Islamic Voice - Healing Body & Soul - Guide to Holistic Wellbeing Following Islamic Teachings

 Last update - 10th September, 2009.

Anger

Anger, like stress and worry, intoxicates your body; it pulls you into a never-ending vicious cycle of unhappiness and rage, which in turn depletes your energy and leaves you devastated and depressed. It is important to realise that anger does not resolve anything.

‘A man came to the Prophet(Pbuh) and asked him for advise; the Prophet (Pbuh) replied; repeating several times: Do not get angry’ (Bukhari)

‘ And that which Allah has is better and more lasting for those who believe..and when they are angry, they forgive’ (Qur’an 42:36-37)

Controlling one’s temper is not an easy task: it needs patience, wisdom and struggle within oneself; that is why Prophet Muhammed (Pbuh) said: ‘Who do you count as strong among you?’’ The Companions said, ‘The one who wrestles well’’ Prophet(Pbuh) said, ‘No, The strong one is one who controls his temper when he gets angry’ (Sahih Muslim)

Our Prophet Muhammed (Pbuh) taught us how to control anger and rage with this advise: ‘Anger is from Devil, and the Devil is made of fire, and fire is extinguished by water; so if anyone of you gets angry, let him perform ablution’ (Ahmed) . Today many psychologists advise patients suffering from anxiety or going through panic or fits of rage to use hydrotherapy (water therapy). The amazing calming effect of water has been scientifically proven today, and is used all over the world. 

Prophet Muhammed (Pbuh) said when he saw an angry man getting into a fight: I know a dua (supplication) that,  if he said it, his anger would fade away. ‘I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed satan’ 

(A’oodhu billahi mina shay tan ir-rajeem)                      

‘Those .. Who repress anger, and who pardon people; verily, Allah loves the doers of good’

(Qur’an 3:134)

The Prophet Muhammed (Pbuh) said: ‘I saw Hellfire and I never saw a scene like today, and I saw most of its people are women.’ The Companions asked, ‘O messenger of Allah. Why?’ He said, ‘Because of their disbelief ,’ They asked, ‘Do they disbelieve in Allah?’ He replied, ‘They are ungrateful to their companions (husbands) and for what they provide for them; if you were kind to one of them for ages, then she sees you make some mistake once, she says, ‘I never saw any good from him’ (Bukhari)

- An example to think -

 A little boy who had a bad temper:

“His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 43 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down as the boy discovered that it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally a day came when the boy did not lose his temper at all. He told his father about it, and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to control his anger. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, ‘You have done well, my son, there are no nails in the fence anymore, but look at these holes. The fence will never be the same again! Remember, when you say things in anger, they leave a permanent scar!”

(Author unknown, this story is only an example, hope we are excused for using it as an illustrative example)

 

Worry

Apprehension, anxiety, and woe are literally intoxicating our bodies. When you worry and grieve, your body tends so secrete more adrenalin neurotransmitter under the commands of the sympathetic nervous system; this is called the 'fight, flight and fright' hormone. This hormone is secreted when facing danger to prepare the body for self defence; it prepares the body to respond and cope promptly and vigorously to life-threatening situations.

When living under continuous stress and worry-working overtime or without breaks, fussing about every event, and always expecting the worst, your sympathetic nervous system is continously generating its stress hormones. Any unused hormones are then circulating in your system, generating a big mess: decreased activity of the digestivetract, increased blood sugar level, increased rate and force of your heartbeat and elevated blood pressure, just to start with.

Another toxic effect of continuous worry and stress is the overproduction of certain steroidal hormones such as cortisol. These hormones are naturally secreted to help your body to reduce inflammation and resist long term stress. The constant high level of these hormones may lead to hyperglycaemia (a rise in blood sugar level), hypertension, the breakdown of body fats and proteins, weakening of the bones and suppression of the immune system. In addition, some studies have found that excess cortisol damages your brain by its destructive effect on the neuro-connectors or dendrites (the branches connecting brain cells together). (Holford, 2005b)

The solution for worry and stress is taught to us repeatedly in the Qur'an and Sunnah. Allah teaches us that fearing nothing and no one but Allah and detaching oneself from materialistic, worldly thoughts will free your mind by allowing you to remember that nothing in this life can last forever, that what may seem to you today to be an unsolvable problem will soon pass and fade away.

''Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children, as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw.'' (Qur'an 57:20)

The cure for sadness, worry and grief comes from true dependence on Allah, and from admitting that Allah is the Most Just, thus that comes about through His Will certainly holds a lesson, a

mercy that although we might not see it at the present moment, will reveal itself in due course.

The Qur'an should be our comfort, guide, our relief and our true companion at all times, and especially in times of distress. Performing prayers, supplication and repentance to Allah are also potent cures that help us to discard worries.

''La hawla wa'la quwwata illa billah''

'There is neither power nor strength exept from Allah'

''Truly humans were created very impatient, fretful when evil touches them; and grudging when good touches them. Not so those devoted to Prayer: those who remain constant in their prayers''(Qur'an 70:19-23)

 

Forgive & Forget

When we are hurt, insulted or faced with injustice, we have two options to deal with our feelings: either to forgive and forget or to hate, harbour grudge and rancour and live to seek revenge.Both choices are hard, but their results are completely opposite.Hatred, bitterness and hostility intoxicates your body. They throw you into frustration, weaken your system and make your nerves tense. Anger, rancour and revenge are debilitating sentiments that poison the soul and add nothing but pain.

On the other hand, forgiveness transcends the soul and frees you from your destructive negative energy. Forgiveness heals you not only emotionally but also physically and mentally.

How do you forgive?

''And whosoever is patient and forgives, indeed that is of the steadfast heart of things'' (Qur'an 42:43)

*Fear the punishment of Allah upon those whose hearts are filled with anger, hatred,resentment.

''Whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever is with Allah (of good deeds) will remain. And those who are patient, We will certainly pay them a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do'' (Qur'an 16:96)

*Consider each event a lesson and every person a teacher; regardless of how you choose to judge their actions, it is useless to hate them or blame them for the situation you are in.

''Whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah''(Qur'an 42:40)

*Hatred is a heavy burden to carry; it does not benefit you or harm your offender in any way.

''Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful''

(Qur'an 24:22)

*Look for the good in everyone.Each person has to have a good side, we are human after all.

Levels of forgiveness

There are three levels of forgiveness. As stated in the Qur'an:

''..If you pardon (them) and overlook, and forgive (their faults), then verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful''

(Qur'an 64:14)

01.Stop blaming others for their mistakes and wipe out any trace of resentment left in your heart.

02.Overlook the offence completely, as if it never happened.

03.Cover up for those who offended you, to veil their mistakes and faults, by never mentioning their offences to anyone.

 

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Watermelons

Many hadiths involving melons and watermelons were reported, but most of them are of uncertain origin exept

one which was reported by Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood saying that Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) used to eat watermelons with ripe dates commenting that the heat of one (dates) is overcome by the coolness of the other (watermelon).

Eating watermelons before lunch to wash out the bowel and relieve its diseases.

(Recommended by Ibn al-Qayyim / Jauziyah, 2003)

Watermelons are a good source of potassium and vitamin A and also contain a considerable amount of

vitamins C and B.

Watermelons are food, drink and nice smelling fruits; they wash out the bladder, clean the bowel, increase the water of the back, act as aphrodisiacs, cleanse the complexion and prevent colds.

(Noted by Dhahbi-Medicine of the Prophet)

The presence of vitamin A makes the fruit helpful in improving vision, especially night sight. In addition, vitamin A plays an importnt role in the maintenance of healthy epithelial tissue, the tissue that covers both the internal and external body surfaces including the skin, eye lining, intestines, lungs, and bladder..  

