The Efficacy of Surah Al-Rahman in Management of Hypertension

Abstract

Hypertension is a major public health issue worldwide, often linked to severe cardiovascular complications. While medication remains the primary treatment, interest in alternative, low-cost interventions such as spiritual therapies is increasing. This pretest–posttest experimental study examined the efficacy of listening to Surah Al-Rahman in managing blood pressure among individuals with primary hypertension. The study included 15 participants (N = 15) diagnosed with hypertension for six months or more. Using purposive sampling, participants meeting strict criteria were recruited from the Institute of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Sociodemographic variables were matched, and those not meeting criteria were excluded. Baseline interviews and blood pressure readings were recorded. Over four weeks, participants attended laboratory sessions where blood pressure was measured before each session. Three groups were formed: the experimental group listened to Surah Al-Rahman, the active control group listened to music, and the passive control group received no intervention. Clinical and demographic data were collected, and participants were briefed according to APA ethical guidelines. Findings revealed that those listening to Surah Al-Rahman showed significant reductions in post-intervention blood pressure compared to baseline (systolic BP: M = 123.49, SD = 7.24; diastolic BP: M = 77.64, SD = 2.96). Results were confirmed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. The study highlights the potential of Quranic recitation (Surah Al-Rahman) as a minimally invasive, cost-effective intervention for hypertension management.