The impact of spiritual guidance on mental health

Growing up, mental health was a topic that was never spoken about. At home, in school, in madrassah and even in the wider community, it was considered a taboo. Many people viewed struggling with your mental health as a sign of weak Iman leaving those that were struggling feeling disconnected to themselves, their faith and most importantly, to Allah.

So, what is mental health? What is spiritual guidance? And is there a connection between the two?

Mental health is the well-being of the mind. It includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being affecting how you think, act and feel.

Spiritual guidance is the process of seeking help and direction for one's spiritual growth. In the context of Islam, this is seeking help from Allah, praying salah, following the Qur’an and Sunnah of our beloved Prophet, seeking guidance from the Quran, making dua and seeking knowledge and support from teachers and those highly knowledgeable of the Deen. Using these beautiful spiritual gems positively impacts your mental health nurturing your mind, body and soul.

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Tawakkul – Placing trust in Allah

“And to Allah belongs the Ghaib (Unseen) of the heavens and the earth, and to Him return all affairs (for decision). So worship Him (O Muhammad) and put your trust in Him. And your Lord is not unaware of what you (people) do.” (11:123)

This is a powerful verse reminding us of our limitations as humans and Allah’s supreme greatness. Imagine if your life completely depended on yourself. You do not know the future, nor do you have any knowledge of the things that are happening around you. The beauty in tawakkul is found by acknowledging that you cannot create the best outcomes for yourself independently because you lack what your Lord does not. We’re not called to rely on and trust just anybody, but to trust the One that controls everything.  

Tawakkul shifts your mindset from a fear-based approach to an approach deeply rooted in love and trust in your Creator. It releases you from constantly overthinking to acceptance and surrendering.

Although uncertainty surrounds and unsettles us, we can find certainty in the fact that our life is in Allah’s control and that He is truly taking care of us. With this approach, your reliance on Allah can foster a peace of mind, reduce anxiety and support your mental health.

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Salah, dhikr and the remembrance of Allah

In the world of healing, mindfulness is important. It’s a practice where you focus your attention on the present moment, tap into your body and allow yourself to hear your thoughts, and feel your feelings without any judgement. A process that helps you steer away from dwelling on the past or drown in worry for the future.

Salah and dhikr are beautiful forms of mindfulness. We often find ourselves feeling consumed by the world around us and the thoughts and feelings that weigh heavily on us. In fact, a study taken in 2020 showed that people typically have 6,000 thoughts a day! Our salah and dhikr helps us step back and shift our attention from ourselves to Allah. Having regular moments in the day where we remember Allah helps us remember our purpose, whilst also finding comfort in His love and acknowledging His Majesty and blessings.

“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest”. (13:28)

Allah tells us in the Qur’an that peace is found in remembering Him. You don’t have to reach a certain destination to find peace, remembering your Lord is enough. Keeping your mind conscious of Allah helps you feel grounded whilst also serving as a constant reminder that you are never alone, and Allah is embracing you in every moment.  

“I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself”. Sahih Al Bukhari 7405

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Healing with the Qur’an

The Qur’an has a profound impact on a person’s mental health and well-being. Allah says in the Quran:

“We send down the Quran as a healing and mercy for the believers” 17:82

The healing effects in the Qur’an can be found in many ways. Through recitation, contemplation or even listening to the words of Allah being recited.

Research has shown the sound of Qur’anic recitation activates brain regions that are associated with attention, emotional regulation and relaxation which helps reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

Contemplating on certain verses and stories in the Qur’an is a beautiful way you can find emotional reassurance and comfort. Not only can we find strength in their resilience, but we can find ourselves in their struggles and experiences.   Through reciting, listening and pondering, we can find relief in this love letter from the Lord of the worlds, calming the soul and supporting our mental health.

Therapy and mental health support from Muslim professionals

Therapy and counselling are great tools you can use to support your mental health and heal from trauma and emotional pain. In today’s world, there are many Muslim mental health professionals that can support your healing whilst considering your faith and spirituality through frameworks that use or integrate Islamic psychology in their practice.

The state of a person’s nafs (self/ego) and qalb (heart) significantly impacts a person’s mental health and overall psychological well-being. It is important that this is considered when healing and supporting your mental health along with healing the mind and body. Using the teachings from the Qur’an and Sunnah, mental health professionals can use spiritual and divine wisdom to help and enhance your well-being holistically.

Final thoughts

Spiritual guidance has a great impact on mental health. Through practicing our faith, surrendering to Allah, using Divine teachings for guidance, we can find relief and ease in our struggles.

Please note, spiritual guidance is not a substitute for seeking other types of help. As believers, we are encouraged to seek help and remedies, whilst also using the healing and wisdom gifted to us by Allah.