Anxiety is a very common problem experienced by many. Anxiety is an unavoidable part of life. Everyone in this world will have his or her share of worries. However, there are limits to how much worry there should be. Worry should not lead us to despair. Some people try so hard to avoid the anxiety that they are unable to cope with the real world. By fleeing from reality, they merely increase their worries. We need to cope with our anxiety in a rational, methodical way. End your day on a positive note. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
“O you who believe[d]! Seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah (is) with the patient ones.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:153)
Anxiety is a feeling, a type of emotion. It is that vague feeling of unease and distress that something, somehow is hopelessly wrong. Feelings of anxiety have their roots in some type of fear, be it unease, worry, apprehension, powerlessness, or a sense of danger. Anxiety is our response to life’s uncertainties. Stress – a feeling of being overwhelmed – is part of modern life at home, work, and school. It adds to the anxiety. Allah says:
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ
“And when proclaimed your Lord, “If you are thankful, surely I will increase you; but if you are ungrateful indeed, My punishment (is) surely severe.” (Surah Ibrahim 14:7)
Anxiety and constant worrying can feel like you’re drowning in a sea of never-ending problems. You may be able to grasp in a breath of air but soon you’ve pushed beneath the surface again, nearly unable to stay afloat feeling the weight of so much worry heavily overtaking your mind. Despite feeling powerless, realize that you can regain control of your life and your anxiety. Allah says:
وَكَأَيِّن مِّن دَابَّةٍ لَّا تَحْمِلُ رِزْقَهَا اللَّهُ يَرْزُقُهَا وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“And how many of a creature (does) not carry its provision. Allah provides (for) it and (for) you. And He (is) the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” (Surah Al-‘Ankabut 29:60)
A certain degree of worry and anxiety exists in everyone and is completely normal. Everyone worries at times. However, for some people, anxiety can take over their lives. Every instance and situation is viewed in the direct way possible, which can lead to a multitude of physical and mental health issues. Constant worry and anxiety can impact our productivity and can also be taxing on the people in our lives, which can strain relationships. Allah says:
فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
“So indeed, with the hardship (is) ease.” (Surah Al-Inshirah 94:5)
This instruction from Allah provides us with two critical tools that can ease our worries and pain. Patience and prayer are two oft-neglected stressbusters. Sabr is often translated as patience but it is not just that. It includes self-control, perseverance, endurance, and a focused struggle to achieve one’s goal. Unlike patients, which implies resignation, the concept of Sabr includes a duty to remain steadfast to achieve your goals despite all odds. Allah says:
وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا
“And He will provide for him from where not he thinks. And whoever puts his trust upon Allah, then He (is) sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah (will) accomplish His purpose. Indeed, Allah has set for everything a measure.” (Surah At-Talaq 65:3)
Being patient gives us control in situations where we feel we have little or no control. ‘We cannot control what happens to us but we can control our reaction to our circumstances is the mantra of many modern-day self-help books. Patience helps us keep our minds and attitudes towards our difficulties in check.
