The Path of Medicine & Beyond
What is the field?
Embarking on a career in medicine holds profound significance for Muslims, aligning with the principles laid out in the Quran. Central to this pursuit is the Quranic verse
(Al-Ma'idah 5:32), which emphasizes the sanctity of human life: "
"Whoever saves one life—it is as if he had saved mankind entirely."
This ayah underscores the divine value of preserving and promoting well-being, making a compelling case for us to engage in the field of medicine. The profession allows us to be agents of healing, embodying the concept of "rāfiḍa" or elevation, as they work to alleviate suffering and promote the health and vitality of individuals. Choosing a career in medicine is not just a professional decision but a deeply spiritual one, rooted in the profound teachings of the Quran and the imperative to contribute to the welfare of humanity. There was also a research study of 255 Muslim physicians concluding that, “For Muslim physicians, holding their religion to be the most important part of their life positively associates with career satisfaction and lower odds of burnout and callousness.” [link to study]
This guide will provide you with basic insights into the life of a physician, the educational path, and essential steps to embark on this fulfilling career. We believe this guide is beneficial as it is written with the aspiring Muslim professional in mind, but we do recommend you check out the AAMC guide on pursuing a career in medicine and an article by Mufti Muhammad al-Kawthari on Islamic principles in pursuing the field.
- What Does a physician do? Doctors diagnose and treat patients' medical conditions. Their responsibilities include:
- Patient Care: Conducting physical exams, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, and developing treatment plans.
- Preventive Care: Advising on preventive measures, vaccinations, and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
- Medical Research: Contributing to scientific advancements through research studies and clinical trials.
- Education: Educating patients about their conditions and providing guidance on managing health.
What are the different types of jobs in the fields?
Many people do not know that pursuing a career in medicine may involve many roles (or even full-time jobs) away from direct patient care, such as translating research findings into therapies, working for a pharmaceutical company, or hospital administration. Many of these positions do not preclude a physician from continuing clinical practice. We personally encourage aspiring Muslim physicians to consider these routes, as they can amplify your societal impact and boost the visibility of Muslims as leaders in healthcare.
Beyond this, there are different specialties that one can go into, such as internal medicine, psychiatry, radiology, or dermatology. One pursues this specialization after medical school in what is called Residency, which can last at least 3 years (for fields like Internal Medicine) and as long as 7 years for certain surgical fields . Trainees can pursue further training after Residency, which is known as Fellowship. Residency is required to practice as a physician (in addition to passing board exams, the specialty licensing exam, and obtaining a state medical license), but Fellowship is not required.
The various specialties also open you up for different practice settings, such as a hospital, private practice, group practice, or ancillary site (such as a laboratory center). A surgeon will spend a significant amount of the time in the Operating Room, as will anesthesiologists.
Does medicine pay well?
Physicians' salaries can vary based on specialty, experience, and location. On average, however, physicians in the United States earn a competitive income. Keep in mind that the cost of education and training can be substantial if attending a private university. While our primary purpose for choosing medicine should not be for prestige or money, it should be kept in mind. Here is some more information on physician salaries.
Is medicine a halal profession, and is it conducive to a halal lifestyle?
Medicine is a vast field with different options for how you practice, what kinds of services you offer, how you bill for those services, and the kinds of patients you treat. You should speak to a religious scholar regarding these nuances from an Islamic perspective.
In general, medicine can be a Muslim-friendly field as you have leverage to decide what kinds of services you offer to patients, and you do not need to partake in happy hour events or other haraam activities to enter the profession or network with other physicians. You can also structure your lifestyle to have time for prayer, family, and other Islamic duties.
Pre-College
It is really hard for someone to know if they should become a doctor while still in high school. Your mind is still growing and you will not have as much exposure to the field as someone who is able to get that observational experience. At the same time, you can shadow physicians, find a science research opportunity, or volunteer in a healthcare institution to gain more exposure to the field. There is an option to apply for combined pre-med + med school programs (called BS-MD programs), although that is beyond the scope of this guide. In general, we recommend doing well in school, doing well on the SAT/ACT, and having a solid foundation through AP/IB classes so that you don’t feel intimated when starting college.
College
Choosing a major
Major: You can pursue a degree in a science-related field such as biology or chemistry, but diverse backgrounds are also valued. Many physicians even have a background in the fine arts, finance, or computer science.
Prerequisites: Complete required premed courses, including biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. This can be done regardless of the major you select unless your university has its own protocol for pursuing pre-med.
Minor: Minors are called minors for a reason, nobody looks at them after college. You should certainly pursue a specialization or minor in college for self-growth or as part of your identity, but I have never been asked what I minored (or majored in) after graduating college. The only time my college comes up is when somebody has a mutual contact after reviewing my LinkedIn page.
What should I do outside of class?
-Mental and Spiritual Well-being: Prioritize self-care and worship of Allah, ensuring a healthy balance between academics and personal life. Fard ayn (individual obligations) is the biggest priority as a believer before all else, and will strengthen all other aspects of your life. If you do not know what this entails, then find a class at your local Islamic institution/masjid (or online if there are no reliable local options).
-Extracurriculars: Engage in volunteer work, research, and shadowing to gain hands-on experience and showcase commitment.
-MCAT (Medical College Admission Test): Dedicate ample time to study for the MCAT, which emphasizes biology, chemistry, physics, and critical thinking skills. Take practice exams to familiarize yourself with the test format and identify areas for improvement.
-Join clubs, societies, or sports teams to showcase your leadership, teamwork, and time management skills.
-Networking: Connect with professors, medical professionals, and peers to build a strong support system and gain insights into the medical field.
What is an ‘interesting’ and useful extracurricular activity?
Anything and everything! Extracurriculars are all about crafting your personal narrative and finding unique ways to make a contribution and do something useful. We caution against piling up a random and excessive number of activities that stretch yourself too thin to do something meaningful with them (or worse, distract you from your classes).
The key for extracurriculars is that quality is more important than quantity. You should be able to describe how you gained something from the activity and how it was impactful (either to you or to those around you).
As you continue through college, try to bunch the activities together to explore how you can brand yourself as a medical school applicant. You can talk about how your economics research will set you up to do public health work as a physician, or how you want a physician-scientist career to build upon your bench research. This will excite medical schools because you can clearly market how you will contribute to the diversity of the medical school class you join.
Medical School
If you are in medical school (or beyond) or have been accepted, congratulations! This guide probably not useful for you anymore, but you should continue the spirit of mentorship and helping those in your field. We request that you join the Muslims in Medicine organization to learn more about how you can do this.
What will I learn in medical school?
Med school gives you the foundation and language of practicing medicine, but your real training actually begins during residency, which is the training stage following medical school. Medical school is typically four years, although some programs may have a different structure. We recommend checking out the AAMC guide for more information.
-Curriculum: Basic Initial years focus on foundational sciences like anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology. Later years involve hands-on experience in different medical specialties through clinical rotations
-Board Exams: USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) is a board exam consisting of three ' Steps'. Step 1 and Step 2 exams are during medical school, and Step 3 is during residency.
-Extracurriculars are not as important during medical school, but one should engage in medical research projects and patient care initiatives to enhance one's understanding of their future specialty