Class 6
HEALTY ATTITUDE
an islamic perspective
Being Easy Going & its effects on Health
Being easy-going can have several benefits, as well as some drawbacks. Here are a few examples:
Benefits:
Reduced stress
Better relationships
More creativity
Studies show that “easy-going” people:
Live longer lives because of their low stress
Report being happier overall, due to not constantly anticipating the future or being self-critical
Are generally satisfied a majority of the time
Conversely, the population that fits into the “Type A” personality category (those who are not easy going and worry), often complains about increased stress, mild anxiety, feelings of self-doubt, and spreading themselves too thin.
Islam is the religion of mercy and kindness, the religion of tolerance and ease. Allaah has not burdened this ummah (community, nation) with more than it can bear. Whatever good it does, it will be rewarded for it, and whatever evil it does, it will have to bear the burden of that sin, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Allaah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned” [al-Baqarah 2:286]
Also it was reported about the Prophet ﷺ that, “Whenever Allah’s Messenger ﷺ was given the choice of one of two matters, he would choose the easier of the two, as long as it was not sinful to do so, but if it was sinful to do so, he would not approach it”. (Bukhari)
The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ also said,
“Whoever is kind, affable, and easy-going, Allah will forbid him from entering Hellfire.” (Bayhaqī, classed as authentic by Albani)
"Shall I not inform you of whom the Fire is unlawful and he is unlawful for the Fire? Every person who is near/accessible (to people), amicable, and easy (to deal with).'" (Tirmidhi; classed as Hasan)
The Sunnah is to make things easy he was sent to make things easy for us, show us the right way, the way that pleases the Lord and get to eternal bliss with the easiest deeds possible. Although Islam is a simple religion and not burdensome, this does not mean that life will be easy for a practicing Muslim as Allah has promised to test each and every one of us. So keep in mind that although Islam is easy to practice if you commit yourself, your level of commitment will be tested by Allah. But being moderate and making things easy for ourselves and for others is part of the Sunnah.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Religion is easy, and no one overburdens himself in his religion but he will be unable to continue in that way. So do not be extremists, but try to be near perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded. Gain strength by worshipping in the mornings and afternoons and during the last hours of the night.” (Bukhaari & Muslim).
“You are an ummah for whom I want ease.” (Musnad al-Imam Ahmad)
“The best of your religion is that which is easiest, the best of your religion is that which is easiest.” (Musnad Ahmad, classed as hasan)
Hence the Prophet ﷺ enjoined and encouraged moderation, and urged us to be moderate and so we reach our goal. (Sahih Bukhari)
The basics of Islam are simple to understand and practical to implement, making Islam a universal religion that can be practiced by anyone regardless of his or her intellectual or physical capabilities. It is this pure simplicity of Islam that makes it so universally appealing and it is one of the many reasons that so many people around the world from different backgrounds convert to Islam.
Positive Thinking
Positive thinking helps with stress management and can even improve your health.
Is your glass half-empty or half-full? How you answer this age-old question about positive thinking may reflect your outlook on life, your attitude toward yourself, and whether you're optimistic or pessimistic — and it may even affect your health.
Indeed, some studies show that personality traits such as optimism and pessimism can affect many areas of your health and well-being. The positive thinking that usually comes with optimism is a key part of effective stress management. And effective stress management is associated with many health benefits:
Increased life span
Lower rates of depression
Lower levels of distress and pain
Greater resistance to illnesses
Better psychological and physical well-being etc
Positive thinking doesn't mean that you ignore life's less pleasant situations. Positive thinking just means that you approach unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way. You think the best is going to happen, not the worst.
Islam lays a lot of importance on positive thinking and encourages hope and optimism. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Look at those below you and do not look at those above you, lest you belittle the favors of Allah.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
Islam, on the contrary forbids despair no matter how bleak the circumstances may be. In fact despair is likened to disbelief in Allah.
The Arabic term for positive thinking ‘Husnul Zann’ apart from conveying the meaning of positive thinking also conveys the meaning of optimism and of holding good opinion and thinking well about others.
When it comes to thinking well, in Islam it has to begin with thinking well about Allah. From the Hadith Qudsi of Prophet Mohammad in which he ﷺ says that Allah says; “I treat my servant in accordance with his opinion of me.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Once we have a good opinion about Allah then it necessary that we must cultivate good opinion about our fellow men and not despise them for some fault that one may see in them.
