Part I

 

1. Initial Supplication

 

I seek refuge with Allah from the Accursed Shaytan

In the Name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful

All Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds

And peace be upon the greatest among the prophets and messengers

Our master and leader Muhammad…..

 

And upon his righteous and pure progeny. 

 

As-Salaam Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuho!

The Peace, Mercy of God and the Blessings of God be on you!

 

2. Starting with a verse from the Holy Qur’an (the Final Testament)

 

Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Raheem

In The Name of God, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

  

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ وَمَن يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ

 

[31:12] we bestowed (in the past) Wisdom on Luqman: "Show (thy) gratitude to Allah." And whoever is grateful, he is only grateful for his own soul : but if any is ungrateful, verily Allah is free of all wants, Worthy of all praise.

 

3. What happens when you have a problem
   1. Stress
      1. What is it?
         1. Lack of homeostatic balance (temp., glucose)
         2. Epinephrine and Glucocorticoids mobilize muscles for energy
         3. Primates have more stress: concrete event + anticipation of event (this is a dark street, I must be prepared to run)
      2. What makes it worse? From Scientific American about 50s & 60s research
         1. No outlet for frustration
         2. No sense of control
         3. No social support
         4. No impression that something better will follow.

 

2. If you are a person who doesn't believe then you might stress some more
   1. Valium-nation
   2. Anxiety attacks - lack of control - lop-sided behavior where we want control over everything
   3. Psychiatrists to talk to instead of social support
   4. Cannot believe that something better will follow - unless you act and change it
3. If you are a person who believes - then
   1. You pray for help and a solution
   2. However, the stress does not go away although prayer is good as it acknowledges the creator is in charge (somewhat)
   3. What you really need is a solution:

1. Peace of mind so you can think - life is full of problems, enjoy the journey
2. Problem should be solved or become a non-issue - this comes from Allah s.w.t.

That is why Allah s.w.t. says: وَمَن يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ And whoever is grateful, he is only grateful for his own soul

 

4. The Benefit of a Positive Outlook
   1. Acknowledging
      1. I am not in charge - Allah is, I am just an 'abd
      2. When you first go to an AA meeting (inshallah no one here has been) you start by saying: "I am so and so and I am an alcoholic"
   2. Appreciating and being Thankful
      1. I have already been given so much - Wow! Look where I was and look where I am now

14:32] Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth and sent down water from the clouds, then brought forth with it fruits as a sustenance for you, and He has made the ships subservient to you, that they might run their course in the sea by His command, and He has made the rivers subservient to you

 

14:33] And He has made subservient to you the sun and the moon pursuing their courses, and He has made subservient to you the night and the day

 

14:34] And He gives you of all that you ask Him; and if you count Allah's favors, you will not be able to number them; most surely man is very unjust, very ungrateful

 

3. Give up control and stress
   1. If I'm not in charge, and I've gotten so much value, maybe its not so bad after all - let me be patient
   2. Who is a better representative of our affairs than Allah s.w.t.

 

وَعَلَى اللّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ

 

14:12 In Allah let the trusting put their trust

 

Wakala means to entrust, root is the same as Wakil (laywer, representative)

 

4. Peace of Mind
   1. I'm in tune with life and its problems - I'm taking the middle ground
   2. homeostatic balance - Islam - Peace
   3. Some people pay millions of dollars to achieve this

 

In conclusion for the first part, we must strive to convert the negative tendency of life and its challenges into a positive outlook and one of thanksgiving to Allah s.w.t.

 

Glossary

s.w.t. = May He be Glorified and Exalted

a.s. = Upon him be Peace

p.u.b.h.&f = Peace be Upon him and his family

 

- Mujtaba Khambatti, Feb. 23, 2007