Islam's Treatment of Anxiety

8/8/2019 Islam's Treatment of Anxiety

1/12

Islams Treatment ofIslams Treatment of

AnxietyAnxiety

Islams Treatment ofIslams Treatment of

AnxietyAnxietyby Sisters Umm Asma and Belqis


2/12

Examples of Anxiety

As a result of committing sinAnd (He did forgive also) the three (who did not join the Tabook

expedition (whom the Prophet SAW)) left (i.e. he did not give his

judgment in their case, and their case was suspended for Allahs

Decision) till for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their

own selves were straitened to them, and they perceived that there is

no fleeing from Allah, and no refuge but with Him. Then, He accepted

their repentance, that they might repent (unto Him). Verily, Allah is

the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful.

[9:118]

As a result of calamities

Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) ascame to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted

with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the

Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will

come) the Help of Allah?" Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!

[2:214]


3/12

Anxiety experienced by the one who calls to Islam

Allahs Messenger said: "I found myself near the Ka'bah, and Quryash were askingme about my Night Journey, questions about Bayt al-Maqdis that I was not sure of. Ifelt more distressed and anxious than I had ever felt, and then Allah raised it for me sothat I could see what they were asking me about and answer all their questions"[Muslim]

Anxiety over acts of worshipNarrated Al-Bara: The Prophet prayed facing Bait-ulMaqdis (i.e. Jerusalem) for sixteenor seventeen months but he wished that his Qibla would be the Ka'ba (at Mecca). (SoAllah Revealed (2.144) and he offered 'Asr prayers (in his Mosque facing Ka'ba atMecca) and some people prayed with him. A man from among those who had prayedwith him, went out and passed by some people offering prayer in another mosque, andthey were in the state of bowing. He said, "I, (swearing by Allah,) testify that I haveprayed with the Prophet facing Mecca." Hearing that, they turned their faces to theKa'ba while they were still bowing. Some men had died before the Qibla was changedtowards the Ka'ba. They had been killed and we did not know what to say about them(i.e. whether their prayers towards Jerusalem were accepted or not). So Allah revealed:"And Allah would never make your faith (i.e. prayer) to be lost (i.e. your prayers offered(towards Jerusalem). Truly Allah is Full of Pity, Most Merciful towards mankind."(2.143) [Bukhari]


4/12

Anxiety of an innocent person due to false accusations

O 'Aa'ishah, I have heard such-and-such about you. If you areinnocent, Allaah will prove your innocence, and if you did commit asin, then ask for Allaah's forgiveness and repent to Him, for when theslave admits his sin and repents to Allaah, Allaah will accept hisrepentance. When the Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) had finishedwhat he had to say, her tears stopped completely, and she said to

her father: 'Respond to what the Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) has.'He said, 'By Allaah, I do not know what I should say to theMessenger of Allaah (SAWS)' then she said to her mother: 'Respondto what the Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) has said.' She said, 'ByAllaah, I do not know what I should say to the Messenger of Allaah(SAWS).' 'Aa'ishah(R) said " I am only a young girl and I do not knowmuch of the Qur'aan. By Allaah, I have nothing to say to you exceptthe words of the father of Yoosuf: " So (for me) patience is mostfitting. And it is Allaah (Alone) Whose help can be sought against

that which you assert." [Yoosuf 12:18].' She then turned away andlaid down on her bed. Then Allaah revealed (interpretation of themeaning): ' Verily! Those who brought forth the slander (against'Aa'ishah) are a group among you. Consider it not a bad thing foryou'" [al-Noor 24:11 see complete passage, aayat 11 to 20].

[Bukhair & Muslim]


5/12

Anxiety over debtNarrated Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr that his father said: ....Mygreatest concern is my debts do you think that any of our

wealth will be left after paying off our debts? O my son, sell ourproperty and pay off our debts. Abd-Allaah said: He started toadvise me what to do about his debt, and told me: O my son, ifyou are unable to pay off anything, seek the help of my Master[i.e Allah]. By Allaah, I did not know what he meant until I asked,O my father, who is yourMaster? He said: Allaah. By Allaah,every time I felt distress because of difficulty in paying off hisdebt, I prayed, O Masterof al-Zubayr, pay off his debt, and

Allaah paid it off [Bukhair]

Anxiety over dreams"My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous."So We gavehim the glad tidings of a forbearing boy. And, when he (his son)was old enough to walk with him, he said: "Omy son! I haveseen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offer you in sacrificeto Allh), so look what you think!"He said: "Omy father! Do that

which you are commanded, Insh' Allh (if Allh will), you shallfind me of As-Sbirin (the patient ones, etc.)."Then, when theyhad both submitted themselves (to the Will of Allh), and he hadlaid him prostrate on his forehead (or on the side of his foreheadfor slaughtering); And We called out to him: "OAbraham! Youhave fulfilled the dream (vision)!"Verily! Thus do We reward theMuhsinn (good-doers ). Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial[37:100-106]


