Overcoming Grief And Anxiety

Bismillah

No human is free of some worry or anxiety. No matter what state we are in, no matter what we have or don’t have, we find that anxiety clouds our existence. The one who is poor is anxious and worried, desiring to be rich, desiring to have wealth. The one who is wealthy is always worried about losing his wealth. The one who does not have children is anxious and grief-struck that he wants to have children. The one who has children, so many of the anxieties come from the children as well. The one who is single wants to be married. The one who is married does not find full peace within marriage. This is the reality of human existence.

Grief and anxiety is part and parcel of existence. Man is created always struggling, anxious for something else, never satisfied with what she or he has. The nature of man is to be consumed with anxiety

Allah reminds us in the Quran,

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ ‎﴿٤﴾

We have certainly created man into toil and hardship. [Quran, Al Balad 90:4]

So if anxiety is part of our existence, then what should be done to combat it? How do we overcome the feelings of concern, grief, and stress that overwhelm us?

Allah never mention grief and worry in the Quran except that Allah commands to get rid of that anxiety, or He gives gladtidings that the future will come when there will no grief.

Allah says,

وَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ‎﴿١٣٩﴾

So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers. [Quran, AleImran 3:139]

أَلَآ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ‎﴿٦٢﴾‏

Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. [Quran, Yunus 10:62]

The ultimate time when there shall be no grief, and the abode where there is no grief, is Jannah. The first thing the people of Jannah will say after the angels give them the greetings of peace, will say,

وَقَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَذْهَبَ عَنَّا ٱلْحَزَنَ ۖ إِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ ‎﴿٣٤﴾

And they will say, "Praise to Allah, who has removed from us [all] sorrow. Indeed, our Lord is Forgiving and Appreciative. [Quran, Fatir 35:34]

This shows that our anxiety is part and parcel of our human existence. The Prophet sallallahu alayi wasallam and the righteous feel anxiety. The goal is to minimize anxiety but we will never live a stress-free life in this world. That is in the next life. That's why Jannah is called Darussalaam, the abode of salaam, the abode of peace, no harm, no anxiety.

There is no way to combat it effectively without turning to the Creator of this world. There is no way to combat anxiety without understanding that nothing happens without Allah's will. So He must have a plan that is better than my plan and your plan. Understand and realize that Allah is in control, He sees all, He has everything in His plan. Believe in Allah and Allah’s qadr is the most powerful antidote to grief and to combat anxiety.

قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَآ إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَىٰنَا ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ‎﴿٥١﴾

Say, "Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allah let the believers rely. [Quran, At-Tawbah 9:51]

Nothing is going to happen to me and you except that Allah has already willed it. Allah is the Maulana. My enemies don’t control me, the people who hate me do not have any power over me.

So, when facing a problem, you must remind yourself that Allah is in control, not you, and that Allah sees everything that is happening to you.

May Allah save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. May Allah send relief to those who are in difficulty. Aameen.

And Allah knows best.