Answer
Short Answer:
- It is whole-hearted reliance in Allah that brings peace of mind to a believer.
- Those who are afflicted by the wounds of the heart should remember Allah and rely on Him.
- And the way to rely on Him is through worshiping Him and seeking His help and guidance in all things.
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Salam (Peace) Jodle,
Thank you for contacting About Islam with your question.
Does Trust in God Cure the Wounds of the Heart?
The Quran, which Muslims believe is the word of God revealed to His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), reads:
{[…] Truly it is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts find peace.} (Quran 13:28)
This means that the only way to get real peace of mind is by the contemplation of God and His blessings.
Indeed, Muslims believe that Allah (God) is the One Who gives guidance to the misguided, light to the lost, fullness to the hungry, clothes to the naked, cure to the sick, and ease to the suffering.
And Allah is the One Who bestows peace and tranquility upon those who are afflicted with the wounds of the heart.
As sensible beings, we ought to understand that as humans we are weak. As such, what can we really do when we are faced with situations that are beyond us?
The only course open before us is to rely on our God, Who is in control.
We need to seek His assistance by fully trusting Him and depending on His infinite Mercy.
The Quran constantly reminds us that Allah is the Most Merciful, the Most Bountiful. So, we should follow the Guidance given in His Book.
Allah commands us:
{O you who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and Prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.} (Quran 2:153)
We should use our reason to assess the problems facing us, and do what we are capable of doing by way of solving them. Having trust in God, we must adopt a policy of patient perseverance in the face of calamities.
We learn from the Quran that events that cause pain are a test from God. And those who patiently bear with them, while striving for the removal of their causes, are the really blessed ones.
This is because it is through the trials and tribulations of life that God blots out our sins and purifies us.
Trials in this World
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) says:
Trials will continue to befall the believing man and woman, with regard to themselves, their children and their wealth, until they meet Allah with no sin on them. (At-Tirmidhi)
As for the wounds of the heart inflicted on us by others, we can objectively study the real reasons behind them. We may find that the fault may be partly or fully ours. In any case, the best way is not to be resentful and blame others.
We need to correct our mistakes and mend our ways. And believers put their trust in Allah and seek His guidance in everything that afflicts them. And certainly, Allah forgives their wrongs and sends them peace.
We should believe that there will come a Day of Judgment when we are rewarded for our good deeds and punished for our bad deeds.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) says:
On the Day of Resurrection, when people who had suffered affliction are given their reward, those who were healthy will wish their skins had been cut to pieces with scissors when they were in the world (when they see the great Reward for suffering). (At-Tirmidhi)
Those who yearn for relief from the wounds of the heart that afflict them need to realize that they are a sign of human weakness, and of the human need for God. So, they should sincerely repent and return to Allah.
And worshiping Allah during hard times wins special blessings and rewards from Him.
Blessings that come after pain and hardship are especially sweet, and help the believers to sincerely appreciate them and be grateful to God Almighty.
We ought to remember that the life of this world is not always rosy; and that the pain we suffer is a necessary counterpoint of the pleasures we enjoy.
Those who believe in the Divine Providence will give thanks for the blessings they receive, even in the midst of the calamities they suffer, unlike those who are arrogant towards Allah and His creation.
Remember Allah
Allah in the Quran teaches us that when we feel depressed, anxious, or upset, we should remember: “Have no fear, for Allah is with us”. Tell yourself: “Don’t be sad, Allah is with me.”
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said:
The difference between the one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not, is like the difference between the living and the dead. (Al-Bukhari)
One way to remember Allah is to read His Book, the Quran, which is described as a cure for the illnesses of the heart. Allah says:
{O mankind, there has come to you a protection from your Lord and a healing for what is in your hearts; and for those who believe, a guidance and a mercy.} (Quran 10:57)
The Quran helps us ward off the evil inclinations of the heart by instilling wisdom and a sense of the purity of the spirit in us.
{Assuredly in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.} (Quran 13:28)
The foregoing means that those who are afflicted by the wounds of the heart should remember Allah and rely on Him. And the way to rely on Him is through worshiping Him and seeking His help and guidance in all things.
Pray to Allah with full conviction
We should pray to Him with the firm conviction that He has full power to grant whatever we ask for.
And for our part, we should make full effort of our own all the while, for the dissolution of our problems. Pray and work ought to be our policy.
Reliance on Allah actually means entrusting all our affairs with Him. There is a prophetic saying:
Allah said: ‘I am as My servant thinks of Me.’ (Al-Bukhari)
This means that if you have full faith in Allah that He will answer your prayers, Allah will certainly answer your prayers. If not, you will not receive what you ask for.
Thus, the teaching of Islam is that those whose minds are distressed with problems or suffering from the wounds of the heart need to leave their affairs totally to Allah, so that they are mentally prepared to receive what Allah decrees for them.
In short, it is whole-hearted reliance on Allah that brings peace of mind to a person.
I hope this answers your question. Please keep in touch.
Salam.
(From Ask About Islam archives)
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