Book Overview.

The Book on: Islamic Guidance on Recovery from the Affliction of Stress, Distress and Grief.

Islamic teachings require the Muslim to be resolute in facing distress, losses and hardships; he is not permitted to give up and to run away from the hardships of life when relationships are severed, tragedy befalls or some of his hopes are dashed.  Indeed, the true believer (Yaa Ayul Latheena amanu) is created for striving, not for sitting idle; for combat, not for escape.  His faith and character does not permit him to run away from the battlefield of life, and he possesses a weapon that never fails and ammunition that is never exhausted: the weapon of his unshakable faith and the ammunition of his absolute belief (IMAN) and moral steadfastness (SABR and Tawwakul). 

 It is the nature of this life that people will suffer from worries and stress, because this world is the place of disease, hardship and suffering. Hence among the things that distinguish Paradise from this world is the fact that there is no worry or stress there: “No sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shall they (ever) be asked to leave.” [Al-Hijr 15:48 – interpretation of the meaning]. Nothing ever upsets the people of Paradise, not even the slightest word: “No laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk) will they hear therein, nor any sinful speech (like backbiting, etc.), but only the saying of Salaam! Salaam! (Greetings with peace).” [Al-Waaqi'ah 56:25-26 – interpretation of the meaning].

 It is also the nature of this life that people have to put up with suffering and hardship for various reasons, as is indicated in the Quran (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, We have created man in toil.” [al-Balad 90:4]. So people feel regret for what has happened in the past, anxious about what may happen in the future, and worried about what is going on in the present. The things that cross our minds and make us feel distressed are things in the past that have caused grief, things in the future that we are worried about, and things in the present which concern us.

 People react differently to stress and worries, depending on how many things are concerning them, whether the worry is continuous or not, and on whether they have faith in their hearts or are rebellious and sinful. We may describe people’s hearts as being of two types: either the heart is the throne of Allah, filled with light, life, happiness, joy and all the treasures of goodness; or it is the throne of Shaytaan, wherein is distress, darkness, death, grief, worry and anxiety. People’s worries and concerns will also differ, according to the differences in their motivations, circumstances and individual responsibilities.

This booklet is a brief write-up providing Quranic recommendations and advice from The beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) and general Islamic Guidance on Recovery from the Affliction of Stress, Distress and Grief.