The role of Moral Virtues in Health from the perspective of Religious Teachings

There are two categories of material and spiritual causes in human health, moral virtues are one of the spiritual causes that play a major role in ensuring health and it has been mentioned in verses and hadiths explicitly or implicitly. The present study seeks the answer of the question “what is the role of moral virtues in health from the perspective of religious teachings?” by studying verses and hadiths and finding propositions that have pointed to the role of moral virtues on the body and mind. According to the research findings, at least thirteen moral virtues have explicitly or implicitly mentioned the role of moral virtues in physical and mental health. These virtues were: 1. Piety, 2. Eating less, 3. Visiting relatives, 4. Patience, 5. Overcoming anger, 6. Controlling eyes, 7. Avoiding suspicion, 8. Good behavior, 9. Trusting in God, 10. Truthfulness, 11. Gratitude, 12. Silence, 13. Contentment. Some religious propositions have spoken about the role of these virtues in physical health, others mentioned them in mental health, and some, in both physical and mental health. In general, according to religious propositions, possessing moral virtues plays three roles in physical and mental health: 1. Prevention of diseases, 2. Treatment of diseases, 3. Continuity of health.