Elderly Intellectual Empowerment Through Prophetic Sunnah Practices

Elderly individuals are often regarded as sources of wisdom and traditional values, but physiological and psychological changes due to aging make them a vulnerable group, susceptible to various challenges such as cognitive decline, social isolation, and mental stress. In Islam, the elderly are seen as custodians of traditional values who require moral and physical support. However, despite the various rehabilitation programs available in Malaysia, approaches based on Islamic principles, particularly the Prophetic Sunnah, are still underrepresented. Therefore, this study aims to identify the issues and challenges faced by the elderly in terms of intellectual health and explore the potential practices in the Prophetic Sunnah as an approach to empower their intellect. This research uses a descriptive qualitative method with document analysis to collect and analyze data. The primary sources of the study include academic literature, authoritative Islamic references such as the Quran and Hadith, as well as scientific evidence. The findings show that practices from the Prophetic Sunnah, such as du’a and dhikr, reading the Quran, practicing qailulah (midday nap), seeking knowledge and teaching it, as well as engaging in physical exercises and activities, can help maintain cognitive abilities, strengthen mental health, and improve the social well-being of the elderly. The inevitable aging process can be balanced through the implementation of Prophetic Sunnah practices, which provide physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. This study reinforces the role of the Prophetic Sunnah in shaping a holistic approach to improve the quality of life for the elderly, in line with their needs in modern society.