8 things you can do to counteract the effects of
stress
1. Increase dhikr (remembrance of
Allah): "Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in
the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of
Allah do hearts find satisfaction (Qur'an, 13:28)."
2. Increase prayers: "O you who believe! Seek assistance through
patience and prayer; surely, Allah is with the patient (Qur'an,
2:153)." Regardless of the type of meditation, recent studies have
verified the physiological effects of meditation. Most of those
mediations consist in focusing on something, repeating some words
and breathing (Greenberg, p.142, 143).
3. Perform ablutions: The most important component of relaxation is
what Hans Loehr calls "the rituals of success." These rituals may be
as simple as making ablution; yet, they must be performed properly
for it is not enough to pass water on the body parts - those parts
must be massed.
4. Ask for forgiveness : Even if a person has not done anything
wrong, he must insure the forgiveness of Allah. "Then I said, 'Ask
forgiveness of your Lord; surely, He is the most Forgiving'" (Qur'an,
71:10).
5. Recite the Qur'an: The Prophet (SAW) said, "… Qur'an is a remedy
for illnesses of the mind" (Bukhari). "The echo of sound has a
medical effect and is now widely utilized," says Dr. Greenberg. "The
recitation of or listening to the Qur'an has an effect on the body,
the heart and the mind! It is said that the letter Alif echoes to
the heart and the letter Ya' to the pineal gland in the brain.
Dr Ahmed El Kadi of Akber Clinic (Panama City, FL) conducted and
published the effects of listening to Qur'anic recitation on
physiological parameters ( i.e., the heart, blood pressure, and
muscle tension), and reported improvement in all factors,
irrespective of whether the listener was a Muslim or a non-Muslim,
Arab or non-Arab. Obviously, it can be postulated that those who
understand and enjoy the recitation with a belief in it will get
maximum benefits," writes Dr Athar.
6. Make the hereafter one's main concern: "Whoever has the hereafter
as his main concern, Allah will fill his heart with a feeling of
richness and independence; he will be focused and feel content, and
this world will come to him in spite of it. Whoever has this world
as his main concern, Allah will cause him to feel constant fear of
poverty; he will be distracted and unfocused, and he will have
nothing of this world except what was already predestined for him,"
said the Prophet (SAW). One of the greatest causes of stress is
money - how to pay the loans, whether one's job will be lost, what
will happen to the family if the father dies, etc.
7. Think positively: Muslims should forget about the bad things of
the past and think of good things, always having hope that he can be
better. Trying to change the past is a foolish and crazy waste of
time, "for saying 'if only…'opens the way to Shaytan" said the
Prophet (SAW). The Prophet (SAW) also said, " Know that victory
(achievement) comes through patience, and that ease comes through
hardship." Muslims understand that there's no reason for panic in
the case of crisis - no reason to be distressed or worried for we
know that after hardship come ease!
8. Do not waste time on thoughts of fear or stress: "The search of
time is one of the most frequent causes of stress" (Seyle, p.102).
Laziness is the mother of all evils, and the Prophet (SAW) used to
seek refuge in Allah from it. Understanding that this life is short
and time precious, Muslims should try to work hard and pursue worthy
knowledge
References
Athar, Shahid, MD. "Modern Stress and Its Cure From Qur'an."
Greenberg, Jerrold S. CSM = Comprehensive Stress Management. WCB:
McGraw-Hill. 1999 |
