STRESS MANAGEMENT DATES BACK 1400 YEARS

In today’s global village with all sophistication and luxurious lifestyle, we have become busier, less time
for family and more stressed. We boast ourselves as the most civilized people of all time and yet missed
the essence of peace and tranquillity in our lives.

Why has man gone into such restlessness? Why has he obsessed by ever growing worldly ambitions?
What is the remedy for the above? And how can we manage stress to lead a peaceful life?

Stress is a reaction to an individual’s physical well being. It is a feeling of being unable to deal with any
physical or emotional challenges which are perceived as a threat to one’s state of peace.

In this article I will be dealing on how to overcome the psychological challenges in detail and a gist on
how to overcome the physical challenges, both in the light of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) who taught this
subject clearly and completely 1400 years ago.

Psychological management of stress lies within one’s faith deeply rooted in his heart. Researchers’
conclusion points out that an atheist is more stressed than a believer of God. A believer always has a
strong faith in the existence of God, where there is a relationship of hope and total dependence. So
whatever happens, there’s an unshakeable faith and hope that God will help him out of it.

Just take the example of a father throwing his child in the air. The baby still laughs because it knows that
the father will hold when it falls. By this hope and total dependence, we can overcome emotional
challenges.

The second lesson of our beloved Prophet (PBUH) is, he always reminded that the world is temporary
and our destination is the hereafter. If so, everything in this world is also temporary. Our sorrows,
hardships, happiness etc. When there is a threat to our state of peace we know that, it will surely pass
and a better situation will emerge next. And when we understand that we are accountable to God in the
hereafter, it provides an effective check against corruption and immoral conduct which ensures peace and
harmony with one’s environment.

The third lesson is to have a firm belief in the divine destiny ‘Al-Qadr’ where everything is predetermined
by God. Most men die before seeing their desires materialized. It is like a traveller pursuing a mirage.
When he realizes everything is predetermined, he will take the steps to materialize his desires but does
not make his whole life just pursuing it.
So by having an unshakeable hope and total dependence, by realizing that the world is temporary and the
eternal life is the hereafter and having a firm belief in the divine destiny, we can overcome all
psychological challenges.

Prophet’s (PBUH) way of life teaches us on how to overcome the physical challenges too. Prophet
(PBUH) said the two best qualities of a man are to control his anger and deliberation. He said by drinking
water, by remembering God and by diverting the thoughts one can manage anger.

He never procrastinates his affairs. He even said it is the quality of the devil to do so. It is the main cause
for lot of problems at work places and at colleges, where we have to meet the deadlines. And when we do
it in time we can live a stress free life.

He said that Allah loves the strong believer than a weak one. Strong in his mind and body. This
encourages us to exercise regularly as this will eliminate all the external threats and builds confidence
which leads to a healthy life. He ate only 1/3rd of what is required. Gluttony is the main cause for lot of
health problems. He slept early in the night and woke up early in the morning. Today, for us the night has
become day and vice versa. This is an unhygienic practice and road to a stressed life.

“Whatever he said, whatever he did and whatever he accepted”, every little thing has a great impact for
us to live in peace and harmony. Let’s ponder over his life and let’s make the change what we want to
see.

SUHAIL SINNALEBBE