Hawzah News Agency - Question: I am thirty years old, yet pain and illness have done to my body what they have not done even to the bodies of the elderly. I have grown weary of doctors and medicine. I have lost hope in everything — even in supplications and vows — though I still respect religion and the scholars. I feel constantly angry about my condition and keep asking myself why Allah has afflicted me with such hardships that have shaken my faith and made me anxious at the slightest disturbance. I sincerely hope that, with your help, I can find happiness in life alongside my wife and children, who suffer with me.
Answer:
The Iranian magazine Ittila’at ‘Ilmi (Vol. 23, Year 7) quoted a scientific study from Reader’s Digest (February 1993) which emphasized that most physical illnesses are the result of psychological disorders. According to this study, when a person neglects their mental well-being, they become the very cause of their own bodily illnesses.
The study states:
“For example, cancer and tuberculosis often affect those who are constantly complaining and filled with despair. Peptic ulcers commonly strike people who are obsessed with ambition and status. Arthritis and chronic inflammation are found among those who harbor hatred, refuse to forgive, and hold grudges. Headaches tend to afflict people who suppress their anger.”
It continues:
“Emotional disturbances such as anger, fear, and anxiety drain the body and mind of their vital energy. This exhaustion then leads to fatigue, pain, and physical illness.”
Furthermore, the study adds:
“Self-confidence and the ability to control fear and worry enable a person to perform daily tasks with joy and peace of mind. With inner peace and mental comfort, the body enjoys safety and good health. In fact, even a broken bone heals faster when a person’s mind is at ease and the heart is content.”
The author concludes:
“To preserve physical health, one must free oneself from feelings of failure and defeat. If a person allows such feelings to imprison them, they will inevitably face various ailments—such as asthma, headaches, and sinus inflammation.”
Dear brother, what I wish to remind you of is this: we must all take care of our overall health—both physical and mental. Let us strive to attain this balance and encourage others to do the same, so that our bodies and minds may enjoy peace and stability. As the saying goes, ‘A sound mind resides in a sound body.’
Islamic teachings have long emphasized that physical health is the outcome of mental and spiritual well-being. In fact, Islam was the first to introduce a holistic, scientific approach to maintaining both psychological and physical health.
This modern study, which in truth only confirms the Islamic perspective, highlights several important recommendations—principles already found in Islamic teachings:
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Assure yourself every day that you are safe and healthy. This positive affirmation strengthens the mind and prevents feelings of weakness or surrender to illness.
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Live moderately. Avoid greed and excessive attachment to worldly life, for these lead to unnecessary stress and exhaustion—mentally, emotionally, and physically.
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Set aside time for rest, relaxation, and wholesome recreation.
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Believe in Allah sincerely. Let your heart feel the warmth of faith, so that you find comfort and joy in remembering and worshipping Him.
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Strive daily to improve yourself. Tell yourself, “I am better today than I was yesterday,” and make it true—lest your conscience accuse you of self-deception.
If you follow these five recommendations in light of the medical facts mentioned above, you will find inner joy and psychological peace—and this, in turn, will bring physical health and productive energy.
You should also know that doubt in true religious beliefs itself leads to psychological distress, which can then manifest as physical illness. At a time when modern science and many Western psychologists acknowledge that faith in God plays a powerful role in healing the mind and body, it is not fitting for a Muslim to allow Satan or his agents in society to plant doubt and confusion in his heart.
It is narrated that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said:
“I am astonished at the believer who becomes upset by illness! If he knew what benefit lies within it, he would wish to remain ill until he meets his Lord.”
This, of course, applies to cases where the illness is chronic, beyond medical treatment, or when the believer cannot afford the cure.
Dear brother, I hope you will return wholeheartedly to your faith and draw strength from it, so that you may not fail in this trial. Otherwise, you risk losing both this life and the Hereafter. Know well that losing the pleasures of this world is far easier than losing the eternal Paradise—a realm free from pain, sickness, old age, and death.
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Source: "For a better future" by Hussain Ansariyan
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