17 Ways How to Deal with Emotional Pain in Islam

Review by : Yuli SE., MM

Emotion is the expression of a person in a condition, event, or place concerning himself. There are many kinds of emotion. However, the majority of people assume that the emotion is an expression of anger or resentment of a thing or event that is happening that events, conditions, or events that are contrary to the way the person views. These emotions can be the expressions of joy, sadness, and other expressions of feelings. There are sometimes that we feel down and has an emotional pain because of some problems that come to us. It is natural because we are human.

Allah wishes to lighten for you; and was created the mankind weak. (An-Nisa 4:28)

Here is presented how to deal with emotional pain in Islam.

1. Pray to Allah

“O Allah, I seek refuge with You rather than grief and sadness, weakness and laziness. I plead for protection with You rather than the cowardly nature and the worst. And I seek refuge with You from the burden of debt and controlled by someone. “ (HR Abu Daud)

We can pray this dua to Allah so He can help us to remove our emotional pain such as sadness, weakness, and laziness. By praying to Allah, the heart will be calmer and the burden we have will be lifted. Allah certainly will not let His servant feel down too long and will help him with His power so he can face the world with smile and happiness.

2. Read Al-Qur’an

Reading the Qur’an verses can make our heart feel relieved and calm. It can remove all of our problems such as emotional pain. By reading the greatness of Qur’an, we can feel the greatness of Allah that has given all things to us and we will forget the emotional pain and problem that happen to us.

Ubay bin Ka’ab: “What if my prayers are for you all?” The Messenger of Allah replied: “If you do that, all your sorrows are removed and your sins will be forgiven.” (HR Tirmidzzi)

3. Fasting

Fasting is the best way to suppress lust and to fight emotional pain. It is because when we fast, we are not only asked to endure hunger and thirst, but also we are asked to resist lust, to suppress anger or emotion, and to abstain from immorality. This will remove our emotional pain slowly.

O you who believe[d]! Is prescribed for you [the] fasting as was prescribed to those from before you, so that you may (become) righteous. (Fasting for) days numbered. So whoever is among you sick or on a journey, then a prescribed number of days other. And on those who can afford it, a ransom (of) feeding a poor. And whoever volunteers well then it (is) better for him. And to fast (is) better for you, if you know. (Al-Baqarah 2:183-184)

4. Forgive other people

Emotional pain can be caused because of other people’s act and mistake. They may hurt our heart indirectly or directly by those. However, if we forgive them, then our heart can be more ease and will remove the emotional pain. We must follow Allah that has already forgiven all of humanity’s sins and He is the Most-Forgiving.

Hold (to) forgiveness and enjoin the good, and turn away from the ignorant. (Al-A’raf 7:199)

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5. Always think positive or Husnudzon

Of course, it is allowed to stay alert as long as it is proportional. However, prejudice against everyone especially those who do not like us or otherwise we do not like can make the heart become sick and get emotional pain. We need to always think positive or Husnudzon to other people because it can make us calmer and more peaceful.

O you who believe! Avoid much of the assumption. Indeed, some assumption (is) sin. And (do) not spy and (do) not backbite some of you (to) others. Would like one of you to eat (the) flesh (of) his brother, dead? Nay, you would hate it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah (is) Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. (Al-Hujurat 49:12)

6. Do not hold a grudge

Emotional pain can bring a person to the grudge, even hereditary to the posterity because of the person that makes us get emotional pain. This need to be avoided, it’s good not to reply to bad treatment with worse treatment. It can’t solve the problem and our emotional pain can’t be healed only by a grudge. We need to do activities that are more beneficial and not waste our time.

And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden – its width (is like that of) the heavens and the earth prepared for the pious. Those who spend in [the] ease and (in) the hardship and those who restrain the anger and those who pardon [from] the people – and Allah loves the good-doers. (Al-Imran 3:133-134)

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7. Dhikr

Dhikr is one of the most powerful healers for the emotional pain. If we have the emotional pain, then try to always istighfar by mentioning Allah’s name. By doing this, it can make the heart become calm and emotional pain becomes extinguished. By mentioning Allah’s name then the heart and mind will get guidance and get great magnificence.

“It is not a group of people who sit and dhikr of Allah, but will be surrounded by angels, get grace bestowed, given peace of mind and Allah will praise them to those who are near.” (HR Muslim)

“Those who believed and find satisfaction their hearts in the remembrance (of) Allah. No doubt, in the remembrance of Allah find satisfaction the hearts.” (Ar-Ra’d 13:28)

8. Do useful activities

We already know that emotional pain is due to the empty of the heart and can’t move on. The heart will be hurt by the pain and it will increase if we still think it and don’t do anything. The emotional pain will be slowly faded with the busyness of doing useful activities.

“If you are not preoccupied with the good things, surely will be preoccupied with the vanity.” (Al Jawabul Kaafi page 156)

9. Keep the obligations of prayer

As a Muslim, it is an obligation to keep the five-time prayer. We can get many rewards and can remove the emotional pain that we are feeling right now. It is because the prayer is the place to communicate with Allah and make our heart calmer in silence situation.

Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book, and establish the prayer. Indeed, the prayer prevents from the immorality and evil deeds, and surely (the) remembrance (of) Allah (is) greatest. And Allah knows what you do. (Al-Ankabut 29:45)