The restless heart
Over 359 million people suffer from anxiety all over the world. But this is not a modern illness. Fourteen centuries ago, the Holy Quran identified the restless nature of the human soul:
اِنَّ الۡاِنۡسَانَ خُلِقَ ہَلُوۡعًا
“Verily, man is born impatient and miserly.” (Surah al-Ma’arij, Ch.70: V.20)
The world is filled with tension, restlessness and existential fear. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to call anxiety a defining feature of the modern age.
So what can the Holy Quran offer us with such a precise 14-century-old diagnosis of the human soul and what can that tell us today?
Anxiety as human nature
According to the Arabic lexicon, the term halu’an in the verse mentioned above means “one who becomes restless and easily agitated and discouraged when in difficulty; one who is greedy about wealth and miserly in spending it; one who is much grieved and loses patience when in trouble.” (Sa’id al-Khuri al-Shartuni, Aqrab al-Mawarid fi Fushah al-’Arabiyah wal-Shawarid, 1889, Beirut, Matba’at mursali al-yasuiyah, Vol. 3, p. 425)
This definition is confirmed by the Holy Quran itself in the very next verses:
اِذَا مَسَّہُ الشَّرُّ جَزُوۡعًا وَّاِذَا مَسَّہُ الۡخَیۡرُ مَنُوۡعًا
“When evil touches him, he is full of lamentation, but when good falls to his lot, he is niggardly.” (Surah al-Ma’arij, Ch.70: V.21-22)
So that’s the meaning of the term used in the Quran. How does modern science describe it? Well, the following are some characteristics of anxiety:
- Worry excessively about everyday things
- Have trouble controlling their worries or feelings of nervousness
- Feel irritable or “on edge” frequently
- Have a hard time concentrating
- Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or feel fatigued
It might seem like the above two references are describing the same issue, which is exactly the point. The symptoms described above are a natural result of what we would broadly term as “anxiety” in this day and age.
The Quran isn’t making a claim that only some people will get anxious, but rather that humans are by their nature predisposed to anxiety. Understood in this light, anxiety suddenly becomes less of a taboo and condemnation and more of an inherent inner state, diagnosed by the Quran itself.
A story of anxiety and relief
This state is not limited to “weaker” humans. Even the prophets of Allah dealt with fear and distress at times.
Take the story of Prophet Yunus (as) (Jonah). Swallowed by a whale and isolated in darkness, Yunus (as) faced what seemed like utter hopelessness. But in that abyss, he adopted a remedy:
“And [remember] Dhun-Nun, when he went away in anger and he thought that We would never cause him distress and he cried out in [depths of] darkness, [saying], ‘There is no God but Thou, Holy art Thou. I have indeed been of the wrongdoers.’” (Surah al-Anbiya’, Ch.21: V.88)
He recognised that he was dependent on God and so turned to Him to help him out of his despair. This was his way of healing his anxiety and existential fear.
So, whilst the Quran describes humans as anxious by nature, a remedy has also been presented by it.
Anxiety in the 21stcentury
The story of Prophet Yunus (as) serves as a reminder that what we consider to be a modern phenomenon is in fact an ancient reality.
The only distinction that can potentially be made is the intensity and rapid increase in the spread of anxiety amongst the global population.
As mentioned at the beginning, almost 400 million people suffer from anxiety, which is a large percentage of the entire human population. This massive influx of anxious individuals on the world stage only makes sense when one considers the fast-changing nature of our current world, partially due to things such as social media, economic uncertainty and overstimulation.
Hence, the Quranic diagnosis remains more relevant than ever. Anxiety didn’t vanish; the condition remains, but the remedy must be revisited.
The Quranic remedy
After identifying and diagnosing this state of emotion, the Quran doesn’t merely leave it alone. It goes on to provide a remedy in clear-cut words:
“But not those who pray. Those who are constant in their Prayer and those in whose wealth there is a recognised right. For one who asks for help and for one who does not. And those who believe the Day of Judgment to be a reality […]. And those who guard their private parts – except from their wives and from those whom their right hands possess; such indeed are not to blame; but those who seek to go beyond that, it is these who are transgressors – and those who are watchful of their trusts and their covenants and those who are upright in their testimonies and those who are strict in the observance of their Prayer. These will be in the Gardens, duly honoured.” (Surah al-Ma’arij, Ch.70: V.23-36)
In alignment with Yunus’ (as) example, the Quran mentions that those who pray (i.e., recognise their dependence on Allah) can safeguard themselves from anxiety. This would help by allowing a person to realise that some things are out of one’s control and find solace in the fact that God Almighty has control over all aspects, so one can rest assured that their fate is in the best hands.
Those who protect their private parts, except from their rightful spouses, can avoid the anxiety and worry that comes with having extra-marital relations and the possibility of the spread of STDs.
Those who believe in the day of judgement find peace in the assurance of a purposeful and hopeful future – a stark contrast to the anxiety born of nihilism and the belief that life ends in nothingness.
These are just some examples of the remedies and solutions provided by the Quran. They serve as stabilisers for the anxious heart. Thus, anxiety isn’t confined to being merely a psychological issue, but a spiritual one where the heart is restless until it rests in God: “[…] It is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts can find comfort.” (Surah al-Ra’d, Ch.13: V.29)
This is not to say that modern therapy and remedies ought to be ignored or shunned. Rather, it provides us with a holistic approach in which modern therapy and Islamic spiritual guidance synthesise to provide a time-tested approach.
In essence, the Quran prescribes a path that transforms anxiety into awareness – awareness of one’s dependence on the Divine and responsibility towards others.
From anxiety to tranquillity
Anxiety, according to the Quran, is not a flaw to be erased but a signal to be understood. It reminds us of our fragility – and our need for connection with the One Who grants peace.
By recognising anxiety as part of human nature rather than moral failure, a person can find the courage to use it as a prompt to find God rather than running away from their feelings.
So the next time you feel your heart racing, it might be worth asking: “What does this remind me of? Who can I turn to?”
Remember the story of Jonah, who submitted to the One who calms anxious hearts by accepting that He controls his destiny. As Rumi said:
“Each one where he belongs at last you’ll find,
Since each fulfills the name he’s been assigned.”
(The Masnavi [English], Book 1, Oxford University Press, 2004, p.21)