The Healing Earth beneath our feet
By: Dr Aftab jan
From the very first breath of life, a child is meant to be in harmony with the Earth — not just living on it but connecting with it. Unfortunately, in today’s modern lifestyle where concrete walls and synthetic shoes dominate childhood, we have unknowingly severed one of the oldest and most sacred bonds — the connection between our bare feet and the living Earth.
Walking barefoot on natural surfaces like soil, clay, grass, or sand is not merely an old-fashioned habit; it is a deeply therapeutic, spiritually rich, and scientifically proven act that every child needs from an early age. The Earth beneath our feet is not dead matter — it is alive with electrical energy, beneficial microbes, and healing rhythms designed by the Creator.
When we walk barefoot, we don’t just touch soil — we absorb its medicine, ground our emotions, and realign ourselves with the natural flow of life. Ignoring this connection is not just a loss of touch — it is a slow erosion of health, development, and spiritual balance.
Scientifically, the human body is a complex electrical system, and the Earth acts as a stabilizing battery. The surface of the Earth carries a subtle negative electrical charge due to an abundance of free electrons.
When we make direct skin contact with the ground — especially with the soles of our feet — these electrons are absorbed into the body and act as powerful antioxidants. They neutralize harmful free radicals, reduce chronic inflammation, calm the nervous system, and support cellular repair.
This process is now known as Earthing or Grounding, and its effects are being confirmed by studies in electrophysiology and biomedicine. Children who regularly walk barefoot on natural ground have shown better immune function, improved sleep cycles, reduced hyperactivity, and enhanced mood.
The grounding effect also influences cortisol levels — the stress hormone — and brings the body back to a calm, centered state. When a child walks barefoot on soil or wet grass in the early morning, their body absorbs natural electrons, balances the circadian rhythm, and begins the day in physiological peace — something shoes and concrete floors can never offer.
From the anatomical point of view, the human foot is one of the most intricately designed parts of the body. It contains 26 bones, 33 joints, over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments, all interconnected with sensory nerve endings that send feedback to the brain about posture, movement, and balance.
When a child walks barefoot, especially on uneven natural ground, it activates these complex mechanisms, strengthens the foot arch, improves joint flexibility, and enhances neuromuscular coordination. Modern shoes — often too tight, hard-soled, or designed more for fashion than function — restrict this development and can lead to foot deformities, posture issues, and even chronic back and knee pain later in life. According to pediatric studies, children who grow up barefoot (like in some rural societies) have healthier foot structure, more stable walking patterns, and stronger lower limbs.
The texture of natural earth — whether soft soil or cool stone — massages the acupressure points in the sole, enhancing circulation and stimulating organs connected through reflex zones. These benefits are multiplied when done regularly in childhood when the body is still growing and highly adaptive.
Beyond the science and anatomy, lies an even deeper truth — the spiritual connection between humans and the Earth, beautifully affirmed in Islam. The Qur’an repeatedly reminds us that the Earth is not just a habitat but a divine sign and a source of blessing. In Surah Taha (20:53), Allah says:
“It is He who has made the earth a bed for you and has opened ways for you therein and sent down rain from the sky.”
This verse reflects both the physical design of the Earth for human use and its nurturing nature. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ frequently walked barefoot, especially during Hajj, in the masjid, on dusty paths, and on soft sand. He taught simplicity, humility, and closeness to nature. One powerful Hadith in Sahih Bukhari reads:
“The Earth has been made for me a place of prostration and a means of purification.”
This shows not only the physical purity of soil — as even in Tayammum (dry ablution) we use clean earth — but also its deeper symbolic role in cleansing the soul and connecting the body to its origin.
The Qur’an reminds us, “From the earth We created you, into it We shall return you, and from it We shall bring you out once again” (Surah Taha, 20:55). To walk barefoot on earth is to return to one’s origin — to touch one’s birthplace before the womb — and in that touch, there is barakah, healing, and submission to Divine design.
Traditional Islamic medicine (Tibb-e-Nabawi) and even Sufi traditions speak of the healing energy of the Earth, especially during certain times of the day. It is recommended to walk barefoot on dewy grass in the morning, as it revitalizes eyesight, cools the liver, and balances internal energies.
Even Ibn Qayyim (RA), a great Islamic scholar, wrote about the therapeutic effects of barefoot walking for melancholy and physical imbalances. Sufis and ascetics often walked barefoot as a symbol of detachment from dunya (worldly possessions) and as a spiritual practice to stay grounded, humble, and in constant remembrance of the Creator.
The Earth is considered a witness — “That Day it will report its news” (Surah Az-Zalzalah, 99:4) — and walking upon it in gratitude and humility is a form of dhikr (remembrance), a submission to its living reality.
Also, microbiology adds a modern layer to this understanding. The soil is home to trillions of beneficial microbes, some of which interact with the human body in profound ways. One such microbe, Mycobacterium vaccae, found naturally in healthy soil, stimulates serotonin production, a neurotransmitter responsible for mood balance and emotional stability.
When children play barefoot in the mud or walk on the ground, these microbes can enter through the skin or breathing pathways and promote natural antidepressant effects — reducing anxiety, lifting mood, and boosting mental clarity. This explains why playing in soil is more than just fun for kids — it’s a psychological and immunological necessity. In the sterile, screen-filled environments of modern homes and schools, such interactions are lost, and children often suffer from unexplained stress, irritability, allergies, and weakened immunity.
In our obsession with cleanliness, perfection, and hygiene, we have robbed our children of their natural right to connect with the Earth. We dress them in shoes before they even learn to walk. We sanitize every surface and fear the sight of mud on their feet.
But in doing so, we also strip them of grounding, resilience, immunity, and joy. Letting children walk barefoot on clean, natural ground — whether in a garden, on soft clay, near riversides, or on grassy fields — for even 20–30 minutes daily is one of the most powerful forms of preventive medicine and spiritual nourishment. It costs nothing, requires no special equipment, and yet its effects are lifelong — building a child who is balanced, connected, calm, and strong.
In conclusion, the Earth is not just the place we walk upon; it is our silent healer, our purifier, and our spiritual companion. Walking barefoot — especially from childhood — is not backwardness, it is back to nature, back to balance, and back to the wisdom of our Prophets and ancestors. In a world full of artificial cures, perhaps the most authentic healing lies just beneath our feet — waiting for us to take off our shoes, step out in faith, and feel the pulse of creation once again.
Let your children touch the Earth with bare feet — so their hearts can touch the sky.
