Amal Al-Sibai Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Islam has placed great respect, admiration, and value for doctors and nurses as these healers are constantly working with patients, alleviating ailments, and saving lives. These conscientious and dedicated men and women selflessly perform their tasks on a daily basis. When asked by his companions what actions are most excellent, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "To gladden the heart of human beings, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the sufferings of the injured." Due to modern day constraints on time and back-to-back appointments on their schedules, physicians today may be so busy that they only have time to hastily examine the patient, diagnose the illness, and jot down a prescription. Dr. Walid Fitaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the International Medical Center, is striving to revive the more traditional role of the physician in the Islamic world in the past. In addition to the physical treatment, the physician used to communicate with patients, listen, empathize, explain the condition and treatment, and inspire the patient to activate his/her own self-healing processes induced by a spiritual connection with the Creator. It is with this role and vision in mind that Dr. Fitaihi has served not only as a practicing physician and CEO of a hospital, but also as an educator, writer, and lecturer. In Ramadan of this year, for the first time, Dr. Fitaihi has ventured into presenting a television program, "Wa Mahyay," in order to reach a much larger audience to raise awareness on a number of health and social issues. "The true role of a physician goes beyond the typical classical role of seeing patients in clinics and hospitals. Physicians should act as human advocates and vehicles of healing for their societies and the world. Whatever affects human well-being negatively or positively should be the concern and mission in life for each of us," said Dr. Fitaihi to the Saudi Gazette. The program, "Wa Mahyay," was on the tongue of almost every fasting person throughout the Arab world last Ramadan. It rapidly became a habit for family members to rush to the living room and secure a comfortable spot in front of the television screen to watch Dr. Fitaihi's program, while the delicious aromas of iftar meal cooking drifted over from the kitchen. "Our objective was to foster growth and improvement in people's lives psychologically, socially, physiologically, and behaviorally. When working on the show, we listened to the community before we talked. Throughout the program we addressed topics relevant to our society and our viewers were able to relate to most episodes," said Dr. Fitaihi. He added: "The idea was to diagnose, identify, and most importantly, admit the existence of the ills in our society, and then suggest plausible treatments. I have been feeling the agony of these issues facing our society for the last 20 years. We wanted to use the media, the youth's most popular venues: TV, digital social networks, and YouTube to get the message out there. In today's fast-paced society of 140 characters or less, we decided to make the show short and easy enough to be digested in ten minutes with a lot of infographics, acting scenes, and genuinely compelling content." When watching the show, viewers are exposed to a wealth of information but in an attractive and easy-to-understand way, which is why even teenage boys and girls were drawn to it. They learned about complex issues like obesity, poverty, the negative effects of watching too much television on the brain, emotional intelligence, and children's rights in Islam. The name of the show, "Wa Mahyay," is an Arabic word that is difficult to articulate in English. "I picked this name because the show was intended to reach out and help people change their lives. Life is the most valuable thing we own. It is our bridge to the felicitous end we all wish for. I chose the title "Wa Mahyay," which translates into ‘my living', form the verse in the Holy Qur'an, ‘Say, indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for God, Lord of the worlds.' "Having a purpose for your life and a clear connection between your actions and the Creator is what allows you to achieve the full meaning of living. The show speaks about life in its totality, an inter-connected world committed to the grand purpose of humanity's welfare," said Dr. Fitaihi. Embarking on this journey and entering the competitive entertainment industry was no easy task and as expected several challenges arose. "One of the major challenges we faced was the timeline, because we received the final confirmation for airing the show only three months prior to its premier for Ramadan. "You can imagine how difficult it was to finish all the shooting in this time frame. I remember sending some episodes to the TV channel 24 hours before airing. "I researched every topic with my team and collected data and statistics. Another challenge was the logistics and the workings of the media. "Marketing a noble cause is difficult in the materialistic entertainment industry. I must admit we were lucky to have found those who supported us and made this project see the light. Allah has blessed this project with a wonderful team who believed in the show and fought for it," Dr. Fitaihi told the Saudi Gazette. Some may say that a number of the issues raised in the show are sensitive in Saudi society but Dr. Fitaihi's response was "I advise everyone who wants to contribute something meaningful that if you believe you are doing the right thing in front of God and your intention is pure, then no criticism should affect you." "I was taught early in life to focus on purifying the intention for my actions and giving my best to perfect my work. "Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: ‘If the Hour (the Day of Resurrection) is about to be established and one of you was holding a palm shoot, let him plant it.' "Even though you know it will not grow because it is the Last Day, you still should plant it. Focus on your work, whether you see the fruits or not. "In the end, God is going to reward you for the right intention and the honest work regardless of the results. "If what we planted bears fruits this year or the next year, this should not be our major concern," concluded Dr. Fitaihi.
