EXPLORING THE INTERSECTION OF ISLAMIC RELIGION TOWARDS HEALING AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR NIGERIAN SOCIETY

Despite the coexistence of modern medicine and traditional healing methods, a significant portion of Nigeria's population, particularly in Muslim communities, still relies on Islamic healing practices rooted in the Qur'an and Hadith. These practices offer holistic approaches to health, incorporating physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. However, there is a noticeable gap in understanding how these religiously informed practices align with, supplement, or conflict with contemporary healthcare delivery systems in Nigeria. The research adopts historical, analytical, and descriptive methods. The historical method traces the origin and evolution of Islamic healing in Nigeria, while the analytical approach examines Qur'anic and prophetic teachings on healing. The descriptive method is used to articulate the implications of Islamic healing practices for Nigerian society. The data for the study were primarily sourced from secondary materials. including books, journals, and online scholarly articles. Findings reveal that Islamic teachings advocate a holistic approach to health, emphasizing both preventive and curative care through faith-based practices such as prayer (du'a). Ruqyah (spiritual healing), prophetic medicine (Tibb al-Nabawi), and natural remedies. The study concludes that the significance of integrating Islamic health principles with modern healthcare is to foster culturally sensitive and holistic medical practices in Nigeria. Such integration could bridge the gap between faith-based healing and biomedical care. ultimately improving health outcomes. The study therefore recommends policymakers should develop inclusive healthcare policies that accommodate Islamic healing practices and that mental health programs should integrate spiritual healing strategies to improve accessibility and effectiveness in Muslim communities.