THERAPY VS. FAITH; YOUR MENTAL HEALTH DOES NOT DEFINE YOUR FAITH

Remember when you asked your friend about that question you were stuck during the lecture, or when you asked your doctor why you have a high fever and how can you treat it?

To tell the truth, you would even cheat in the exam if you had to get that answer, right? You won’t sit there praying, you never then question yourself if your faith is strong enough, or if it’s wrong to cheat. You make your way out of it.

That’s exactly how therapy works for mental health issues—helping you navigate overwhelming thoughts, emotional burdens, and patterns of stress that cloud your ability to process life. It’s a means of seeking guidance, not a sign of weakness.

I am not endorsing cheating in the exams, it’s highly wrong - but the question is why do people manipulate religion when it comes to issues like mental health, standing up for yourself, and becoming better? The saddest part about our society and how religion is practiced is that it focuses on sacrificing and providing for others, not your very own self. Crazy?

It surprises me, that so often, people are told that struggling mentally is a reflection of weak faith, that they should "pray more" or "have stronger iman."

Faith undoubtedly plays a profound role in our mental well-being, offering solace, purpose, and spiritual healing. But faith alone doesn’t erase the complexities of mental health, just as spiritual devotion doesn’t negate the need for medical treatment when the body is unwell.

The two are deeply interconnected yet distinct—one nurtures the soul, and the other helps untangle the mind.

Therapy vs. Faith: Two Separate Yet Complementary Aspects of Well-being

Something I acknowledged in my recent therapy session was that being religious doesn’t mean leaving the world, letting others walk over you in the name of faith and pleasing Allah, or overlooking aspects like mental health, and well-being. And, it helped my ponder upon the dilemma of therapy vs. faith - and there is no denying in the fact that somehow my heart was becoming harder, I was becoming unable to cry or feel sad thinking that I was being patient.

Deep down, it was consuming me. I missed crying out to Allah, I missed lightening my weight with tears. And, the strange part is that none of it was intentional. I wasn't holding myself back from being too emotional or sad, it just came with the notion of faith.

See, even though we read about it, and we also know it somehow deep down - sometimes we need a safe space to open up about it without feeling guilty.

It’s about balance - Islam teaches us about balance.

The Quran instructs us to navigate through this world with patience and grace.

But, what happens when the same world conditions us to sacrifice ourselves, and our mental well-being in the name of patience, that’s twisted.

Faith provides resilience, hope, and a sense of purpose, while mental health requires care, attention, and sometimes professional intervention.

Faith is a source of strength, but it is not a substitute for mental help.

Salah, dhikr, and dua can bring comfort, but they do not replace therapy, self-reflection, or emotional regulation techniques. Allah(swt) has told us to reflect and ponder for ourselves. Using the guidelines Allah has provided us we have to work our way up to a better self.

Seeking therapy does not mean a lack of faith.

Just as a believer seeks medical help for physical ailments, seeking therapy for the mind is a responsible, necessary step. When a snake bites you and you run to the doctor or for professional help, where does your faith you? Technically, we should just sit there pray, or maybe read the Quran.

Mental health struggles are not sins.

Feeling anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed does not make someone a bad Muslim. Even the Prophet ﷺ experienced moments of immense grief and stress, too much, and too long that it was called the “year of grief”. But He(pbuh) sought help, He(pbuh) confided in his(pbuh) wife.

In all matters, our Prophet(pbuh), and the companions used seeking counsel and emotional support - and that’s how it used to work as a tightly knit community of Muslims.

A Muslim society is one where everyone can trust their fellows, and have enough resources to seek help. And the world we are living in, it’s exactly the opposite. The moment you seek help for issues like mental health, depression, or stress, starting from our family members, everyone tells us “What possible problem you could have?”, and that becomes the first step to hesitation.

Journaling comes as a safe space for you to articulate all these emotions and feelings. When you write your feelings down on paper, it lightens the weight in the heart and gives you mental clarity. You can now see all those emotions welled up inside you, right in front of you on the paper.

How to Cultivate a Balance Between Faith and Mental Health

1. Tafakkur (Reflection & Self-Awareness):

   Journaling your thoughts, emotions, and triggers helps process what’s happening internally while keeping faith as a grounding force.

2. Therapy & Trusted Conversations:

   Seeking professional help or confiding in a trusted friend/scholar can provide clarity without feeling spiritually inadequate.

3. Tadabbur (Contemplation on the Quran):

   Rather than using faith as an escape, use it as a guide. The Quran acknowledges human emotions—grief, fear, anxiety—and offers perspective rather than dismissal.

4. Healthy Boundaries:

   Protecting your peace from toxic environments, negative self-talk, and unhealthy comparisons is as much a part of self-care as prayer is.

5. Dhikr & Mindfulness:

   Engaging in remembrance of Allah while also practicing deep breathing, grounding techniques, or gratitude journaling bridges both worlds. Physical & Emotional Care: Exercise, nutrition, and proper rest impact both mental and spiritual states. The Prophet ﷺ emphasized balance in all aspects of life.

   
   

Healing is not linear, and faith is not measured by the absence of struggle. True faith is knowing that seeking help—both spiritual and psychological—is part of honoring the body and mind Allah entrusted you with. Therapy and faith are not in competition; they work together, each holding equal weight in guiding us toward a healthy, fulfilling life.

Here are some "therapy vs. faith prompts" for you to reflect upon.