We must realize that none of us is entirely good or entirely bad so it is not for us to focus on the bad side and be cynical about it rather it is for us to look at the good in others and have good opinion about them and always expect good and positive things from them.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Beware of suspicion….” (Bukhaari & Muslim)
At times we take all the good things we have for granted and focus on being pessimistic, we forget whatever emotion or experience we are going through is temporary and we will eventually have to face something different. Many people find it difficult to deal with emotions and let negativity overcome them, however as Muslims we should have a positive outlook all the time. The Prophet ﷺ said “How amazing is the case of the believer; there is good for him in everything, and this characteristic is exclusively for him alone. If he experiences something pleasant, he is thankful, and that is good for him; and if he comes across some diversity, he is patient, and that is good for him.” [Muslim]
The mind can be directed towards positive thinking or negative thinking. The power of thought is a neutral power. The way one thinks determines whether the results are positive and beneficial or negative and harmful. It is the same of energy acting in different ways. Persistent inner work can change habits of thoughts. You must be willing to put energy and time to avoid negative thinking and pursue positive thinking, in order to change your mental attitude. Think of those things which are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, in other words, to fill your mind with noble, good thoughts, leaving no room for negative ones to take root.
Anger Management
It is scientifically proven that the long-term physical effects of uncontrolled anger include increased anxiety, high blood pressure and headache.
The negative effects of anger are many; in short they cause damage to one’s own self and to others. The angry person may utter words of slander and obscenity, he may attack others (physically) in an uncontrolled manner, even to the point of killing. In the worst cases, anger results in social disasters and the breaking of family ties, i.e., divorce. Ask many of those who divorced their wives, and they will tell you: it was in a moment of anger. This divorce results in misery for the children, regret and frustration, a hard and difficult life, all as a result of anger.
The damage to health that results from anger can only be described by doctors, such as thrombosis, high blood pressure, tachycardia (abnormally rapid heartbeat) and hyperventilation (rapid, shallow breathing), which can lead to fatal heart attacks, diabetes, etc.
In Islam, anger is said to be one of the evil whispers of Shaytaan, which leads to so many evils and tragedies, of which only Allaah knows their full extent. Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that a man said to the Prophet ﷺ, "Advise me." He ﷺ said, "Do not become angry." The man repeated his request several times, and each time the Prophet ﷺ told him, "Do not become angry." (Sahih Bukhaari)
According to another report, the man said: "I thought about what the Prophet ﷺ said, and I realized that anger combines all kinds of evil." (Musnad Ahmad, 5/373)
For this reason Islam has a great deal to say about this bad characteristic, and the Prophet ﷺ prescribed cures for this "disease" and ways to limit its effects, among which are the following
Seeking refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan : 'A'oodhu Billahi min al-Shaytan ir- rajeem' (Sahih Bukhari)
Keeping silent (Imaam Ahmad, sahih).
This is because in most cases, the angry person loses self control and could utter words of kufr/disbelief (from which we seek refuge with Allaah), or curses, or the word of divorce (talaaq) which would destroy his home, or words of slander which would bring him the enmity and hatred of others. So, in short, keeping silent is the solution which helps one to avoid all that
Changing position
The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: "If any of you becomes angry and he is standing, let him sit down, so his anger will go away; if it does not go away, let him lie down." Among the benefits of this advice given by the Prophet ﷺ is the fact that it prevents the angry person from going out of control, because he could strike and injure someone, or he could destroy possessions and so on. Sitting down makes it less likely that he will become overexcited, and lying down makes it even less likely that he will do something crazy or harmful that he would later regret.Do not become angry and Paradise will be yours
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“Do not be angry and you will enter Paradise.” (al-Muʻjam al-Awsaṭ, sahih according to Al-Albani)
"Whoever controls his anger at the time when he has the means to act upon it, Allaah will fill his heart with contentment on the Day of Resurrection." (al-Tabaraani, saihh).
"Whoever controls his anger at the time when he has the means to act upon it, Allaah will call him before all of mankind on the Day of Resurrection, and will let him choose of the Hur al-’Iyn whoever he wants." (Abu Dawud, and others, hasan).
