I must have been around 10 years old when my family brought me to our local mosque to listen to a visiting speaker. We did this many times, but that one visit lingered in my mind. The speaker reflected on his encounter in the sacred city of Medinah, where he and others were assisting people near the Prophet’s Mosque, Masjid al-Nabawi. He described seeing a man sitting on a piece of cardboard who seemed to own nothing. Upon being asked how he could be helped, the man smiled and simply said, “I am more fortunate than you.”
Over a decade later, that moment has still stuck with me. This man attained something many of us pursue tirelessly—a peaceful mind. Throughout my life as I grew older, I began to realize how our state of mind and inner dialogue mold our reality. It is the seed to someone’s actions, habits, and way of living.
As a Muslim, I came to realize that my spirituality, also known as my deen, has been teaching me about taking care of my own mental health. Although my deen offers countless lessons, I wanted to share some that I learned recently via the beautiful Ramadan series, Sound Minds: Uprooting Destructive Thinking with Sheikh Mikaeel Ahmed Smith. Throughout 10 episodes, Sheikh Mikaeel explores how to combat self-destructive thoughts and find peace with our minds. Two episodes stood out to me.
Episode 7: What if?
I was stressed about an important exam when this episode was released. I was plagued with thoughts like, “What if it doesn’t go right?” Sheikh Mikaeel reframed this thinking, encouraging listeners to shift from pessimistic “what ifs” to optimistic questions: “What if it ends up better than I think?” This shift, rooted in trusting God, helped me overcome my habit of expecting the worst. As Sheikh Mikaeel explained, “If we expect bad, we will see bad. And if we expect good, we will see good ahead of us.”
Episode 8: What could have been
We all have regrets–times when we feel like turning back the clock to change something. This episode, however, made me realize that this never-ending self-blame and regret is not beneficial but a burden. Instead, we can look at mistakes as stepping stones. Through my deen, I learned to not regret but to trust instead. Having faith that all will be well, and that God has the best planned for me. Sheikh Mikaeel ends by saying “Don’t say ‘I wish I could undo it’, instead say ‘How can I grow from it?”
These are only a few lessons. Also, in my deen, I have come to understand that healing is not an individual journey, but one where others are there for you. In fact, I feel surrounded by support from my Muslim community, in little things like our greeting “Assalamualaikum” (peace be upon you), and in larger shared values. I feel that they are always there for me, and I always try to be there for them.
To me, the most beautiful thing about healing with Islam is the sheer, limitless optimism it encourages one to have. Hopelessness/pessimism is a terrible, worthless emotion that gets in the way of healing and growth. But every time I read the Quran, I’m reminded of that much-needed mercy and hope, especially by the verse that opens nearly every chapter: “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem”—In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. No matter how bad of a place one may be in, they should always be reminded that there is always a way out, a light at the end of the tunnel.
My deen continues to guide me to healing. By following the Prophet (Peace be Upon Him)’s example—living with kindness, patience, and hope—I strive to find peace like the man in Masjid al-Nabawi. I hope that we all strive towards lives filled with peace, purpose, and contentment.