6/12

Islamic Treatment of AnxietyIslamic Treatment of Anxiety

1. Faith followed by righteous deeds"How marvelous is the affair of the believer! Everything thathappens to him is good, and this does not apply to anyone exceptthe believer. If something good befalls him, he gives thanks for it,and that is good for him. If something bad befalls him, he bears itwith patience, and that is good for him."[Muslim]

2. Reflecting how anxiety and calamities are a means ofexpiationThe Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)said:"Nothing of fatigue, illness, distress, worry, grief or harmbefalls the Muslim, not even a prick from a thorn, but Allah willaccept it as expiation for some of his sins."[Bukhair & Muslim]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:"When Allah wishes good for His slave, He hastens to bring abouthis punishment in this world, and if He does not wish good for him,He withholds the punishment until he is dealt with for his sin on theDay of Resurrection."[At-Tirmidhi]


7/12

3.Understanding the reality of this world"This world is the prison of the believer and the paradise of thekaafir." [Muslim]"Omy people! Truly, this life of the world is nothing but a (quick

passing) enjoyment, and verily, the hereafter that is the homethat will remain forever." [Ghafir:39]

4. Following the examples of the ProphetsThe Prophet was once asked:"OMessenger of Allah, which ofthe people suffers the most distress?"He said:"The Prophets,then those who come after them (in terms of status), then those

who come after them. A man will be tested according to thestrength of his faith. If his faith is strong, then the distress withwhich he is tried will be greater; if his faith is weak, he will betested in accordance with the level of his faith. Distress willkeep on befalling the slave until he walks on the face of theearth free from sin." [Bukhari]

5.Making the Hereafter our main concernThe Messenger of Allah said:"Whoever has the Hereafter as hismain concern, Allah will fill his heart with a feeling of richnessand independence; he will be focused and feel content, and thisworld will come to him in spite of it. Whoever has this world ashis main concern, Allah will cause him to feel constant fear of

poverty; he will be distracted and unfocused, and he will havenothing of this world except what was already predestined for"


8/12

6. Remembering DeathThe Prophet said: "Remember frequently the one who will destroy allyour pleasures: death, for there is no-one who remembers death whenin straitened circumstances, but his situation will become easier, and

there is no-one who remembers death during times of ease, but hiscircumstances will become straitened."[Muslim]

7. Praying to Allah"And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning Me,then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). Irespond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me(without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me andbelieve in Me, so that they may be led aright."[2:186]

8. Praying for the ProphetAl-Tufayl ibn Ubayy ibn Ka'b reported that his father said: "When two-thirds of the night had passed, the Messenger of Allaah (peace andblessings of Allaah be upon him) got up and said: 'O people,remember Allaah, remember Allaah. The first blowing of the Trumpethas come, and will be followed by the second blowing. Death hascome, with all that it implies, death has come with all that it implies.' I

said: 'O Messenger of Allaah, I pray a lot for you. How much of myprayers should I devote to you?' He said, 'As much as you want.' I said,'A quarter?' He said, 'As much as you want, and if you increase it, it willbe good for you.' I said, 'Half?' He said, 'As much as you want, and ifyou increase it, it will be good for you.' I said, 'Two-thirds?' He said, 'Asmuch as you want, and if you increase it, it will be good for you.' I said,'I will devote all my prayer to you.' He said, 'Then your worries willbe taken care of and your sins will be forgiven.'" [At-Tirmidhi]


9/12

9. Relaying on Allah

"And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him" [65:3]

10. Focusing on the beneficial and the present

Abu Hurayrah reported: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allahbe upon him) said: 'The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than theweak believer, and both are good. Pay attention to that which could benefit you, seek thehelp of Allah and do not feel incapacitated. If anything befalls you, do not say, "If only Ihad done such-and-such, such a thing would have happened." Say instead, "It is the

decree of Allah, and what He wills, He does," for saying "if only" opens the way forShaytaan.'"[Muslim]

11. Remembering Allah frequently

Those who believe, and whose hearts find rest in theremembrance of Allh, Verily, in the remembrance of Allh do hearts find rest.

[13:28]

12. Seeking Refuge in Prayer

"And seek help in patience and al-salaat (the prayer)" [2:45].


10/12

13. Speaking about the blessings of Allah

And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if you count the Blessings of

Allh, never will you be able to count them. Verily! Man is indeed an

extreme wrong-doer [14:34]

14. Look at the positive aspects of things

"The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

'No believing man should hate a believing woman. If he dislikes one aspectof her character, he will be pleased with another.'

[Muslim]

15. Keeping oneself busy with beneficial work and knowledge

"There are two blessings which many people lose: health and free time."[Bukhari]

16. Avoid procrastination

The Messenger of Allah said, "It is an act of oppression on the part of aperson to procrastinate in fulfilling his obligation"[Bukhari & Muslim]


11/12

17. Seek the advice of the scholars

so ask the people of the Reminder if you do not know." [21:7]

18. Understand that after hardship comes ease

"So verily, with the hardship, there is relief, verily, with the

hardship, there is relief." [94:5-6].

The Prophet advised Ibn 'Abbaas: "Know that victory (or

achievement) comes through patience, and that ease comesthrough hardship" [At-Tirmidhi]


12/12

Documents

Islam's Treatment of Anxiety