Remembering what Allaah has promised to the righteous (muttaqeen) who keep away from the causes of anger and struggle within themselves to control it, is one of the most effective ways of extinguishing the flames of anger.
Knowing that resisting anger is one of the signs of righteousness
The righteous (al-muttaqoon) are those praised by Allaah in the Qur’aan and by His Messenger ﷺ. Paradise as wide as heaven and earth has been prepared for them. One of their characteristics is that they (interpretation of the meaning)
"spend (in Allaah’s Cause) in prosperity and in adversity, [they] repress anger, and [they] pardon men; verily, Allaah loves al-muhsinoon (the good-doers)." [Aal ‘Imraan 3:134]
". . . when they are angry, they forgive." [al-Shooraa 42:37]
Du’aa’ (Supplication)
Du’aa’ is always the weapon of the believer, whereby he asks Allaah to protect him from evil, trouble and bad behaviour and seeks refuge with Him from falling into the pit of kufr (disbelief) or wrongdoing because of anger.
Being Forgiving & Not holding Grudges
Holding a grudge is when you harbor anger, bitterness, resentment, or other negative feelings long after someone has done something to hurt you. Usually, it's in response to something that's already occurred, other times a grudge may develop after simply perceiving that someone is against you or means you harm—whether or not they actually do. Grudges also often feature persistent rumination about the person and/or incident at the center of your ill-will.
Almost everyone has experienced being wronged by someone. It could be a former co-worker, friend, or family member. But hanging on to those negative feelings can do great harm to your health.
While we don't often like to admit it, holding a grudge is a common way some people respond to feeling that they've been wronged.
Scientists from Harvard say, "Forgiving a person who has wronged you is never easy, but dwelling on those events and reliving them over and over can fill your mind with negative thoughts and suppressed anger, Yet, when you learn to forgive, you are no longer trapped by the past actions of others and can finally feel free."
Grudge-holding can adversely impact your mental health in a variety of ways. Most importantly, harboring anger will, generally, just make you feel angrier. Instead of accepting and moving on from a negative experience or finding an acceptable resolution, holding on can trap you in a loop of resentment, bitterness, hopelessness, emptiness, or enragement.
Built-up resentment and uncensored internal fury create the potential for added stress, worry, defensiveness, aggression, and negativity, which can also increase your propensity for mental health concerns, such as:5
Anxiety
Aggressive behavior
Depression
Emotional dysregulation
Other mood disorders
Self-harm or suicidal ideation
Virtue of forgiving others in Islam
The Muslim is the brother of his fellow Muslim; he loves for him of good what he loves for himself, and he hates for him of evil what he hates for himself.
Undoubtedly there is no one among us who does not make mistakes and fall short, and does not wrong other people or transgress their rights to some extent; each of us would like people to forgive him for all the wrongs he has done to them, so that they will not ask for restitution thereof on the Day of Resurrection, which is the time when he will be most in need of his good deeds. The virtues of forgiveness is mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah
Allah says,
“Who spend [in the cause of Allah ] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allah loves the doers of good” (Al ‘Imran 3:134)
“If [instead] you show [some] good or conceal it or pardon an offense - indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Competent” (an-Nisa 4:149)
“And if you punish [an enemy, O believers], punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed. But if you are patient - it is better for those who are patient” (an-Nahl 16:126)
“And whoever is patient and forgives - indeed, that is of the matters [requiring] determination” (ash-Shura 42:43)
“But if you pardon and overlook and forgive - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful” (at-Taghabun 64:14).
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“…No one forgives, but Allah increases him in honour, and no one humbles himself before Allah but Allah raises him in status...” (Sahih Muslim)
“There is no man who suffers an injury to his body, then he forgives [the one who caused it] as an act of charity, but Allah will absolve his sins commensurate with the extent of his charity.” (Ahmad, classed as sahih by al-Albani)
“There are three things concerning which, by the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, I would certainly swear an oath: wealth does not decrease because of charity, so give charity; no man pardons another for some mistreatment, seeking thereby the pleasure of Allah, but Allah will raise him in status thereby; and no one asks of people but Allah will increase him in poverty.” (Ahmad, classed as sahih by al-Albani)
(When he was on the minbar): “Show mercy, and you will be shown mercy; forgive, and Allah will forgive you.” (Ahmad, classed as sahih by al-Albani)
Warning against holding grudges
We read about the amazing virtues of forgiving others, along with glad tidings the the Prophet ﷺ also warned us against holing grudges for too long.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “The gates of Paradise are opened on Monday and Thursday. Allah forgives every servant who does not associate anything with Him, except a man with enmity between himself and his brother. It will be said: Delay these two until they reconcile, delay these two until they reconcile, delay these two until they reconcile.” (Sahih Muslim)
So be try your best to forgive others and not hold on to grudges for your own health but more importantly to be amongst those that Allah forgives.
