge myself".

Are these oaths a meaningless relic or do they provide a moral guide? A number of physicians feel that the Hippocratic Oath and variations of it are inadequate to address the realities of a medical world that has witnessed huge scientific, economic, political, and social changes, a world of legalized abortion and physician-assisted suicide.

The Islamic Medical Association of North America proposed and later adopted in the 1970's a medical oath, which is a composite oath from the historical writings of Ibn Sina, Luqman Al-Hakim and contemporary writings from the physicians in the Islamic world. Prior to adopting the oath of a Muslim Physician, the Islamic Medical Association pointed out the grave errors in Hippocrates' oath and other statements in oaths that place emphasis in belief in multiple gods or the absence of God.

Muslims believe in the irrevocable truth revealed in the Quran and in the traditions of Prophet Muhammad . As such, Muslims cannot take the Oath of Hippocrates because it refers to gods and goddesses. Other oaths stress certain personal behavioral and ethical traits of a physician, which have no relation to the medical profession.

Muslim belief is based on making a covenant with God, being accountable to Him and following the guidance He has provided in the final revelation, the Quran. For a physician who takes an oath based on these principals and considers him or her self subservient to a Divine natural order, takes the oath as absolute, binding, solemn and with sincerity. Even if the physician is confronted with a situation that is not specifically mentioned in the oath, he or she is still bound by the principals of doing good for humanity as specified by the Creator of humanity.

The oath adopted by the Islamic Medical Association of North America is given below:

"Praise be to Allah (God), the Teacher, the Unique Majesty of heavens, the Exalted, the Glorious, glory be to Him. The Eternal Being who created the Universe and all the creatures within, and the only Being who containeth the infinity and the eternity. We serve no other God besides Thee and regard idolatry as an abominable injustice".

"Give us the strength to be truthful, honest, modest, merciful and objective".

"Give us the wisdom to comfort and counsel all towards peace and harmony" 

"Give us the understanding that ours is a sacred profession that deals with Your most precious gifts of life and intellect"

"Therefore, make us worthy of this favored station with honor, dignity and piety so that we may devote our lives in serving mankind, poor or rich, wise or illiterate". 

Mohammad Yacoob is former Vice Chairman of The Islamic Center of Southern California in Los Angeles and the former President of Masjid-Ul Islam in Inglewood.