Overcoming Hardships Qur'an

A Source of Healing

How to Achieve Tranquility of the Heart Series: Part IPart IIPart IIIPart IVPart VPart VIPart VIIPart VIIIPart IXPart XPart XIPart XII | Part XIII | Part XIV | Part XV | Part XVIPart XVIIPart XVIII

10:57

“O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers.” (Qur’an, 10:57)

Some things uplift us because they touch our hearts. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala (glorified is He) knows what hurts us or causes us to feel down; for each of our diseases, there is a cure. The Qur’an is one such source of healing. The Prophet ﷺ (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Make use of the two cures, Qur’an and honey.” (Ibn Majah)

How is the Qur’an a cure? The Qur’an is comprised of the complete, eternal Words of Allah. If we receive a letter from someone we love, our hearts are soothed by reading their words. Because we love them, and especially if it is someone we respect, we take their words seriously and know they have our best interests in mind. If it is someone we are longing to meet, we read their words over and over again, seeking refuge in them, until we meet them. Now imagine that the Qur’an is made up of the Words of Allah, directed to you. Imagine the longing of the heart for the Words of its Most Beloved, of its Master. From personal experience, if ever I woke up shaken from a bad dream and my heart feels scared and uncomfortable, I recite the Qur’an. It always calms me down. The same is true whenever I have felt sadness; there is something about when the Qur’an enters your heart that takes away any worldly negativity.

The Qur’an also takes us back to what is important. We read that Allah is One, and that He possesses everything, and He is the Lord of the worlds – so how can we ever believe humans work outside of Allah’s Will when we see injustice? We read about the trials of those before us, how they remained steadfast and Allah (swt) was with them – how then can we give up? We read that whoever trusts in Him, then He will be sufficient for him, that He answers all du`a’ (supplication) – how then can we despair? When we are reminded that there is a Day of Judgment, and we can only take with us our good deeds, how small should our worldly desires be to us?

In order for the Qur’an to heal us, we need to read it with that understanding, and with the intention of receiving guidance. Sheikh ash-Sha’rawi in his book of tafseer (commentary on the Qur’an) quoted a beautiful statement of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq, who he said was the most knowledgeable of the secrets of the Qur’an:

“I am amazed at the one who has been afflicted with fear, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah:
‘Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs’ for verily Allah has said after it
‘So they returned with favor from Allah and bounty, no harm having touched them.’ (Qur’an, 3:173-174)

And I am amazed at the person who is afflicted with sadness, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah:

‘There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers,’ for verily Allah has said after it
‘So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.’ (Qur’an, 21:87-88)

And I am amazed at the person who is afflicted with betrayal and deception by people, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah:

‘I entrust my affair to Allah. Indeed, Allah is Seeing of [His] servants’ for verily Allah has said after it:
‘So Allah protected him from the evils they plotted, and the people of Pharaoh were enveloped by the worst of punishment.’ (Qur’an, 40:44-45)

And I am amazed at the person who is afflicted with sickness, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah:

‘Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful,’ for verily Allah has said after it:
‘So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers [of Allah].'” (Qur’an, 21:83-84)

If we read this and feel that we are far from the Qur’an and that it does not touch our hearts, then we should make the effort to recite it until the words enter our hearts. Plead with Allah for the Qur’an to touch your heart. We have to remember that the Qur’an is truth- if Allah tells us that it is a healing for what is in the hearts, then it certainly is. We have to have yaqeen (certainty) in this. We should also develop our relationship with the Book of Allah by trying to understand it. We should listen to tafseer and read tafseer books if we have access to them. In the age of the internet, there should be no excuse, especially with Imam Suhaib’s amazing series of the tafseer of the short surahs (chapters of Qur’an).

To end with a du`a’ of the Prophet ﷺ, who said that if a person suffers anxiety or grief, they should say:

“اللهم إني عبدك وابن عبدك وابن أمتك ناصيتي بيدك ماض في حكمك
عدل في قضاؤك اسألك بكل اسم هو لك سميت به نفسك او انزلته في كتابك
أو علمته أحدا من خلقك أو إستأثرت به في علم الغيب عندك أن تجعل القران
ربيع قلبي ونور صدري وجلاء حزني وذهاب همي”

“Oh Allah! Indeed I am Your servant
Son of Your male servant and female servant
My forelock is in Your Hand (i.e. You have control over me)
And Your Judgment upon me is assured, and Your Decree upon me is just
I ask you with every name that You have named Yourself with
Or revealed in Your Book (Quran), or taught to any of Your creation
Or kept with Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You
That You make the Quran the life of my heart, and the light of my chest
And the banisher of my sadness and the reliever of my distress.”

And Allah (swt) will take away their sorrow and grief and give them in their stead joy. (Ahmad)

About the author

Jinan Yousef

Jinan's main interests within the field of Islamic Studies are the Names of Allah, the life and character of the Prophet ﷺ, tazkiya and Muslim personalities.

39 Comments

  • Asalamalaikum dear sister, subhan Allah and jazakAllah khair for such an amazing post.Indeed we should plead with Allah to open our hearts and minds towards understanding of the Quran and sunnah of our beloved Prophet(pbuh)and for it to be an integral part of our lives,our best friend and we learn it and live in it as a community and as a ummah for peace and tranquality with iman, ameen ya Rabbulalamin.

  • Alhamdulillah, may Alla’s blessings upon you.I , whole heartedly congratulate you for doing Dawah.Insha Allah ,i am also planning to write for you soon.