 

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Olives and Olive Oil

 

'By the fig, and the olive, by Mount Sinai, and by the city of security (Makkah), verily, We created the human of the best stature (or mould)' (Qur'an 95:1-4)

 

' With it He causes to grow for you the crops, the olives, the date-palms, the grapes, and every kind of fruit. In this is indeed an evident proof and a manifest sign for people whi give thought.' (Qur'an 16:11)

Prophet Muhammed (Pbuh) said: 'Eat Oil and use it as ointment as it comes from a blessed tree'' (Ibn Majah)

It is clear from his statement that he (Pbuh) was referring to olive oil.

As seen in the previous table, olives and their oil are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids. These acids tend to improve blood cholesterol ratio by their double beneficial effect, they raise the level of good cholesterol (HDL) and reduce the level of bad cholesterol (LDL). According to the latest scientific research, a traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern which incorporates fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fatty fish as well as olive oil is likely to reduce cardiovascular risks. Olive oil is highly effective against chronic constipation and it has been proven effective in expelling gall bladder stones. Ointment prepared from olive oil are good emollients and healing agents for chapped and dry skin.

Olive oil is available in supermarkets in several varieties: light, virgin or extra virgin. All are the same in terms of the type and the amount of fat. The difference lies mainly in the flavour and aroma and perhaps in the phytonutrient content; as we noted earlier, the more processed the food is, the more it loses its beneficial value.

Remember, although it is healthy, olive oil is still high in calories.

 

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Lemongrass

 

Lemongrass is a long, thick grass with a solid white root end and green slender leaves at the top. It has a fresh, citrus-like aroma and flavour with a hint of ginger taste.

Lemon grass has diuretic, tonic and stimulant effects. It is good for digesion, and its preparation with pepper has been traditionally used for the treatment of menstrual pain and nausea. Its infusion is used in cases of fever to induce perspiration(Epicenter, 2003). The essential oil of lemon grass is widely used as amild insect repellent (citronella), in soap manufacture and in cosmetics to clean oily skin, and in aromatherapy as a mild relaxant.

Prophet Muhammed (Pbuh) said when the Muslims were about to enter the city of Makkah after they had reclaimed it in battle against the pagans; ''Do not cut its plants except for the lemongrass'' ( as to which Abbas pleaded, people of Makkah use it and they also use it in their houses)-(Bukhari/Muslim/Abu Dawood)

Ibn Al Qayyim reported that lemongrass dilates the veins or arteries; he said that it increase urine and menstruation flow, calms nausea and dissolves stones and tumours of the stomach, liver and kidneys.         (Jauziyah 2003)

Lemongrass is a common ingredient in Indian and Chinese recipes. It is a pleasant addition to meat, poultry, seafood, vegetable dishes and curries and its stems are used to add flavour to different teas and pickles.

 

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Bananas 

 

In His description of Paradise, Allah the Exalted, Almighty says in His book;

''Among Talh (Bananas plants) with fruits piled one above another, in shade long-extended, by water flowing constantly'' (Qur'an 56:29-31)

Ibn al Qayyim listed many benefits of bananas, describing their effectiveness in cough and respiratory tract disorders, their benefit for kidneys as diuretics, their aphrodisiac action and their role in increasing sperm production. He recommended eating them with honey.(Jauziyah 2003)

Bananas were called the food of the philosophers because Indian philosophers ate bananas to boost their mental performance and clarity. This is probably due to their high content of potassium, deficiency in which is connected to depression and mental confusion.(Ursell 2000)

Research has shown the efficiency of bananas in the treatment of diarrhoea, gastrointestinal disturbances, heartburn, and ulcers. Bananas are good source of fibre, which reduces blood cholesterol; they are also low in sodium and very rich in potassium, both of which aid in lowering blood pressure.

This in addition to their content of folates and vitamin B6 - essential for protection against atherosclerosis-makes them ideal for hypertensive persons, as they act to lower blood pressure and cholesterol and protect the heart and blood circulation.

However, diabetics should take care, as the sugars in bananas are readily absorbed causing a sudden rise in BSL.

 

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(From : Healing Body & Soul)

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