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Islamic Guidelines for Preserving Mental Health

Throughout history, depression and other mental health issues were seldom openly discussed. The notion of sharing tips for maintaining mental health was virtually non-existent, especially within intimate circles like family, where mental health often became a taboo topic.

Contrary to this, in Islam, mental health has never been regarded as taboo; it is deemed significant. Numerous verses in the Quran and Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) address mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, offering practical tips for maintaining mental well-being that can be incorporated into daily life.

  1. Acknowledge and Embrace Your Feelings and Emotions

“We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.” [Al-Baqarah 2: 155]

The Quran makes it clear that our earthly lives will be filled with trials. Every individual will face their own set of tests, including emotional challenges. Fear, anxiety, worry, and concern are some of these emotions highlighted in the verse above.

Sadness, anxiety, and worry are natural emotions experienced to some degree by all humans. Even Prophets AS, special creations of Allah, felt these emotions. There are valuable lessons in the Quranic stories of the Prophets AS.

For instance, Prophet Yaqub AS was so overcome with grief at the loss of his son, Yusuf AS, that he wept until he went blind. The Quranic stories of the Prophet AS`s hardships and despair show us that Allah acknowledges the difficult emotions His servants experience. He assures us and provides the keys we need to overcome them.

  1. Turn to Allah & Remember He is always with us

“And your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you.’ Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.” [Gafir 40: 60]

As Muslims, we must believe that Allah is the Lord Who Answers, Responsive, Accepter of Prayer. He is here for us to call upon Him at any moment: in happiness, in gratitude, and in difficult times, in need. So, pray. Prayer is a powerful tool given by Allah to the believers.

Apart from prayer, we can perform Dhikr to remember Allah in our daily life. Start something with “bismillah”, say “alhamdulillah”, “subhanallah”, “la ilaha illa-allah”. Such Dhikr is a good way to remind ourselves that Allah is here with us.

  1. Keep Your Body Healthy

The next tip for maintaining mental health is to take good care of our bodies to keep them healthy and fit. This was mentioned by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, as recorded in a narration from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al’Aas RA:

“The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘O Abdullah! Have I not been informed that you fast all day and stand in prayer all night?’ I said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah!’ He said, ‘Do not do that. Fast and break your fast, stand in prayer and also sleep at night. Your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you, and your wife has a right over you.” [Bukhari]

Our body is a trust from Allah entrusted to us until a specified time. It is part of the many blessings that Allah has bestowed upon us. It is our duty to take good care of it. The most important thing about taking care of this body is to ensure we can confidently answer on the Day of Judgment, when Allah asks us about how we took care of our body.

Beyond that, research also shows that the way we take care of our body directly impacts our mental health. Eating healthily, exercising, practicing breathing techniques, walking outdoors, getting enough sleep, and more, have all been proven to have a positive impact on depression, anxiety, ADHD, and even pessimism.

  1. Maintaining Mental Health by Nurturing Spirituality

Spirituality is an essential aspect of mental health. It’s crucial to understand that spirituality is not merely about fulfilling religious duties, such as performing the five daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan, or paying zakat. One can perform all these acts without possessing true spirituality.

True spirituality involves a continuous effort, with all our capabilities, to draw closer to Allah. Making the utmost effort to maintain a relationship with the Creator can improve our well-being and restore lost peace of mind.

Therefore, preserving mental health can be achieved by nurturing our spirituality. Engage in good deeds like reciting the Quran, performing Dhikr, giving charity, reading spiritual books, and maintaining contact with family and close friends.

  1. Seek and Visit Experts When Needed

“It was narrated from Usamah ibn Sharik RA that: ‘I came to the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions were sitting as if they had birds on their heads. I greeted them and sat down. The Bedouins then came from here and there. They asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, should we seek medical treatment?’ He said: ‘Yes, O servants of Allah, seek medical treatment, for Allah does not create any disease except He also creates the cure for it, except for one disease, which is old age’.” [Abu Dawud]

When we suffer from the flu or perhaps a broken bone, we seek medical assistance from experts. We visit doctors, consult with specialists, and go to emergency care facilities. The same approach applies when we experience overwhelming anxiety, worry, or fear that disrupts our daily activities. We also need to seek help from experts.

Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders are real conditions that require medical attention and sometimes medical treatment. Individuals displaying signs of mental disorders need to seek professional help, rather than being told their problems are not real or that the solution is simple and they’re not trying hard enough.

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