Anxiety affects us all in one way or another, whether it is because of some stressful factor facing us in our life or because our body is so weakened that it starts overthinking. You may be reading this and know exactly what I mean by ‘anxiety’. Maybe you’ve told someone about it, or maybe you haven’t because of the stigma attached.
It’s easier said than done to simply say it’s ‘mind over matter’, which is what some less sympathetic people may say. We are taught that Allah is always there for us, that He will bring us through any hardship that we face. This is true in every sense, however, how does one get to the stage of overcoming their anxiety in order to truly believe this?
The first thing to accept is that Allah never gives a soul more than they can bear:
Surah Baqarah Verse 286:
"On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear".
Once you hold on to this concept, there’s a sense of relief as it reinforces your trust in yourself and your own strength to deal with the hardship. You may not believe you are strong enough to handle the hardship, but know that Allah believes in you, it is why He has put you in this position.
Remember that whoever you rely on (your spouse, family or anyone else), cannot do anything for you if it is not in Allah’s will. If it were not in His will, they would not even be there to lend you a listening ear.
(But you cannot will, unless Allah wills. Verily, Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise) [Al Insan, 30]
Speaking from personal experience, due to various health problems and fearing what would happen to me, I had to understand that even if I had a room full of doctors with me, were it not for the will of Allah, none of them would be able to help me. I would remind myself of a lady I knew who went into labour by herself at home in a foreign country in which she lived but could not speak the language. How fearful she must have been of what was going to happen. It was by the will of Allah that someone happened to knock on her door at that exact time and help her get assistance.
You are not alone!
Every living person must have felt some sort of anxiety at some point in their life, it’s just that not everyone shares it with others. You may feel that you are alone but there is a comfort in knowing that anxiety is normal and can be overcome. Sharing your fears and troubles with someone close to you has tremendous benefit and lightens the load, so endeavour to find a listening ear. Having said this, there is no one closer than Allah! Make dua to Him, make your sujood longer and make more dhikr, you will see the difference in your day.
He tests you only to give you better
Finally, be comforted by the fact that Allah tests you only to give you better in this life and the next, He promises glad tidings to those who are patient and who patiently endure.
Surah Baqarah verses 155-157:
"Be sure We shall test you with something of fear, and hunger, some loss in goods, or lives, or the fruits (of your toil); but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere".
Author: Mrs Sayyida Nargis
