In Islam, mental illness is addressed with profound compassion, understanding, and respect. The Quran and Hadith offer insights that encourage empathy, holistic care and a balanced approach to treatment for those experiencing mental health challenges. Here’s a deeper look at how mental health is approached within Islamic teachings:
1. RECOGNITION OF EMOTIONAL STRUGGLES AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
Islam acknowledges the human experience of sadness, anxiety, and distress. Stories in the Quran illustrate this, such as Prophet Yaqub’s (Jacob) profound grief and mental torture over his son Yusuf’s (Joseph) disappearance, saying, “I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you do not know” (Quran, 12:86). This verse shows the importance of expressing and acknowledging one’s feelings while seeking God’s comfort.
Similarly, the Quran offers solace to those who struggle, encouraging them to turn to God in their hardships: “Verily, with hardship comes ease” (Quran, 94:6). These words remind believers that their emotional struggles are acknowledged by God and that ease follows difficulties.
2. MENTAL HEALTH AS PART OF HOLISTIC WELLBEING
Islam encourages a balanced approach to physical, mental, and spiritual health, emphasizing holistic well-being. The concept of “Tibb al-Qalb” (medicine for the heart) in Islamic tradition reinforces that mental and emotional health is essential.
Allah states in the Quran, “And We have certainly created man and We know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein” (Quran, 50:16), indicating a deep understanding of human struggles. This verse reflects the view that Islam recognizes the depth of inner experiences and encourages believers to seek solace in God.
3. ENCOURAGEMENT TO SEEK TREATMENT AND PROFESSIONAL HELP
Seeking treatment for mental illness is encouraged in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized this by saying, “There is no disease that Allah has created, except that He also has created its remedy” (Sahih Bukhari). This hadith shows that medical and psychological interventions are legitimate forms of seeking relief.
Consulting mental health professionals is supported within Islamic teachings, where believers are encouraged to combine medical treatment with spiritual practices, such as prayer (salah), ruqyah (exorcism) and remembrance (dhikr), as a way to find healing through both physical and spiritual means.
4. ROLE OF COMMUNITY AND FAMILY SUPPORT
In Islam, community support and compassion are essential, especially for those experiencing mental illness. The Quran encourages kindness and understanding: “And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy” (Quran, 17:24). This verse emphasizes the duty of family and community members to show empathy and patience, further from molestation, ostracizing and degrading them.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever relieves a believer’s distress of the distressful aspects of this world, Allah will rescue him from a difficulty of the difficulties of the Hereafter” (Sahih Muslim). This hadith encourages Muslims to support and care for each other, especially in times of hardship, as a way to fulfill God’s command to serve humanity with compassion.
5. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES AND MENTAL HEALTH
Spiritual practices are seen as sources of calm and inner peace, helping to reduce stress and anxiety. Muslims are encouraged to turn to supplication (dua) in times of distress, with specific duas available. For example, a common dua for anxiety and sorrow is, “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and grief, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts, and from being overpowered by men” (Sahih Bukhari).
While spiritual practices are an integral part of managing mental health, they are not intended to replace medical help but to complement it, providing emotional resilience alongside treatment.
6. DESTIGMATIZING MENTAL ILLNESS
Islamic teachings emphasize empathy and discourage harsh judgments against those facing mental health challenges. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) reminded Muslims to show kindness, saying, “Allah is gentle and loves gentleness in all things” (Sahih Bukhari). This hadith promotes a culture of understanding rather than stigma.
Islam encourages treating mental illness as a condition like any physical ailment, reinforcing that it is not a reflection of weak faith. Every person has a unique capacity for coping with challenges.
7. ISLAMIC HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO MENTAL HEALTH
Historically, Muslim scholars and physicians made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of mental health. Figures like Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and Al-Razi (Rhazes) were pioneers in psychological and psychiatric treatment, recognizing mental illness as legitimate and advocating for humane care and understanding.
Muslim hospitals during the medieval Islamic period provided treatments for mental health conditions, including music therapy, baths, and counseling, recognizing mental illness as a medical condition and treating patients with respect and care.
ABDULMALIK KING SULEIMAN
PROJECT DIRECTOR, AMDC
+234 806 617 4070
abdmaleek1975@ahlulfaydah.org
abdmaleek1975@gmail.com