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Editorial – September 2025 Edition

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A City Where Physicians Found Few Patients: Lessons for Modern Health

By Dr. Qaisar J. Qayyum, Chief Editor, Noor Journal International

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A well-known account from early Islam tells us of a physician who once moved to Medina, intending to offer his services to its people. After residing there for several months, he prepared to leave. When asked why, his answer was something like this, both simple and profound: that no one there seemed to fall sick, and so his services were of little use.

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This account, whether read as history, metaphor, or observation, points us toward a deeper truth about health. In Medina, life was marked by simplicity, moderation, communal support, spirituality and disciplined daily habits. These factors combined to create an environment where the need for medical intervention was greatly reduced. The physician’s surprise reflects what public health experts now recognize: prevention and lifestyle shape health far more than treatment alone.

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In our own time, the contrast is stark. Healthcare systems are stretched by the weight of chronic conditions, many of them preventable. Physicians work tirelessly, yet the demand grows. The story of Medina reminds us that the highest goal of medicine is not simply to treat illness after it arises, but to foster the conditions in which illness rarely takes hold.

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This issue of Noor Journal of Complementary and Contemporary Medicine continues to advance that vision. Our contributors examine integrative models of care, the role of nutrition, the promise of traditional therapies, and the importance of community health frameworks. Each article reflects the conviction that medicine must be more than reaction, it must be prevention, balance, and foresight.

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Let this edition remind us that a truly healthy society is not one where physicians are busiest, but one where they are needed least.

With reflection and renewed purpose,

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Dr. Qaisar J. Qayyum
Chief Editor, Noor Journal of Complementary and Contemporary Medicine
Clinical Assistant Professor, Oklahoma, USA

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