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8
Things a Muslim can do to counteract Stress
1. Increase dhikr (remembrance of Allah): "Those who believe, and whose hearts
find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the
remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction (Qur'an, 13:28)."
2. Increase prayers: "O you who believe! Seek assistance through patience and
prayer; surely, Allah is with the patient (Qur'an, 2:153)." Regardless of the
type of meditation, recent studies have verified the physiological effects of
meditation. Most of those mediations consist in focusing on something, repeating
some words and breathing (Greenberg, p.142, 143).
3. Perform ablutions: The most important component of relaxation is what Hans
Loehr calls "the rituals of success." These rituals may be as simple as making
ablution; yet, they must be performed properly for it is not enough to pass
water on the body parts - those parts must be massed.
4. Ask for forgiveness: Even if a person has not done anything wrong, he must
insure the forgiveness of Allah. "Then I said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord;
surely, He is the most Forgiving'" (Qur'an, 71:10).
5. Recite the Qur'an: The Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said, "...
Qur'an is a remedy for illnesses of the mind" (Bukhari). "The echo of sound has
a medical effect and is now widely utilized," says Dr. Greenberg. "The
recitation of or listening to the Qur'an has an effect on the body, the heart
and the mind! It is said that the letter Alif echoes to the heart and the letter
Ya' to the pineal gland in the brain." Dr Ahmed El Kadi of Akber Clinic (Panama
City, FL) conducted and published the effects of listening to Qur'anic
recitation on physiological parameters (i.e., the heart, blood pressure, and
muscle tension), and reported improvement in all factors, irrespective of
whether the listener was a Muslim or a non-Muslim, Arab or non-Arab. Obviously,
it can be postulated that those who understand and enjoy the recitation with a
belief in it will get maximum benefits," writes Dr Athar.
6. Make the hereafter one's main concern: "Whoever has the hereafter as his main
concern, Allah will fill his heart with a feeling of richness and independence;
he will be focused and feel content, and this world will come to him in spite of
it. Whoever has this world as his main concern, Allah will cause him to feel
constant fear of poverty; he will be distracted and unfocused, and he will have
nothing of this world except what was already predestined for him," said the
Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam). One of the greatest causes of stress is
money - how to pay the loans, whether one's job will be lost, what will happen
to the family if the father dies, etc.
7. Think positively: Muslims should forget about the bad things of the past and
think of good things, always having hope that he can be better. Trying to change
the past is a foolish and crazy waste of time, "for saying 'if only...'opens the
way to Shaytan" said the Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam). The Prophet (Sallallahu
alaiyhi wassallam) also said, " Know that victory (achievement) comes through
patience, and that ease comes through hardship." Muslims understand that there's
no reason for panic in the case of crisis - no reason to be distressed or
worried for we know that after hardship come ease!
8. Do not waste time on thoughts of fear or stress: "The search of time is one
of the most frequent causes of stress" (Seyle, p.102). Laziness is the mother of
all evils, and the Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) used to seek refuge in
Allah from it. Understanding that this life is short and time precious, Muslims
should try to work hard and pursue worthy knowledge (Munajjid).
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