  • MashaAllah great article as always…love this series!

    had a question….do you have any tafseer books you recommend? in English. I have one by Islahi that I am reading but I can’t seem to get the rest of the 8 volumes..I only have Surah bakrah tafseer. But I would love to know if you have any that you recommed?
    jazakallahu khayir

  • assalamalilkum dear sister Jinan

    I ask Allah swt to grant you and your family janatul-firdous. truly beautiful articles. keep up this excellent work. JazakiAllah khairan

  • Ma’sha’allah, lovely piece Sr. Jinan. Though I had this article open on my computer the last two days, I didn’t read it until now – and today is a day I really needed to hear this – I need to listen to Allah’s Words, as I find myself at a low point today, a type of sadness if you will – from within, and from our Avowed enemy.

    I love it when one reads something, and it speaks loudly right then and there – I am sure all those reading this will connect with it, regardless, but when it is in the acute stages(you’ll have to blame the medical student in me for that choice of words!) it really hits home (the heart) and makes me realize the battle we face and our need to constantly turn to Him for Help and Comfort.

    Jazak’Allahu Khairan and may Allah Bless you for your work on this series – which I love as well (echoing Sr. Saba’s sentiments above).

  • […] IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IX | Part X | Part XI | Part XII | Part XIII | Part XIV | Part XV | Part XVI | Part XVII | Part […]

  • […] Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IX | Part X | Part XI | Part XII | Part XIII | Part XIV | Part XV | Part XVI | Part XVII | Part XVIII | Part XIX | Part […]

  • […] IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IX | Part X | Part XI | Part XII | Part XIII | Part XIV | Part XV | Part XVI | Part XVII | Part […]

  • Sukur allhamdullillah…
    thank you for this. can someone put the doa in rumi? may Allah bless us all amin

    To end with a du`a’ of the Prophet ﷺ, who said that if a person suffers anxiety or grief, they should say:

    “اللهم إني عبدك وابن عبدك وابن أمتك ناصيتي بيدك ماض في حكمك
    عدل في قضاؤك اسألك بكل اسم هو لك سميت به نفسك او انزلته في كتابك
    أو علمته أحدا من خلقك أو إستأثرت به في علم الغيب عندك أن تجعل القران
    ربيع قلبي ونور صدري وجلاء حزني وذهاب همي”

    “Oh Allah! Indeed I am Your servant
    Son of Your male servant and female servant
    My forelock is in Your Hand (i.e. You have control over me)
    And Your Judgment upon me is assured, and Your Decree upon me is just
    I ask you with every name that You have named Yourself with
    Or revealed in Your Book (Quran), or taught to any of Your creation
    Or kept with Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You
    That You make the Quran the life of my heart, and the light of my chest
    And the banisher of my sadness and the reliever of my distress.”

  • as’salaamualaikum, this is a beautiful article but it is just that i fear that people may misinterpret the words of the Shaykh pertaining to Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (may Allah be pleased with him) about being the one being the most knowledgeable of the secrets of the Qur’an which I feel is like implying that he surpassed that of the Prophet (peace, mercy, blessings and security of Allah(sw’t) be upon him.).
    voila,

    Baraak’Allah feek for this amazing artifact which brought tears to my eyes.

    as’salaamualaikum.

  • Jazakhallah this really helped me, are there any more Duas from the Quran like this where Allah answers in the next ayah. It’s truly amazing, Allahs mercy, subhanallah.

  • Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

    Who said this?

    “Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq, who he said was the most knowledgeable of the secrets of the Qur’an:”

    I don’t even know a hadith mentioning him…we have Abdullah Ibn Masood RA and Ibn Abbas RA but Ja’far as-Sadiq?

    • W alaikm isalam w rahmat Allah

      The late Sheikh ash-Sha’rawi said this. I do not have his book at the moment but I believe he mentions other scholars from the tabi’een who said this. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq was not a sahabi, but according to Imam adh-Dhahabi he was born in 80Hijri. The Sahaba who were said to have met him are Anas bin Malik and Sahl bin Sa’ad (ra both). He was a great scholar of the time and I believe that Abu Hanifa said about him “I have not seen anyone more knowledgeable than Ja’far as-Sadiq”

      If you would like to read more about him, Imam adh-Dhahabi has written about him in his book.

      Hope that answers your question.

  • Miracels of Quran

    The Holy Prophet said:
    1) Surah Fatiha is a cure from every illness. (Darmi, Bahiqi)
    2) Do not make your home a graveyard, the Shaitan runs from the home in which Surah Baqrah is recited. (Sahih Muslim)
    3) Whoever memorized the first ten ayahs of Surah Kahf will be saved the Dajjal. (Sahih Muslim)
    4) Whoever recites Surah Kahf on the day of Jummah, there will be a Nur brightened for him between two Jummahs.
    5) Everything has a heart and the heart of the Quran is Surah Yaseen, whoever read Yaseen, Allah will write the reward of reading the Quran ten times from him. (Tirmizi and Darmi)
    6) Whoever reads Surah Yaseen for the pleasure of Allah, his past sins will be forgiven so read this near your deceased. (Bahiqi)
    7) (Reading) Qul hu WAllahu Ahad (Surah Ikhlas) is equal to [reading] one third of the Quran.
    8) Whoever read Ayatul Kursi after every Fard Salah, he will be under the protection and security of Allah. (Dailmi on the Authority of Sayeduna Ali)
    9) (On the Day of Judgement) a caller will say O Recitor of Surah Inaam, come to Jannat for loving Surah Inaam and its recitation.
    10) Surah Tabarak (Surah Mulk) saves one from Hell.
    11) Whatever task is not begun with Bismillahir Rahamnir Raheem remains incomplete and unfinished.
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