A CONTENT HEART
Contentment is the state of being happy and satisfied. One of the most significant ways happiness affects our health is through its impact on our immune system.
Research has shown that people who experience positive emotions, such as joy, contentment and gratitude, have a higher antibody response to vaccines. This can help protect against illnesses, such as the flu.
Negative emotions can have a detrimental effect on our health. Stress, anxiety, and anger can weaken our immune system, making us more vulnerable to illnesses.
Happiness can also have a positive impact on our heart health. Studies have found that those who are happier have lower blood pressure and heart rates, decreasing the chance of developing coronary heart disease. Additionally, they are more likely to engage in physical activity, which is essential for maintaining a healthy heart.
Worship can be divided into two categories: the worship of the heart and worship of the limbs. Ridaa (contentment with the decree of Allah) is one of the acts of worship of the heart. Ibn Taymiyyah said about contentment:
“Contentment is the greatest door that one enters to Allah, it is the source of tranquility for the worshiper and paradise on earth. Whoever does not enter it will not enter the Paradise in the Hereafter.”
As we all pass through life looking at people and materialistic things around us, we often tend to look at people above us and desire to be like them. But Islam advises us to look at those below us and feel content at what Allah (SWT) has provided us. With Obedience to Allah comes contentment in Life as we will know that there are no ifs & buts we will eat every single Morsel written for us before we die one way or the other so a Muslim prays to Allah for more in this world & the Hereafter and if it is good for him he gets it here if not then a better reward for the prayers is kept in the Hereafter.
Being content is something every one aspires to be, there are religious means of achieving that, and natural and practical means, but no one can combine all of them except the believers; although other people may achieve some of them, they will miss out on others.
Have you counted how many times Allah S.W.T. makes this statement in Surat Ar-Rahman: “So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?”
It is mentioned 31 times. Really, 31 times.
Recognizing and proclaiming our blessings fills our hearts with a sense of peace, gratitude and satisfaction that overrules feelings of bitterness, depression and despair.
So, let’s be grateful and know that when we train our minds to always count our blessings before our hardships, we bring immense positive energy into our hearts and lives. This is a key step towards attaining the kind of heart Ibrahim A.S. talked about: “Qalbun Saleem”, or a sound, satisfied heart.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “He has tasted the sweetness of faith: he who is content with Allah as his Lord, Islam as his religion, and Muhammad ﷺ as his Prophet.” (Muslim)
How to achieve contentment?
Below are some points made of the means of achieving this aim for which everyone is striving, contentment:
Faith and Righteous Deeds, makes the soul content
Plan, Pray Istikhaara and work hard to achieve good results in the World and have Tawakkul that whatever happens will be for the best.
Have Tawakkul and not worrying about the future much
Being kind to the people
To spend time doing good
To believe in Qadr and not to dwell over the past
Pray when anxious or distressed
Looking at people below us in the worldly matters
Think of the Blessings we have been granted and thank Allah for it.
To remember Allah much
To think of Paradise and its great rewards for the believers
May Allah keep us all safe and in providence, away from all evil and harm, encompass our heart with happiness, and accept our Duas.
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Remember the virtues of Hijaamah.
Remember the types of exercises.
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
I. Invite atleast 10 people to the course (can invite via WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, telegram or word of mouth) 4 Marks. (check the note below for exceptions)
Note:
Those who have already invited whether on Whatsapp, Email or FB, do not need to invite again.
It does not matter, whether people join or not, our job is to invite.
II. Talk to 5 people (friends or family) about any three topics from the course - (5 Marks)
III. Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and Maghfirah of the Muslims who passed away. Pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
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