Anxiety is a feeling that no human can avoid. It usually comes from the uncertainty of life that produce unreasonable fear and stress. It’s a part of our everyday life, as stress comes out from work, school, or simply from our family at home.
Many unexpected events such as losing the job and the death of our family can also cause anxiety. In fact, we should stay away from anxiety as the feeling will bring along many negativity in our lives. Islam has many ways to deal with anxiety and to avoid it in advance.
So what are the ways on how to avoid anxiety in Islam? Here are the things that you can do:
1. Stop Worrying About the Future
The main source of anxiety is often come from the future. We tend to worry too much of what hasn’t happen yet, and it stressed us so much. There are so many “what ifs” going on our mind. Worrying about future is very unnecessary because Allah SWT has defined our life way before we even born.
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said,
“A strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone, but cherish what gives you benefit in the Hereafter and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart, and if anything (in the form of trouble) comes to you, don’t say, ‘If I had not done that, such and such thing would not have happened,’ but say, ‘Allah has ordained it so, and whatever He pleases He does,’ because ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ open the door for Satan.” – Muslim
2. Have Faith in Allah SWT
To be sure in this life, we must put our faith in Allah SWT. We know that we can turn to Him every time, as He is full of mercy and the best of healer. Even though we feel that what we have is not enough, Allah knows the best.
“How often that you may love something but it is evil for you and that you may hate something but it is good for you. Allah knows but you don’t.” – Al Baqara (2:216)
3. Let What May Happen Be
Allah SWT has defined our Qadr before we born. We should be sure that what happen is our life is good for us. Just let everything be, as it was all happen because of Allah SWT.
“And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and crops; but give glad tidings to the patient; those who when a calamity befalls them say: ‘Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him is our return’.” – Al Baqara (2:155)
4. Count the Blessings You Have
Whenever you think life is so hard and you feel like can’t handle it anymore, count how many blessing that you have. The fact that you still have a family or the air that you breath in is actually priceless. Everyone has their own test and nobody has is harder than others. Never look up to people who own more material things than you, instead look up to those with the better imaan instead. [AdSense-B]
5. Always in Remembrance of Allah SWT
Anywhere and anytime, keep yourself in remembrance of Allah SWT. The best way to do it is by doing Dhikr. It brings comfort to your heart and heals your soul.
“Those who believe, and whose hearts find peace in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find peace.” – Ar Ra’d (13:28)
Never let go of the Dhikr no matter where you are and what you are going to do. Before doing a job, traveling somewhere, or doing the exam.
6. Don’t Let Go of Shalat
Five times a day, leave the whole world behind and return to your Creator. Prayer is the key to avoid any negative feeling, including the anxiety. Those who keeps the Shalat will find peace in between. That is the only time where we can directly connected to Allah SWT. Shaytaan will not get close to anyone who keeps themselves closer to Allah.
“O you who believe! Resort to patience and prayer; surely, Allah is with the patient.” – Al Baqara (2:153)
7. Recite Quran
Quran is the best remedies for the illness in your soul. It has magical power that heals and bring peace to your soul. Recite the Quran daily and understand the meaning of it. From those, you can understand the true purpose of life and the human creation.
8. Seek Forgiveness from Allah SWT
Never stop to seek for forgiveness from Allah SWT. As us human continuously committing sins everyday even when we are not realizing it, it may add the burden in our heart. By seeking Allah’s SWT forgiveness, our heart will be lightened and all anxiety will be lift up. We will feel very happy only by asking forgiveness from Allah SWT. [AdSense-C]
9. Life is Only Temporary
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said,
“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.” – Tirmidhi
10. Think Positive
Stay away from all negative feelings that can occupy your mind. Have a good prejudice toward Allah SWT.
More Ways How to Avoid Anxiety in Islam
- Get rid of laziness to finish your job as anxiety may come out of it.
- Always seek help from Allah SWT to get you away from anxiety.
- Make the most of your life today and stop worrying about the future.
- Remember that everything is only temporary and everything shall pass in time.
- Be patient with everything you must get through in your life.
So those are the things you can do on how to avoid anxiety in Islam. We have many blessings in our lives that we should be grateful of, so to prove our love to Allah SWT and the Prophet (SAW), let’s stay away from all the negative feeling and doing as many good deeds as we can instead.