Zikr, an Antidote to Mental Stress: A Study from the Islamic Perspective

Abstract

Excessive worldly attachment and keenness on mundane pursuits are causing tremendous restlessness of mind which disrupts mental serenity resulting in huge stress on the psyche of individuals. Many are getting exhausted in quest of such a means by which they can get rid of such heavy stress. The ramification of mental stress is also diverse. A number of studies were done in order to get over this issue. Different mentors, religious leaders and spiritual guides recommended varied spiritual or religious meditative practices such as Transcendental meditation, Mindfulness, Yoga, etc. to escape such stress. Zikr or remembrance of Allah () can be one of the most effective practical antidotes to such psychological pressure. Moreover, Zikr is among the rituals, which has been recommended for the tranquility of mind and soul and as the main pleasing performance to Allah () both in the holy Qur’an and Prophetic traditions. This study aims to examine from an Islamic perspective to what extent Zikr or Remembrance of Allah () can play an effective role as a means of mental stress recovery. Analytical and descriptive approaches will be used to assess the collected data. The results from this study demonstrate that among other means, the Zikr of Allah () is the most useful tool for the relief of mental stress. According to the results, Zikr performance has a substantial positive impact on the improvement of heart health. The findings of this study may persuade people to practise Zikr as a powerful means of relieving emotional and psychological stress. Numerous studies have been conducted in the past to determine the benefits of Zikr or remembrance of Allah (). We believe that our research is not the last and that further investigation to be conducted in the future will make the issue clearer and have a substantial impact on mental health recovery.