Read Abdullah's story
Islam: A remedy for my mind
In 2004, I was born into a Pakistani Muslim family in Memphis, TN. However, I feel as if I truly became Muslim through my journey with the love from my family. Like everyone around the world growing up, I faced imminent problems that eventually contribute to stress, anxiety, and pessimism.
With these not so good feelings emerging, I sought a false refuge in front of my phone screen. For some time I was consuming short form content and exhausting my mind with artificial dopamine. This unhealthy habit damaged my sleep and mental health. In my vulnerable and dark state there were two options: keep going down this self destructive path or escape. Seeking guidance from my family I realized that striving to be a better Muslim would not only help me but also give me a beautiful, new meaning of my life and purpose.
I want to emphasize this for anyone reading: I am not a scholar. Nor am I flawless, since I am a human being. Like the other 1.8 billion Muslims around the world, I am simply trying to be better in my religion.
Throughout my journey as a practicing Muslim, I have developed habits from my lifestyle that have nourished my mental health. The most important is my salah, the five daily prayers. Every day no matter the situation, I need to step away for my prayer that would take around 5 to 10 minutes. I escape from all the noise, distractions, and stresses I have to face and pray to God. The only word I can use to describe this is peace. In and out of my salah, I strive to make dua, calling out to God and asking for anything I need. Doing this action and expressing my worries to my Creator is something I strive to do when worried or nervous. I have also seen how being charitable brings joy, warmth, and healing.
As a Muslim, I am a devout follower of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). As I learned more about him, I have seen how he navigated through immense difficulties by praying and being patient and steadfast. I have also seen how much he treated others with love, respect, kindness, and compassion, and emulating these qualities has done nothing but good for me and my mental health.
I also wanted to reflect on my name, Abdullah, which means “the one who serves God” in Arabic. Throughout my life, I have learned more about God and His attributes. We believe Him to be Al-Wadūd, “the Most Loving”, and Al-Rahman, “The Most Merciful.” We believe that He is always there for us in times of difficulty. Being a Muslim means that I submit my will to God and put my complete trust in Him. As I have grown, this belief has eased me knowing that everything will turn out beautiful if I stay hopeful, steadfast, and smiling.