Anxiety has the effect of turning us into a recluse, where we avoid people and circumstances and it can ruin a person’s life unless they can get this in order. To understand the concept of Tawakkul, consider how tense and worried you get at times about the challenges of this worldly life.  Remember Allah constantly. Allah says:

وَمَا لَنَا أَلَّا نَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانَا سُبُلَنَا وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَىٰ مَا آذَيْتُمُونَا وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ

“And what (is) for us that not we put our trust upon Allah, while certainly, He has guided us to our ways? And surely we will bear with p on what harm you may cause us. And upon Allah so let put (their) trust the ones who put (their) trust.” (Surah Ibrahim 14:12)

Anxiety is a blanket term used to describe excessive stressful conditions that morph into feeling impending doom. While mild cases of anxiety affect all of us now and again as we struggle through life’s challenges, the more severe cases are a mental health illness that spills over to our habits and behaviours and often manifests itself in some painful physical symptoms (headaches, muscle aches, palpitations, tremors, panic attacks, etc.). 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)

Remember that He will always be there to listen to you. Plan on establishing a relationship with Him. Whether it’s you worrying about losing your job or sustenance, or general life problems that you may come to face, Tawakkul is your belief and the attitude that you have about putting your trust in Allah to take care of all your affairs. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ

“O you who believe! If you consciously revere Allah, He will grant you a criterion and will remove from you your evil deeds and forgive you. And Allah (is) the Possessor of bounty, the Great.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:29)

Anxiety is often one of the reasons why people turn to substance abuse, often because they are trying to deal with their social anxieties. Patience is difficult, but it is important. Combined with prayer and remembrance of Allah, patience will help you get through the tough times to see that the pieces that were once all up in the air fell into place.

Islam has some clear ways of treating this problem:

1. Anxiety is systematically associated with negative outcomes
2. Anxiety does not mean your connection with God is weak 
3. Anxiety does not mean that you aren’t a good Muslim
4. Anxiety is defined as a subjective feeling of tension
5. Anxiety feels like being trapped in a constant state
6. Allah has spoken about being tested in the Quran
7. Allah wants His people to ask for forgiveness
8. Allah’s plans are superior depending on Him
9. Allah listens to you and your prayers
10. Tawakkul attribute everything to the Will
11. Tawakkul connect to a powerful associate
12. Tawakkul refers to putting your trust in Allah
13. Tawakkul on Allah relying on loss or success
14. Tawakkul turn lead to goodness in this world
15. Tawakkul Allah must be strong and rely upon
16. Tawakkul means all things are in Allah’s hands
17. Tawakkul indicate that Allah cannot be opposed
18. Tawakkul will be going to be an end by His Mercy
19. Tawakkul greater the chances that we try to please
20. Tawakkul indicate that Allah’s wish is an occurrence

Islam offers anxiety, stress, and worry, which are all interconnected, is to connect to Allah and change your fear-inducing thoughts. Connecting to Allah eradicates the feeling that you can’t handle something. It puts your reliance on a solution on Allah and not yourself. By taking control of your mind you can take control of the emotional and physical reactions that we call anxiety. 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)

Islam, as the complete guide of life, has certain tips in it that can make fighting depression easier. Keep in mind that none of the tips can cure depression as it is an illness – but it can ease the pain through the teaching provided in the Quran and Islam. While the cure for depression varies from person to person, given the magnitude of the illness.

Here are some Quran Verses for Anxiety that you can reflect on whenever you are feeling worried:

• “Indeed, after hardship, there is ease.” (Quraan 94:6)
• “Indeed, mankind was created anxious.” (Quran. 70:9)
• “….And in Allah let believers put their trust.” (Surah Ibrahim 14:11)
• “From the one who whispers in the hearts of people” (Surah An-Nas)
• “Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” (Quran 13:28)
• “Allah is sufficient for us and He is an excellent trustee.” (Quraan 3:173)
• “When you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah.” (Quran 3: 159)
• “On no soul do We place a burden greater than it can bear.” (Quran 23:62)
• “Those who are patient and put their reliance in their Lord.” (Surah An-Nahl, 42)
• “I entrust my affairs unto God. Truly, Allah is aware of His servants.” (Quraan 40:44)
• “….be sure that Allah is your Protector – the best to protect and the best to help.” (Quran 8:40)
• “And whoever turns away from My remembrance to him there will be a difficult life.” (Quran, 20:124)

Ways to deal with stress and anxiety:

• How does Islam treat anxiety?: Islam treats anxiety as a fear-induced reaction of the mind and the body. It’s a psychological problem, a problem of the mind. People don’t have anxiety about the past, they regret the past and the anxiety is often about the present or the future, where they fear that the past will repeat itself.
• Remembrance of Allah: Peace of mind can be found in the remembrance of Allah. We have to remember that Allah is the most powerful and nothing overcomes Allah. Nothing that we fear is beyond Allah’s ability to deal with.
• Change your expectations: Expectations are all managed in your mind and sometimes our expectations are so exaggerated and negative that they induce the fear in us that it’s not possible to achieve what we expect. The easiest way to manage your stress levels is to change your expectations which is the thing that induces your fear or creates that sense of fear in your life.
• Tell yourself whether your fear is not real: The solution is not in the fact that your fear is not real, the solution for you is to talk to yourself in a positive, calming way that empowers you.
• Practice makes fearless: Practice until it becomes so natural to you that you can do it without even thinking.  If you practice to the point of being able to do something without even thinking when you feel the fears and anxieties, your fears will start to weaken insha’Allah.
• Race with your fears: Whatever you fear if you give it time to set in, it will horrify you. So the quicker you can take action, the quicker you will dispel your fears and anxieties. The quicker you take action, the sooner you will realize you can handle it insha’Allah.
• Don’t compare yourself: One of the reasons that we have anxiety is that we scare ourselves into competing with other people. We keep looking at other people and telling ourselves that they’re doing better than us, that we need to compete with them.
• Make a lot of dua: Turn to Allah continuously asking for help while you’re taking action. And the key is to be taking action as you’re asking for help. Dua is an indestructible force of goodness in our lives. Use it and it will make you indestructible.
• Allah plans and Allah is the best of planners: Accepting that you cannot control everything is a major key to managing anxiety, which can be done more easily with the understanding that God has a greater plan and that He (SWT) knows what is best for us. Allah says:

وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ

“And when plotted against you those who disbelieved that they restrain you or kill you or drive you out. And they were planning and Allah (too) was planning. And Allah is (the) Best (of) the Planners.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:30)

Suffering from anxiety is facing the challenge by connecting with Allah, who can overcome any problem for you. Rely on Allah and don’t rely on yourself solely. All of these thoughts go through our minds when we are about to embark on a new growth experience. It’s because every challenge we overcome helps us to grow. Allah says:

وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَىٰ

And whoever turns away from My remembrance, then indeed, for him (is) a life straitened and We will gather him (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection blind.” (Surah Ta-Ha 20:124)

Lean into your fear and the fear will be dispelled, your fear will die a death and you will be able to do anything that you want to do. Above all, rely on Allah, the most powerful to deliver you the results. So just get busy taking action, facing the fear and doing the challenge. Turn to The Creator of the heavens and earth and rely on Allah The most powerful and you will be able to handle anything. Allah is your guide! He leads from the darkness into the light.