Aim to find some strategies that appeal to you from anxiety relief techniques:
- Efforts do not result in a count in the Eyes of Allah
- Allow your mind to keep processing the problem
- Massage your hand, which will activate oxytocin
- Seek help through Sabr and Salat (Quran 2:45)
- Put something that’s out of place in its place
- Think about what’s going right in your life
- Question your social comparisons
- Connect with other human beings
- Pray for others to heal yourself
- Make the Quran your Partner
- Relying on Allah: Tawakkul
- Remember Allah, Do Dhikr
- Count your blessings
- God controls life and death
- Count the blessings you have
- Seek forgiveness for your sins
- Seek forgiveness from Allah SWT
- Take a break from researching a topic
- Suggesting a change or change of plans
- Stay away from negative, stressful thoughts
- Ask yourself if you’re jumping to conclusions
- Accept between your real self and your ideal self
- Recognize if your anxiety is being caused by someone
- Take a break from actively working on solving a problem
- Forgive yourself for not handling a situation in an ideal way
If you fear for your physical safety and security, remember that only Allah gives life and takes it back and, that He has appointed the time for it. It’s easy to get caught up in our stress and anxiety. However, if we remember that our life is short and temporary and that everlasting life is in the Hereafter, this will put our worries in perspective. No one can harm you except if Allah will. He says in the Quran: Allah says:
أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُوا يُدْرِككُّمُ الْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِي بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ حَسَنَةٌ يَقُولُوا هَٰذِهِ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَقُولُوا هَٰذِهِ مِنْ عِندِكَ قُلْ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ فَمَالِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ حَدِيثًا
“Wherever you be will overtake you [the] death even if you are in towers lofty. And if befalls them any good they say, “This (is) from Allah,” And if befalls them any evil they say, “This (is) from you.” Say, “All (is) from Allah.” So what (is wrong) (with) these [the] people, they do not seem (to) understand any statement.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:78)
Find a corner of a lake, go out in the wilderness, or even stand on your lawn at your home and call the Adhan with your heart. While driving, instead of listening to the same news over and over again, say Allahu Akbar as loudly as you can or as softly as you want, based on your mood. A year ago, I remember calling Adhan on a Lake Michigan shore in Chicago after sunset as the water gushed against my knees. I was calling it for myself. There was no one else except the waves after waves of water with their symphony. It was relaxing and meaningful. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.
كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
“Is prescribed upon you [the] fighting while it (is) hateful to you. But perhaps [that] you dislike a thing and it (is) good for you; and perhaps [that] you love a thing and it (is) bad for you. And Allah knows while you (do) not know.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:216)
Those who keep their prayers on time and pray with focus and humility will find peace. They say meditation is a great way to reduce stress; salah is even more effective than meditation because a Muslim prays intending to connect with His Creator Who can get him through his difficulties. Allah says:
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
“Those who believed and find satisfaction their hearts in the remembrance (of) Allah. No doubt, in the remembrance of Allah find satisfaction the hearts.” (Surah Ar-Ra`d 13:28)
Do not dwell on the past. Most of your anxiety comes from things that happened to you in the past. You can never change the past but you can focus on changing your future. When one seeks forgiveness from Allah, he will be relieved of the anxiety caused by his sins. Also when one can forgive others he will be relieved of the anxiety that is caused by his resentment.
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
- Be patient with everything you must get through in your life
- 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
When you awaken in the morning, thank Allah for giving you life after that short death called sleep. When you step out of your home, say ‘in Your Name Allah, I put my trust in Allah, and there is no power or force except with Allah’ (Bismillahi Tawakal to al Allah. At night, remember Allah, with His praises on your lips. Allah says:
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
“So because (of) Mercy from Allah you dealt gently with them. And if you had been rude (and) harsh (at) [the] heart, surely they (would have) dispe from around you. Then pardon [from] them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. Then when you have decided, put trust in Allah. Indeed, Allah loves the ones who put trust in Him” (Surah Al-Imran 3:159)
Rely on Allah by constantly remembering Him throughout your day. When you lay down to sleep, remember that sleep is death. That is why one of the recommended supplications before going to sleep is “with Your (Allah’s) Name I die and become alive”. Allah says:
فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ
“So remember Me, I will remember you and be grateful to Me and (do) not (be) ungrateful to Me.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:152)
We all experience anxiety at times; it’s a universal emotion that makes us human. However, our lives don’t have to be overtaken by them. You can manage your anxiety and overcome your worries. Rather than drowning in a sea of worries, trust in Allah and trust in the abilities, He gave you as you learn to stay afloat while riding the waves that come your way. Our success depends on our sincere efforts to the best of our abilities. It is the mercy of Allah that He does not demand results, Alhamdulillah. He is happy if He finds us making our best sincere effort. Thank you, Allah!
