Healing Through Faith: Releasing Pain, Finding Allah

The Islamic Path to Releasing Pain and Embracing Strength

Jan 09, 2025

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We often equate strength with endurance, the ability to carry burdens, withstand pain, and keep going despite the odds. Society glorifies this narrative, making us believe that holding it all together, no matter the cost, is the hallmark of resilience. But what if this perception of strength is not strength at all? What if carrying pain, hoarding emotional scars, and enduring silently is not the noble act we have been told it is, but instead, a burden we are not meant to bear?

For many of us, this misunderstanding of strength begins early. We learn to “be strong” by suppressing our emotions, keeping a brave face, and pretending everything is fine. We believe that enduring hardships without complaint makes us stronger, even when it leaves us hollow inside. We carry heartbreaks, rejections, failures, and the unkindness of others as though holding onto them somehow proves our worth. But instead of building us up, this weight crushes our spirit, dims our light, and leaves us wondering why we feel so disconnected from ourselves and from life.

In the Quran, Allah tells us,

“And We have certainly created man into hardship” (Surah Al-Balad 90:4).

Hardship is a part of life, but nowhere does Allah say we must carry it alone or indefinitely. The Quran constantly calls us to surrender, to let go of what burdens us and turn to Allah for solace and healing. Yet, in our attempts to “be strong,” we often resist this surrender. We think healing is about enduring until the pain disappears, but pain does not vanish just because we ignore it. It lingers, festers, and grows, spilling over into other parts of our lives.

The Illusion of Endurance

Endurance is often mistaken for strength. We tell ourselves, “I survived, so I must be strong.” But survival is not the same as thriving. Endurance without release can make us cold, disconnected, and heavy with unprocessed emotions. Allah did not create our hearts to be storage units for every wound, every disappointment, and every unkind word. He created them to be soft, open, and connected to Him. When we hoard pain, we close off the very part of ourselves that allows us to heal and grow.

True strength is not in carrying the pain; it is in letting it go. Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) taught us this through his own life. Despite the unimaginable losses he endured - the deaths of his children, his beloved wife Khadijah, and his companions - he never allowed grief to harden his heart. Instead, he turned to Allah with every wound, seeking solace in His mercy and finding strength in surrender.

The Healing Power of Letting Go

In Islam, healing begins with acknowledging our limitations. We are not meant to carry every burden alone, nor are we expected to. Allah reminds us in the Quran,

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:286).

This verse is not just a reassurance. Rather, it is a reminder that we are allowed to release our pain. We are allowed to cry, to grieve, and to seek help. Healing is not a weakness; it is an act of faith.

Letting go does not mean forgetting the past or dismissing the pain. It means giving it to Allah, trusting Him to handle what we cannot. It is in sujood (prostration) where we can unburden our hearts, knowing that every tear shed before Him is a means of purification. Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for it” (Bukhari).

When Prophet’s son Ibrahim passed away, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was deeply moved and began to weep. Some of the companions, surprised by his tears, asked about it because they thought it contradicted the idea of accepting Allah's decree. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam replied: "The eyes shed tears, the heart feels sorrow, but we do not say except what pleases our Lord. And we are indeed grieved by your departure, O Ibrahim." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1303; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2315)

This hadith beautifully shows that expressing grief and sorrow is natural and does not contradict faith or submission to Allah's will. It is a reminder that being human - feeling pain and shedding tears - is not a weakness but a part of the mercy Allah has placed in our hearts.

By letting go, we are not just relieving ourselves of the weight; we are also allowing Allah to transform our pain into something greater - growth, forgiveness, and a deeper connection to Him.

Practical Steps to Healing

Healing is not an overnight process, but a journey that requires intention and effort. It begins with small, deliberate steps that align our hearts with Allah and open the door to growth. Here are a few ways to start:

Turn to Allah First
When the pain feels overwhelming, make it a habit to pour your heart out to Allah. Tahajjud (the night prayer) is a powerful time for this, when the world is quiet, and it is just you and your Creator. Ask Him to ease your heart and grant you clarity.
Embrace Forgiveness
Forgiveness is not about excusing the harm done to you; it is about freeing yourself from the hold it has on your heart. Start by forgiving yourself for the ways you have carried pain, and ask Allah for the strength to forgive others.
Set Boundaries
Healing requires protecting your peace. Learn to say “no” to people and situations that drain you. Boundaries are not selfish; they are essential for your well-being.
Celebrate Small Wins
Healing is not a linear process. Celebrate every step forward, no matter how small. Recognize that even the act of seeking healing is an accomplishment.
Trust in Allah’s Timing
Healing takes time. Trust that Allah’s plan for you is perfect, even when it feels slow. Keep pedaling, even when it feels impossible, knowing that Allah sees your effort and will guide you to ease.

A New Definition of Strength

Strength is not in the carrying; it is in the surrender. It is in choosing to heal, to forgive, and to trust Allah with what feels impossible. It is in recognizing that our hearts were not made to break under the weight of this world but to find peace in the remembrance of Allah.

So, let us redefine strength - not as endurance, but as the courage to let go and let Allah. For in Him, we find not just healing, but wholeness. And that is the truest form of strength.

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