Life #16 My mental health is overwhelming. Can Islam help

My mental health is a struggle, can Islam

help?

All of us struggle with some form of

mental health.

Some of us may have anxiety,

stress,

depression,

all forms of mental health. Does Islam help

us cope and navigate through any form of

mental health?

Absolutely.

Our prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam during the

Meccan phase

was a really difficult time for his prophethood.

He was constantly

persecuted,

he was called every name in the book,

He was constantly threatened all because

he was Muslim

and he was a prophet

trying to convey a message

of unity,

of coming back and worshiping

one true creator.

All of these things

certainly took a toll on the mental health

of our Prophet alaihis salat wasalam.

So Allah reveals a very beautiful verse at

the end of Suratul Hijal. Listen to this

verse.

Allah Ansojal says,

Allah gives him reassurance.

We have complete knowledge

of what is happening in your chest based

on what they're saying about

you. You know how we say words can

kill?

So the words of the Quraysh and the

Mushrikun,

especially in Mecca,

really hurt the Prophet alaihis salatu wasalam.

So what does Allah do?

The first thing Allah does

the first thing Allah does is He gives

reassurance

to His Prophet alaihis salatu wasalam that he's

not alone.

We have knowledge.

You know that's Quran's way of saying I'm

right here, I know what's going on, I

know how you feel, I know what you're

going through.

So don't worry, we have complete knowledge. Now

put that in perspective.

It's like reaching out to someone

and just asking them how are they doing.

You haven't heard from them in a while.

You sent a text message. You didn't get

no response.

Just reaching out and letting someone know you're

there is part of a healing process for

mental health.

Then Allah highlights the exact problem.

Based on what they're saying we know it's

caused within

you the sense of fear and tension,

confusion,

loss,

not

understanding which direction is this going to, why

is this happening to me. So the second

point is reassurance that not only am I

here to support you, but I'm also here

because I understand

how you feel.

Now listen to the cure, the next ayah.

The first thing the prophet

is told

That's number 1.

That's number 2.

That's number 3.

Number 4. So listen to these 4 step

by step guide in this eye from

Allah to cope with and recover from mental

health struggles.

Number 1, fasabih bihamdi rabbik Allah says make

tasbih

of Allah by praising Him.

You know what tasbih is? Tasbih

are phrases that we say to elevate the

status and authority of Allah.

So saying SubhanAllah

these types of phrases

all fit in tasbir.

You're raising the authority of Allah in your

life.

Why is that important?

Because when you feel during your mental health

struggle, feel like you have no control,

it's a reminder

Allah is always in control.

People won't control you.

It's a way of reminding your heart and

your mind, wait a minute,

why am I so worried about what people

have said about me or done to me?

Allah is in control.

Allah is the one that I should trust.

Allah is the one that I should hold

on to for reassurance.

Number 2,

it's one thing to say to usbih. Now

Allah wants action from us. So he says

be amongst those who are making sajda.

You know why it's beautiful

that sajdah

to prostrate, why it's highlighted in this area?

We all know when are we closest to

Allah in prayer?

In sujood.

So indirectly by Allah saying be amongst those

who make

sujood, He's indirectly saying just get close to

me,

I'm right here, pour your heart out to

me, talk to me

and do it especially

when you're in

sujud.

So

here you are, you've started

praising Allah.

Number 2, you got out of the bed,

you got out of the room, you got

out of that state, and you started moving

your life again.

Cause a lot of people when they struggle

severely with mental health they lose their appetite.

They isolate themselves. They don't want to talk

to nobody. Don't want to be around anybody.

Because why? That mental health state has grappled

them to such an extent that they literally

don't want to be around anyone.

So this

process helps to break that cycle.

So after now of being amongst those who

are in sujud,

Allah

says

this is the life you should carry on

with. Just worship your Master, worship Allah.

What is the real message

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala

does not want you to go back to

the state that you were in.

So he tells you in a very subtle

way

turn your whole life into worship. In other

words,

as long as you continue from now

until the ultimate certainty comes which is death.

So is Allah is really indirectly

saying

go on this journey,

stay close to me and worship me, don't

ever break that link between you and me,

and do this for the rest of your

life. You know what's really beautiful?

The word Yaqeen in this ayah means death.

But Allah does not spell it out or

say it explicitly,

death.

It's replaced with something a little more subtle,

yaktim.

Why?

Death is the last thing you want to

mention to somebody going through mental health struggles.

You don't want to put those names and

that kind of image in their mind because

why? They're in a very delicate and vulnerable

state. So you have to be very cautious

of the language and try to find lighter

words and messages to get your point across.

It's so beautiful how subtle Allah

is in this ayam,

but at the same time it's so powerful

and so clear.

Live your life where you are constantly

connected with Him. Insha'Allah,

mental health,

whether it is there or not,

it will never control you.

You instead

make it easy for you.

make it easy for you.