Allah has sent us with some duties and commandments. He made us, so he can test us by putting us in difficulties and trials. For sure, Allah (SWT) knows best for us. If Allah (SWT) has created a disease, He also has created its cure/treatment. Every hardship brings blessings.
These days anxiety has become extremely common among people. The youngsters are mostly affected by this problem. In this article, we will attempt to understand anxiety in the light of the Quran.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is basically an overwhelming feeling and a natural response to stress. It can be anything like fear of giving a speech, taking a test, going to school, standing in a crowd, a job interview etc. Usually, it comes and goes but sometimes, anxiety can become a disorder thus, stays longer than you think. It can affect at any age so do not ignore if you see someone having a panic attack. Moreover, this disorder can be of different types such as:
- Social anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Phobia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
If the problem seems severe then do not hesitate to consult a therapist or specialist. Islam itself gives permission to go for pharmacological treatments in times of such severity.
Symptoms of Anxiety
The feeling of anxiety can vary from a person to person. Some may feel butterflies in their stomach while others may feel a racing heartbeat. The general symptoms include: [1]
- Restlessness
- Sleeplessness
- Pounding heart
- Rapid breathing
- Difficulty in focusing
How to Cope with Anxiety?
Allah (SWT) does not burden a soul more than it can bear. And that is why He has revealed us some Surahs in the Holy Quran that are truly helpful in times of difficulty, anxiety, sadness or depression.
The 93rd chapter of the Quran, Surah ad-Duha, meaning “The Morning Hours”, has soothing powers and it was revealed when our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was depressed. Verse 5 of this Surah states:
And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.
Six Quranic Verses to Help You Through Anxiety
Anxiety does not make a person less important to Allah (SWT) or a bad Muslim. Every hardship a person goes through is a test in this world. It can be in any form. So, if you find yourself in such a situation consider yourself blessed, as Allah (SWT) is testing you with His Trials.
There are some verses in the Holy Quran that can help you deal with anxiety and find peace.
But they plan and Allah plans, and Allah is the Best of Planners. (8:30)
Major key to managing anxiety is accepting that one cannot control everything. And it cannot be done more easily than having faith in Allah (SWT) that He knows what is best for us and has greater plans for us.
Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. (13:28)
Doing continuous Zikr and prayer to Allah can help one find peace and calmness. Meditation can also help in some cases.
O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. (2:153)
With patience and prayer one can easily get through anxiety. When you remember Allah (SWT), He remembers you and everything falls into place. Tough times become much easier.
Indeed, with hardship there is ease. (94:6)
More importantly, it is vital to remember that Allah is bigger than all our problems. In fact, our problems are transient and temporary.
Allah is Sufficient for us and He is an Excellent Trustee. (3:173)
Allah (SWT) is the All-Knowing and closer to us than our jugular vein. He is the Most Merciful, and we just have to place our faith in Him.
I entrust my affairs unto Allah. Truly, Allah is Aware of His Servants. (40:44)
These verses will allow you to combat sadness, loneliness and stress. But, as it has been said in this article earlier, there is no shame in having anxiety, and there is nothing wrong with consulting a doctor in order to get proper treatment. The Quran does not stop us from seeking help from doctors.
Listening to The Quran: An Effective Way to Reduce Anxiety
In many studies, it has been said that the Quran is a medicine to eliminate numerous problems related to mental health. Listening to Quran is considered as a spiritual therapy for treating mental disorders. It is highly effective in improving/treating mental disorders, depression, stress and general anxieties such as state, trait etc.
For psychological well-being, one should consider listening to the Quran as an additional therapy in accordance with other healing programs.
The Holy Quran is sent to us as a Complete Guide. It includes a solution for every possible problem on this earth.
Conclusion
We came in this world with a full package which includes stress, blessings, sadness, problems related to health, finance and much more. Life is not just a bed of roses. No one has a perfect life. We just have to learn to deal with all this. And it will only make us stronger and help us grow.
Sometimes, all of this requires patience along with prayer. Stay calm, have faith in Allah (SWT) and surely He will help you getting your way through it. Even the Sahabah faced a lot of problems during their time.
As such, we have a lot to be grateful for, and as Allah asks us in Surah Rahman:
Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you deny?
References
- Symptoms of Anxiety – HealthNine
