We live in a worrisome age. Modern civilization brings with it numerous reasons for stress and worry. At Thanks to modern technology and industry, life has become far more complex than it ever has been before.

At the same time, stress and worry are nothing new. They have been around since the dawn of human existence. It is only the order of magnitude that has changed. Worry is, briefly put, the fear of the future – the fear of the unknown that is to come. It is an old problem, and we can ask: What does Islam teach us about how to cope with worry?

Islam acknowledges that fear is a natural propensity for human beings. Allah says: “Lo! The human being was created anxious, fretful when evil befalls him, and when good befalls him, stingy.” [Sûrah al-Ma`ârij: 19-21]

The Qur’ân shows us that even the Prophets felt fear. Allah says about Moses and Aaron (peace be upon them both): “Both said: O our Lord! Surely we fear that he may hasten to do evil to us or that he may transgress against us.” [Sûrah TâHâ: 45]

Elsewhere, the Qur’ân shows us that Moses (peace be upon him) was fearful that Pharaoh would kill him: “And they have a charge of a crime against me; and I fear they may slay me.” [Sûrah al-Shu`arâ’: 14]

Abraham (peace be upon him) felt fearful of the angels who visited him and refused to partake of the food that he served them: “And certainly Our messengers came to Abraham with good news. They said: ‘Peace’. ‘Peace’, said he, and he made no delay in bringing a roasted calf. And when he saw their hands did not reach towards it, he mistrusted them and conceived a fear of them. They said: ‘Fear not! We are sent against Lot’s people].” [Sûrah Hûd: 69-70]

We read another account of this incident in the Qur’ân: “Has the story reached you of Abraham’s honored guests? Behold, they entered his presence, and said: ‘Peace!’ He said, ‘Peace!’ and thought, ‘These seem unusual people’. Then he turned quickly to his household, brought out a fatted calf, and placed it before them. He said, ‘Will you not eat?’ Then he conceived a fear of them. They said: ‘Fear not!’ and gave him tidings of (the birth of) a wise son.” [Sûrah al-Dhâriyât: 24-28]

Islam’s Cure for Fear

After acknowledging that it is natural for people to feel fear and that everyone, even the Prophets, experience this emotion, Islam provides two complementary steps for treating it.

1. Bringing to mind Allah’s presence and His constant companionship:

This is illustrated by the story of Moses and Aaron (peace be upon them both) when Allah commanded them to go to Pharaoh and speak to him about the Children of Israel. They admitted to Allah that they were afraid of Pharaoh’s tyranny and ruthlessness, but Allah consoled them that they need not fear Pharaoh and his wrath, because Allah is with them: ““Both said: ‘O our Lord! Surely we fear that he may hasten to do evil to us or that he may transgress against us’. Allah said: ‘Do not fear. Indeed I am with you both. I hear and I see’.” [Sûrah TâHâ: 45-46]

Allah also says: “And when thy Lord called Moses, saying: ‘Go unto the wrongdoing folk, the people of the Pharaoh: will they not fear Allah?’ He said: ‘O my Lord! surely I fear that they will reject me. My breast will be straitened, and my speech may not go (smoothly): so send Aaron to help me. And they have a charge of a crime against me; and I fear they may slay me.’ (Allah) said: ‘By no means, so go you both with Our signs; surely We are with you, hearing’.” [Sûrâh al-Shu`arâ’: 10-15]

Moses (peace be upon him) benefited from this valuable lesson later on in his life. When his people tried to frighten him because Pharaoh was pursuing them and gaining on them, his heart remained firm and he did not fear. He knew that Allah was with him.

“So when the two hosts saw each other, the companions of Moses cried out: ‘Most surely we are being overtaken!’ (Moses) said: ‘By no means! My Lord is with me! He will guide me’.” [Sûrah al-Shu`arâ’: 61]

2. Focusing the heart on the fear of Allah:

The Qur’ân teaches us to fear Allah’s punishment and to fear the Hellfire.

We read in the Qur’ân: “Allah had said: Choose not two gods. There is only One God. So fear and Me alone.” [Sûrah al-Nahl: 51]

Allah says: “But for such as fear the time when they will stand before their Lord, there will be two Gardens.” [Sûrah al-Rahmân: 46]

He also says: “And as for those who fear to stand in the presence of their Lord and forbids their souls from low desires – Paradise will be their abode. ” [Sûrah al-Nâzi`ât : 40-41]

The Qur’ân and Sunnah go into great detail about Heaven and Hell and the delights and punishments that they present. We know from the sacred texts that Hell is a place whose fuel is men and stones, and that it will ask its Lord if there are any more to fill it. We know that is guarded by fierce angels, and that its sparks are the size of great citadels – among a host of other frightening details.

