By Sharifah Nadirah
The word “healing” is indeed soothing and calming to the ears, but somehow there are people who have narrowed the definition of the word into only one meaning. For example, healing only applies to the young heartbroken couples. Moreover, there are also some people who take the meaning of healing to a whole other level, which is to apply the meaning of healing to all people, that everybody should embrace and practice it, including people who have been distant from the deen (religion), who have gone through trauma, who are physically or mentally ill and so on.
There are also people who preach the most on healing, but they are much more capable of spreading the words (of healing) and showing what healing is like, without they, themselves, embodying, manifesting, and executing the word itself. For example, we can talk about self-love, self-care, and self-compassion all day to other people, but we forget to incorporate those ideologies into our own daily lives.
The truth is, most of us rarely practice it on ourselves, especially in times when our souls need it the most, which is during times of hardship. The truth is based on my personal experience in the old days, when I was still young and an adventurer in the world of adulthood. That was when I thought that it was nearly impossible for me to see the progress of healing in any challenging moment. I asked myself questions like, “How do I heal during hardships when all we feel is pain? I mean, where’s the ease?”
After listening to the verses of the Quran: “So, verily, with every difficulty, there is ease,” (94:5-6), I still stayed ignorant or in denial in my early and mid–20s. For instance, I reacted emotionally, negatively to everything that had happened to me. I even thought of my hardship as punishment. Life seemed unfair. I was insecure and inferior. It led to serious mental and emotional distress. Still, I wanted to feel loved and like I belonged. There was a moment of darkness when I felt lost, confused and saw no way out.
Alhamdulillah, during that pitch-black period of my life, just when I needed a hand, Allah sent kind-hearted souls to help me navigate through the crooked road towards the light at the end of the tunnel. I was taught by wise souls to understand the meaning behind every trial and tribulation given to me by Allah. In time, my soul filled with warmth, love, hope, and faith and I felt a genuine belonging.
One of the practices that I find miraculous are nightly prayers. Subhan’Allah, my duas were answered when reciting Surah Al-Inshirah. I always recite this after my five daily prayers, including my sunnah prayers. These verses come across differently to me now compared to when I heard them as a young adult, because I feel more connected to Allah now. The surah is His promise that after rain, there is sunshine, that if we look closely enough even at the hardship itself, there will be a rainbow bursting vibrantly. We will be strong and courageous. Here are five things I have realized:
1. In all the loneliness, fear, frustration, insecurity and hopelessness, I learned to be gentle with myself and to allow myself to validate the emotions I feel, to be fully human. To be stuck in a moment of confusion and doubt does not mean we are forever incapable of moving forward in life. We can and will move forward.
2. A hardship exists not to punish us, but to notify us that we are about to grow wiser. After every meeting, a new test in life is given to teach us how to grow magnificently. With every test, our strength and courage grows. Our horizons open up and we are introduced to more good ideologies and perspectives on life. It’s like a whole new world!
3. Ease is felt when we know that Allah is there with us whenever we need Him. Know that He will always be near and will forever stay. Our source of strength and courage can only come from Allah.
4. Calmness can be felt during the nightly prayers, it’s a moment of beautiful, tranquil connection between us and Allah. In times of anxiety, depression, despair, grief, etc. nightly prayers help our dependence on and trust in Allah, grow; peace and love follow.
5. At our lowest point is where the pearls of wisdom can be extracted. We learn and earn wisdom and knowledge throughout the spiritual journey.
Thus, this is how I personally heal and that very special verse in the Quran has brought me an abundance of serenity, inspiring me to find ways to make progress in working on being mentally and physically well.
About the Author:
Sharifah Nadirah is a bestselling and award-winning author. She is a mental health advocate, a graphic designer, and a member of the media team at one of the mental health advocacy non-governmental organisations (NGO) in Malaysia. She is a content creator, a poet, a creator of visual arts, a bachelor of optometry graduate, and a locum optometrist. She has obtained certifications in psychology and philosophy.