Exploring the Intersection of Mental Health and Faith in Islam:
The Importance of Addressing Psychological Well-Being in Muslim Communities
Islam emphasizes the importance of holistic health, which includes mental and emotional well-being. However, mental health and faith have often been viewed as opposing forces, creating a stigma around mental health issues in the Muslim community. It is important to explore the intersection of mental health and faith in Islam to address this stigma and provide support for those struggling with mental health disorders.
Today's article is the second part of the series “Stress Management and Islam”. In a previous post, I talked and shared about some common mental health illnesses and disorders. Today planned to talk about its Islamic perspective. This article is for informational purposes only. It doesn’t provide medical advice; always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding a medical condition or treatment.
Islamic perspective on mental health
From an Islamic theological perspective, psycho-spiritual health is directly related to a human being’s ability to actualize their primordial spiritual purpose. All human beings are created to tread a path that will ultimately ensure their salvation in the afterlife and their ability to acquire God’s pleasure.
Health is thus, from an Islamic theological perspective, indicated by an individual’s successful ability to remain on this path of worship. Hence any obstacles that obstruct their ability to tread this path is seen as detrimental to human functioning and worthy of attention. This includes psychological, physical or emotional struggles that get in the way of our ability to worship Allāh freely.
More specifically, a holistic perspective on psychological health must be multidimensional as it encompasses our overall health and well-being.
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When all of these areas are balanced and working in harmony, we can achieve optimal mental health. However, mental health is fluid. We need to regularly and constantly work on finding this balance. Achieving better states in our mental, spiritual, and psychological health and maturity is a constant journey that we traverse all our lives.
Naturally, the balance we strive for will look different at different stages of our lives. For example, during finals week, your attention may be more focused on academics, and your social or physical activities may take a backseat. Or you might find yourself taking temporary social breaks to seek reclusion, refocus, and recalibrate. This is still considered balance–striving for optimal mental wellness is not a linear journey. If you find lasting behavioral or emotional patterns that are not balanced, however, you will need to check in and identify how to get back to working towards balance.
The Qur’anic Perspective on Mental Health
This article presents various instances where the Quran addresses strong emotions such as grief and sorrow, extracting lessons from some chapters and verses from the different chapters of the Quran that may help with mental health and well-being.
In short here, The entire Quran is a cure, and it is mostly a spiritual cure. Many times, the Quran reminds one that there is no grief or fear if one remains steadfast and that the Hereafter is free of all those negative and overwhelming feelings and situations (Quran 43:68, 46:13). The Quran acknowledges the reality of these emotions and, by extension, acknowledges the reality of mental illnesses.
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Psychology in Islam
On knowing the basic information about psychology, let us now look at it in the light of Islam. We all know that Islam is the ideal way of life and Prophet Muhammad PBUH is our role model. Imbibing the way our Prophet Muhammad PBUH taught Islam is an essential means of living a hassle-free life in both physical and mental aspects.
Islamic Psychology finds its roots in the Quranic worldview and Prophetic example as embodied by our beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH. Islamic Psychology at its core is looking at the human being in a holistic manner and examines and approaches human behavior, motivations, emotions, and healing through an Islamic lens. Islamic Psychology centers on the concept of the fitrah, the soul`s connection to Allah (God), and bringing the human being back in touch with the fitrah for true well-being. The metaphysical components of the Ruh (soul), Aql (mind) Nafs (lower self) Qalb (heart) are key components of influence and study in Islamic Psychology.
Islam doesn’t restrict us from leading a happy life in this world. However, it emphasizes leading a meaningful life. Psychology in Islam is used in everyday practices but under different guises, such as spiritualism. Islam values the importance of good mental health and emotional well-being.
The best way is by learning how the Prophet Muhammad PBUH lived his life and incorporating that into our lives. On that note, we shall explore certain aspects of positive psychology in the life of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH and find out how we can make the best out of this learning.
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“Addressing the Stigma: Can Muslims Experience Depression?”
Depression is a serious mental health issue that can affect people of all backgrounds, including Muslims. However, due to cultural and religious stigma, depression and mental health issues are often overlooked or ignored in the Muslim community. Addressing the stigma and raising awareness of mental health in the Muslim community is crucial for providing support and resources for those who are struggling. By seeking help and utilizing Islamic teachings and practices, individuals can work towards managing their mental health and finding peace and healing.
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Misconceptions About Mental Health in the Muslim Community
- Mental health as a taboo subject in the Muslim community leads to embarrassment and fear for the members of the community who do have Mental illness. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed so that those suffering can get the help needed.
- Another misconception in the Muslim community is that mental health is associated with being “non-religious” or “not religious enough.” Many factors may contribute to the development of mental health issues, so it is not fair to oversimplify multifactorial medical conditions this way because it dismisses the potential role of mental health professionals in helping.
- Many Muslims believe that today’s mental health issues are tests from God and therefore are not addressed.
Final Thoughts:
It is important to recognize the intersection of mental health and faith in Islam. While seeking medical treatment and therapy is crucial in managing mental health disorders, incorporating Islamic practices and teachings can also provide comfort and support. Islam emphasizes the importance of seeking help and support from both medical professionals and Allah and offers a variety of tools to manage mental health, including prayer, Quranic recitation, and social support. By recognizing and addressing the stigma surrounding mental health in the Muslim community, we can work towards creating a more supportive and inclusive environment for those struggling with mental health issues.