Stress in Islam, Stress Management Techniques, Stress Relief Strategies, Stress in Children

Muslims can deal with prolonged stress better when they understand where it comes from. Stress, doctors say, usually stress comes from fear of the unknown, the future, and death. However, Allah (SWT) has already provided us with prevention against those fears. "And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient" (Noble Qur'an, 2:155). The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, "Your most ardent enemy is your evil self which resides within your body. If this soul is not checked, it will lead to unusual stress." (Bukhari) Furthermore, since Muslims are told in the Noble Qur'an that humans are on this earth only as passengers, we should not have this fear of loss. A Muslim's destiny is predetermined, so worrying about it is fruitless. We only have "limited free will" to believe in Allah (SWT) or not, or to chose good deeds or bad ones. Rejecting faith in Allah (SWT), though, is against nature and a sign of disease. "In their hearts is a disease, and Allah increases their disease. A painful doom is theirs because they lie" (Noble Qur'an, 2:10). Having no one to turn to during a crisis, the non-believer can become violent or turn to alcohol.