THIS IS A TEST SITE
Mental health concerns in the context of faith:
A Muslim Perspective
Meet Mohammad:
Mohammad is a Muslim and lives with Bipolar mood disorder. He and his family go for prayers regularly and are active in their community. They volunteer, they give generously of their time and resources to the community, and they participate in the social and religious activities. Mohammed went to religious education classes weekly as a child, and as an adult he is always interested to learn more about the practice of his faith and Muslim history.
Mohammad has also struggled with this question of reconciling mental health and faith. He says:
I used to really struggle with these questions, that if God is Al-Alim, the all-knowing and Al-Rahim, the merciful, then why do I have so much suffering? Am I paying for something? Why, when I am always praying, He is not responding to my prayers? After all, he is Al-Sami, the all-hearing. Why is He putting my family through this and punishing my family? I know that Qur'an also says that whatever affliction that may visit us is because of what our hands have earned:
وَ ما أَصابَكُمْ مِنْ مُصيبَةٍ فَبِما كَسَبَتْ أَيْديكُمْ وَ يَعْفُوا عَنْ كَثيرٍ
Whatever hardship befalls you is the result of your own deeds.
God pardons many of your sins (42:30)
Does it mean, my sins and my mistakes are the root cause of my suffering and problems? Or can I say it is my fate and destiny and I have no role in my suffering, as Qur'an also says:
ما أَصابَ مِنْ مُصيبَةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَ لا في أَنْفُسِكُمْ إِلاَّ في كِتابٍ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ نَبْرَأَها إِنَّ ذلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسير
Whatever hardships you face on earth and in your souls were written in the Book before the creation of the souls. This is certainly easy for God (57:22):
Perhaps this verse can be better understood in the light of Maulana Rumi's poetry. He says if we don't learn patience and we are unthankful to God then we will consider our suffering as compulsion and destiny.
هر که ماند از کاهلی بیشکر و صبر
او همین داند که گیرد پای جبر
This search brought a lot of answers to me. I realized that these problems are for the polishing of the soul. We flourish our skills when we face difficulty, and we become more pious because of our troubles, we remember to turn back to Allah.
This search brought a lot of answers to me. I realized that these problems are for the polishing of the soul. We flourish our skills when we face difficulty, and we become more pious because of our troubles, we remember to turn back to Allah.
I was living such a lonely life, feeling that no one can help me, no one can understand. But one day as I was very low, and we were at a family dinner I felt a moment of trust with my cousin and we went for a walk. I just said a few sentences about what I'm going through although I still held the fear that I would be ridiculed. I told my cousin about my broken promises and the secret life I was living. I shared how intense and debilitating my sadness gets and how it pushes people away. I could not believe that my cousin actually listened and even hugged me. It was a moment of tremendous relief. That opened the door for me to begin to ask for help. I decided to talk a little to the religious and spiritual consultants and elders in my community and that was very helpful as they helped me in understanding the positive philosophy behind our suffering in the light of spiritual guidance of Quran.
Now I understand that the spiritual aspect is very important in my questions, that I have challenges, but spirituality plays a big role, it is a protective factor, and my community is there for me. Life is not easy but I belong to my community because I believe there is no God but God and Muhammad is His final messenger.
My difficult experience has given me so much compassion for others and I am amazed that now I am a trusted person that others sometimes come to.
I really came to understand from the spiritual consultants and seniors of my community that this struggle is preparing me for the life hereafter. My suffering is temporary and I will get reward for my suffering on the day of judgement. This will help me for the forgiveness of my sins and my further purification. This is why the Qur'an says that if you observe patience you will receive blessing and mercy from Allah.
وَ لَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشىَْءٍ مِّنَ الخْوْفِ وَ الْجُوعِ وَ نَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَ الْأَنفُسِ وَ الثَّمَرَاتِ وَ بَشِّرِ الصَّابرِين
We shall test you through fear, hunger, loss of life, property, and crops. Muhammad, give glad news to the people who have patience (2:155)
Knowing that some of my illness is out of my control and some of my behaviours are in my control, I have to take responsibility for my behaviour and leave the rest to Allah. I know that Allah loves me. You take one step towards Allah and He comes running towards you. I am closer to Allah, even though I slip into the darkness and sometimes drink heavily, even though I go off the right path, but I always remember Allah’s mercy and bring myself back on track.
God loves those who repeatedly return to Him. I keep slipping, but I keep turning to Allah and this has strengthened my relationship to Allah and deepened my faith. Nothing else would have brought me this close to Him.
It’s so painful that I cannot fast at the appropriate times, and I cannot concentrate in my daily prayers. But my intention is pure and I know that intention is as important as action, and I remind myself that Allah sees my intention. God says that when you are sick you should not fast, so at least I am happy that I am being submissive to God.
