Towards an understanding of compassion from an Islamic perspective

Abstract

Aims: To explore the concept of compassion as represented in Islamic virtues and how it influences the practice of nurses. Background: Islam is one of the world's major religions. Yet, an Islamic perspective of compassion is not well understood in the Western nursing literature. Current understandings of compassion are largely drawn from a Western or Buddhist perspective. Design: Discursive paper. Methods: This is a review of literature and Islamic texts on the presence, meaning and practices of compassion that are relevant to our understanding of compassion in the contemporary nursing practice. Conclusions: A compassionate Muslim nurse is a person who gives without asking for something in return, a person who cares without conditions and a person who seeks to achieve the happiness of others. Therefore, Islam, like many other religions, endorses compassionate care in all aspects, and this is particularly emphasised in nurses. Relevance to clinical practice: This paper also provides an insight into how a Muslim patient perceives different experiences of health and illness, supported by quotes from the Islamic contextual heritage, and how a nurse within this culture is expected to behave.