Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) lists fifteen kinds of remedies through which Allaah may alleviate distress and grief:
1. Tawheed al-Ruboobiyyah (Unity of Divine Lordship)
2. Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah (Unity of Divinity)
3. Unity of belief, i.e. Tawheed al-Asmaa’ wa’l-Siffaat (Unity of the Divine Names and Attributes).
4. To declare that Allaah is far above mistreating His slave or punishing him without any cause on the part of the slave himself.
5. Admission on the part of the slave that he is the wrongdoer.
6. Beseeching Allaah by the best of things, which are His Names and Attributes. Among the most comprehensive in meaning of His Names and Attributes are the Names al-Hayyu (the Ever-Living), al-Qayoom (the Eternal).
7. Seeking the help of Allaah Alone.
8. Putting one’s hope in Allaah.
9. Putting one’s trust in Allaah and handing over all one’s affairs to Him, recognizing that one’s forelock is in His hand, that Allaah runs all one’s affairs as He wills, that His command is ever executed and that His decree is just.
10. Reading Qur’aan and pondering its meaning, seeking consolation in it for all disasters, and seeking a cure in it for all diseases of the heart (i.e., spiritual or psychological diseases) for it washes away grief and heals his distress and anxiety.
11. Seeking the forgiveness of Allaah.
12. Repentance
13. Jihaad (striving for the sake of Allaah).
14. Salaat (prayer)
15. Admitting that one has no power or strength at all, and attributing them to the One Who holds them in His hand.
We ask Allaah, may He be exalted, to keep us safe from distress, to grant us relief from depression and to alleviate our worries, for He is the All-Hearing Who answers prayers, He is the Ever-Living, Eternal.
Finally, let us remind ourselves that no matter how great and how numerous the worries and distress of this world may be, the distress and anguish of the Hereafter will be far greater. This includes that which will befall all people when they are gathered all together for Judgement. Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I will be the master of all people on the Day of Resurrection. Do you know why I will be the master of all people? Allaah will gather together all the people, the first and the last of them in one place, in such a way that if a caller calls out to them, they will all hear him, and they will all be seen at once. The sun will be brought close to them, and they will feel more distress than they can bear. People will say, ‘Can you see what has happened to you? Won’t you see who can intercede for you with your Lord?’ Then some of them will say to others, ‘Let’s go to Adam…’”
There will be no cure for distress and anguish on that Day unless one turns to Allaah today.
May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his Family and Companions, who are the best of people. Praise be to Allaah Who is overtaken by neither slumber nor sleep.
Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid
P.O. Box 2999
Al-Khobar
Saudi Arabia
Dealing With Worry and Stress - Introduction
Kinds of Worry and Stress
Islam's Treatment for Worry and Stress