We know that Paradise contains gardens filled all manner of delights and refreshment. Its drinks are pure and its garments are of the finest silk. We know that even the descriptions we have of the delights of Paradise are merely the vaguest approximations of the truth, and that it holds other delights that are utterly beyond our comprehension.

The reason we are told all this is so that we can inculcate the fear of Allah in our hearts with the certainty that both Heaven and Hell are true.

At the same time, the Muslim must expel from his heart the misgivings that Satan whispers to him in order to make him fearful for his life, his wealth, his family, and his future, his health, and a host of other concerns.

Allah says: “It is only Satan who suggests to you the fear of his votaries: Be not afraid of them, but fear Me, if you have faith.” [Sûrah Âl `Imrân: 175]

Allah also says: “Satan promises you destitution and enjoins on you to be sinful. But Allah promises you forgiveness from Himself and abundance.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 268]

We must be cognizant of the fact that whatever befalls us is not something random. It is something that Allah has decreed for us since before He created the heavens and the Earth.

Allah says: “No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence: That is truly easy for Allah.” [Sûrah al-Hadîd: 22]

He also says: “Say: ‘Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector.’ And on Allah let the believers put their trust.” [Sûrah al-Tawbah 51]

Developing a Sense of Security

When a Muslim cultivates the fear of the Hellfire in his heart and pushes away the imagined fears that Satan tries to whisper in his heart, he develops a sense of security that keeps him from worry.

This is what Abraham (peace be upon him) concluded when he discussed with his people the two issues of monotheism and fear. First, he spoke to them about monotheism, and clarified to them the error of their ways in their worship of the Sun, the Moon, and the planets. He pointed out to them that all those things depart when they set, whereas the Lord never departs.

After explaining all this to them, Abraham (peace be upon him) declaerd himself free from their polytheism and that he would only worship the Creator of the heavens and the Earth. At that point, he breached other arguments with them with respect to the topic of fear. He declared that he had no fear of their false gods, and rebuked them in turn for their lack of fear for the one true God. He then asked in scathingly critical terms who is it who should feel security: those who worship Allah alone or the polytheists?

We read in the Qur’ân: “His people disputed with him. He said: Do you come to dispute with me about Allah when He (Himself) has guided me? I fear not (the beings) ye associate with Allah: Unless my Lord wills, (nothing can happen). My Lord comprehends in His knowledge all things. Will you not then be admonished? How should I fear that which you associate with Allah, when you do not fear to give partners to Allah without any authority having been given to you? Which of (us) two parties have more right to security? (Tell me) if ye know’.” [Sûrah al-An`âm: 80-81]

In the next verse, we read the answer: “Those who believe and do not mix up their faith with wrongdoing, they are the ones who shall have security, and they are rightly guided.” [Sûrah al-An`âm: 82]

We read in the commentaries of the Qur’ân that when this verse was first revealed, the Companions were very worried about it. They asked: “Which of us, O Messenger of Allah, does not mix his faith with wrongdoing?”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) then explained to them that the “wrongdoing” mentioned in the verse referred to polytheism, saying: “It is not as you understand it. Did you not hear what the righteous servant had said: ‘O my son, do not associate partners in worship with Allah. Indeed polytheism is a great act of wrongdoing.”?” [Musnad Ahmad]

Therefore, the security mentioned in the verse above is solely for those who believe in Allah and do not taint their belief with polytheism.

We learn from the stories of Abraham and Moses that overcoming fear and worry – and the attainment of security – is accomplished through two things: (1) faith in Allah and (2) complete freedom from all aspects of polytheism.

This means that a Muslim should fill his heart with the sense of Allah’s greatness, the hope of Heaven, and the fear of Hell. He should be ever conscious that Allah is with him. At the same time, he should dispel all the baseless fears that Satan would inspire in his heart. He should remain aloof from every form of polytheism.

In the lives of those two great Prophets – Abraham and Moses (peace be upon them both) – we find the means to overcome anxiety and worry.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told us that Allah says: “My might and glory is manifest in my never visit upon my servant two kinds of fear together, nor let him feel secure in two ways. Whoever fears me in this world, I will make him feel secure in the Hereafter. Whoever feels secure from Me in this world, I will make him fear Me in the Hereafter.” [Hulyah al-Awliyâ’ and Ibn al-Mubârak’s al-Zuhd – and authenticated by al-Albânî]