COUNTERACT 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 .