Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal

Vol-04, Issue-01 (Jan-Mar 2025)

An International scholarly/ academic journal, peer-reviewed/ refereed journal, ISSN : 2959-1376

Effect of Diet on Infant’s Health and Child’s Upbringing: The Islamic View Point

Fayokemi, Adigun Wasilat

Department of Liberal Arts (Islamic Studies Unit), School of Humanities, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education,

Science and Technology, Ikere, Nigeria.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7785

Subject: Nutrition / Religious Studies / Child Development

Page No: 155-178

Received: Nov 08, 2024

Accepted: Dec 15, 2024

Published: Jan 01, 2025

Thematic Classification: Islamic Nutritional Ethics, Infant Health, Child Upbringing, Halal Dietetics, Religious Perspectives on Health, Maternal and Child Nutrition.

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of diet on infant’s health and child upbringing from an Islamic perspective, using Nigeria as a case study. It examines how modern scientific research supports the health benefits prescribed in Islamic teachings, showcasing the alignment between religion and science regarding infant health and child’s development. The study also examines how adherence to Islamic dietary laws influences infant health, child development, and parenting practices as Islamic teachings emphasize balanced nutrition and proper child’s upbringing through breastfeeding, the weaning process, and the introduction of solid foods, as well as the moral and ethical responsibilities of parents in enhancing child’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development. The research employed a mixed-method approach which combine both qualitative and quantitative methods, thereby, a total of 506 participants were selected from Muslim-majority communities in Nigeria using stratified random sampling. Data were gathered through Questionnaires which were administered to 256 parents (fathers and mothers), 150 public health workers, and 100 individuals from the general public. The questionnaire captured demographic details, adherence to Islamic dietary guidelines, health outcomes in children, and parenting practices. Unstructured interviews were also conducted with Islamic scholars and nutritionists to gather qualitative data on the Islamic view of diet and child-rearing. In statistical analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square and regression analysis) were used to analyses the quantitative data. The statistical tests confirm that Islamic dietary practices positively impact infant’s health and child upbringing. The strong relationships found between breastfeeding and health outcomes suggest that integrating religious principles into public health policies could lead to improved child nutrition, developmental outcomes, and better parental engagement. The study concludes with policy recommendations to improve child’s health through diet-conscious parenting, informed by both religious and medical perspectives.

Keywords: Diet, Infant’s health, Child upbringing, Islamic view point

Impact Statement

The paper examines the effect of diet on infant’s health and child upbringing from an Islamic view point using Nigeria as a case study. It examines how modern scientific research supports the health benefits prescribed in Islamic teachings, showcasing the alignment between religion and science regarding infant health and child’s development. As Islamic teachings emphasize a holistic approach to raising children, balancing spiritual, moral, and practical aspects, children in Islam are seen as pure, valuable, and deserving of protection, love, and guidance. The collective responsibility of family and community in supporting child upbringing reflects the profound emphasis Islam places on the well-being and development of future generations. The strong relationships found between breastfeeding and health outcomes suggest that integrating religious principles into public health policies could lead to improved child nutrition, developmental outcomes, and better parental engagement. The study concludes with policy recommendations to improve child’s health through diet-conscious parenting, informed by both religious and medical perspectives.

About The Author

Dr Wasilat Fayokemi Adigun is currently an Associate Professor of Islamic Studies (Gender Studies, Islamic Education and Social Welfare) at the Department of Liberal Arts, School of Humanities, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere, Nigeria. She started her career at the defunct College of Education, Ikere Ekiti as an Instructor at the School of Languages after emerging as the best NCE graduating student of the School. She received her Bachelor of Arts Education Degree in Islamic Studies from Lagos State University, Ojoo, Nigeria with 2nd Class (Hons) Upper Division. She later proceeded to University of Ibadan where she obtained her Masters of Arts in Islamic Studies and Ph.D from the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan. She has been actively involved in research, teaching and training on Islamic Studies, education, social welfare and gender studies. Her research interests are in the area of Islamic Education, Islamic Social Welfare, Islamic Theology, Gender Studies, Islamic Ethics and Morality. She served as the Head of Department of Islamic Studies in 2018 to 2020. She is presently the Chairman, Research Committee of the School of Humanities and also member of the Research Team of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere (BOUESTI). She has conducted research and published articles in various areas of Gender Studies, Islamic education and social welfare and contemporary studies in both local and international journals. She is a fellow at International Institute for Muslim Unity (IIMU) and member of the International Council for Education, Research and Training (ICERT), and others. She received Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Global Educator Award-2022 for excellence in education, social welfare and contribution to education fraternity & society during the Indo-Global Education Summit (IGES-2022) on “Recent Transformations in Education, Health, Management, and Research” organized by International Council for Education, Research and Training (ICERT).

Cite this Article

APA 7th Style: Fayokemi, A. W. (2025). Effect of diet on infant’s health and child’s upbringing: The Islamic view point. Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 4(01), 155–178. https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7784

Chicago 17th Style: Fayokemi, Adigun Wasilat. “Effect of Diet on Infant’s Health and Child’s Upbringing: The Islamic View Point.” Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal 4, no. 1 (2025): 155–178. https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7785.

MLA 9th Style: Fayokemi, Adigun Wasilat. “Effect of Diet on Infant’s Health and Child’s Upbringing: The Islamic View Point.” Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, vol. 4, no. 1, 2025, pp. 155-178, https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7785.

Statements & Declarations

Review Method: This article underwent a double-blind peer-review process by two independent external experts in Islamic Jurisprudence and Community Health to ensure the theological accuracy of the dietary mandates and the clinical relevance of the nutritional observations.

Competing Interests: The author (Adigun Wasilat Fayokemi) declares that there are no financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that could have inappropriately influenced the research findings or the interpretation of religious texts presented in this study.

Funding: This research was conducted as part of the author’s academic and research activities at the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology. No specific external grants or commercial funding were received for this work.

Data Availability: The analysis is based on a qualitative study of primary Islamic sources (Qur’an and Hadith) alongside contemporary nutritional guidelines. All cited religious texts and secondary medical literature are available through institutional libraries and public academic databases.

License: Effect of Diet on Infant’s Health and Child’s Upbringing: The Islamic View Point © 2025 by Adigun Wasilat Fayokemi is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. This work is published by the International Council for Education Research and Training (ICERT).

Ethics Approval: As this study is a theoretical and theological review and does not involve direct clinical experimentation on human participants, it was deemed exempt from formal ethical review by the Institutional Research Committee.

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